Question 3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Portia:
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself and what is mine to you and yours
Is now converted: but now was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o’er myself and even now, but now,
This house, these servants and the same myself
Are yours, my lord:
(i) Where are Portia and Bassanio? What has just taken place which makes Portia to speak
these words? What was the inscription given on the leaden casket? (3)
(ii) What does Bassanio say in praise of Portia’s portrait? (3)
(iii) What news saddens Bassanio on this happy occasion? What does Portia ask him to do? (3)
(iv) What is Balthazar? What was the work assigned to him by Portia? (3)
(v) Where does Portia really plan to go? What common link do we find between Portia and
Antonio? What does this scene reveal about the character of Portia? Give a reason to justify
your answer? (4)
Answers
Answer:
The excerpt is taken from Christopher Marlowe's play "The Merchant of Venice," and the responses to the accompanying questions are presented below.
Explanation:
i) Portia and Bassanio are currently in a room together at Portia's residence in Belmont. These are the words that Portia says in response to Bassanio's assertion that he cannot be certain that everything he sees is true or not until it has been completely confirmed, signed, and approved by Portia.
(ii) Bassanio compliments Portia's portrait by stating that it appears as though Portia's eyeballs move in sync with his own when he moves his own eyeballs. In addition to this, he asserts that Portia is exhaling a pleasant aroma from between her parted lips.
(iii) When Bassanio learns that all of Antonio's ships have been wrecked at sea and that not a single one of Antonio's endeavours have been successful, he is filled with regret. Portia gives Bassanio orders to tell the Jew in Venice that he will pay him six thousand ducats, then double that amount, and then three times that amount in order to release him from the bond.
(iv) Balthazar is Portia's servant, and throughout their entire relationship, he has been loyal and trustworthy. She gives him the responsibility of delivering a letter to her cousin in Padua, Dr Bellario, and instructs him to do so as soon as possible.
(v) She plans to accompany Bassanio on his mission to Venice in the hopes of assisting him in rescuing Antonio from the Jew Shylock. Both of their hearts are completely devoted to their admiration for Bassanio. Both Antonio and Portia are generous people, as evidenced by the fact that Antonio gave money to Bassanio, and Portia gave money to Bassanio in order to save Antonio's life. This demonstrates that both of them have a helpful nature.
It becomes clear that Portia is a powerful woman who is not only courageous but also capable.
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