SHYLOCK GIVES THE JAILOR A BIT OF HIS MIND

Why was Shylock angry with the jailor? What did Shylock tell the jailor about his duty and Antonio?

Shylock was angry with the jailor for giving permission to Antonio to come out of the cell to start a conversation with the former to relent.

Shylock insisted on the jailor keeping a tight watch over Antonio without allowing him the privilege of coming out of his confinement. He further said that Antonio was a fool who used to lend money to people without charing interest. 

What did Shylock tell Antonio in a relentless manner?

Refusing to pay heed to Antonio's plea, Shylock told him in  ruthless manner that he should not tell him anything against the bond . He reminded him that he had sworn an oath and would not settle for anything but he punishment specified in the bond. He lashed out at Antonio tellling him that he once called him a Dog without a cause  and now he should be aware of his poisonous teeth with which he would bite him. 

What was Antonio’s plea to Shylock? What did Shylock tell Antonio in reply to his plea?

Antonio requested Shylock to relent and converse with him.

Shylock did not pay any heed to the plea of Antonio. On the other hand he reminded him of the abuse he had once heaped on him. He told him that once he called him a dog. Now he should be aware of the poisonous teeth of the dog with which he would bite him. He further told him that he should expect to have mercy from him. He said that he once lent money to people out of his sense of Christian generosity but he was not like such a generous Christian and not be settle for anything other than the penalty specified in the bond.

When did Antonio realize that it was useless making a plea to Shylock to spare his life? What did he say in that context?

When Antonio became conscious of the fact that Shylock was malicious towards him wanted to kill him, he said that he not make any fruitless entreaty to him to spare his life.

He further told his companion that he was aware of the fact that Shylock was bent on killing him and that he knew the reason behind it. He said considered him as an obstacle in the path of his money lending business and fleecing people. If he succeeded in disposing of him he would not have any difficulty in carrying on his ruthless money lending business without any resistance from him. In that context he also recalled how he had rescued many creditors from the vicious grip of Shylock.

What did Antonio say with reference to the Duke and the law of Venice?

When Antonio’s companion suggested that the duke could save his life by altering the course of the law a little, Antonio replied in the negative. He said that it was imperative to uphold the impartiality of the legal system of Venice.  According to him all the nations doing business in the city of Venice were entitled to the profits arising out of the transactions and this was guaranteed by an impartial legal system. If the transparency of the legal system was damaged it would bring disgrace to the city of Venice and send a wrong signal to the international community.

What did Jessica think of her house? Did she have any reason to think of it that way?

When Jessica was bidding adieu to Launcelot, she said that the house had been turned into a veritable hell.

Though she was a person of an objectionable character, she had the reason to think that the house where she lived with her father was a hell. That the atmosphere of the house was suffocating was evident from the way Shylock told his daughter to lock the doors and windows of the house to prevent the sound of the fife that would be played by the Christians. It was the orthodox nature of Shylock that created an atmosphere resembling that of a hell.