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.

ANTONIO’S SADNESS- THE KEYNOTE OF THE PLAY

                                             

What did Antonio say about sadness?

At the very beginning of the play Antonio took his friends Salerino and Salerio into his confidence and told them about a strange feeling of sadness plaguing him. He said that the feeling disturbing him was strange in the sense that it was alien to his nature.  He was at a loss to understand what it was born of and where it had originated from.

How will you interpret Antonio’s sadness?

Antonio’s sadness gives one a feeling of gloom at the very beginning of the play and seems to be germane to the play itself. That something ominous is going to happen is evident from the kind of sadness Antonio talks about. Consequently Antonio’s sadness strikes the keynote of the play.

How do you know that Antonio has surrendered to sadness? Give three examples from the play?

Antonio tells Gratiano that he has a sad role to play on the stage of life. This is a conscious admission of the way he has taken the decisive influence of depression on him for granted.

The second example of his sadness is in the letter that he sends to Bassanio in Belmont, taking about the inevitable end of his life.

Third example of Antonio’s sadness is when he says in the court that he wants to offer himself to the dagger of Shylock. He thanks Fortune that She will not make him suffer in an agonized manner in a state of poverty till his old age as the very cutting of his flesh by Shylock will ensure his instant death.

What did Salerino say commenting on the nature of the parting of Bassanio and Antonio?

Salerino commented on the nature of A               ntonio and Bassanio to give an idea of the love of the former for the latter. When Bassanio was about to start for Belmont, Antonio told him in unequivocal terms that he should not be in a hurry to come back, leaving his job unfinished. He should not allow his mind of love to be disturbed by the thought of the loan he had taken from Shylock by signing a bond. On the contrary, he urged Bassanio to concentrate on the objective of winning Portia’s love and consequently her hand in marriage by employing the necessary display of love. Then as he pressed the hand of Bassanio, he turned his face as tears had formed in them.

How will you contrast Antonio as a merchant with shylock as one?

Antonio as a merchant was wealthy but he was rash and impulsive. One can form an idea of the nature of his investments based on the assessment of them by Shylock. He had scattered his investments in many an enterprise both at home and abroad. But that his merchant ships were exposed to some obvious perils as pointed out by Shylock cannot be ruled out. His confidence in himself as a merchant had made him presumptuous. He lacked the necessary shrewd acumen of a business man and failed to see through Shylock’s sinister design. He was aware of the fact that Shylock was a man who harboured malice towards him. But the intention of the latter to make him sign a fatal bond did not arouse suspicion in him and he signed it straightway without any farsightedness. As a merchant he was generous and gave loans to people without charging interest but he was not in the least prudent to be able to realize the fact that he was digging his own grave.

ANTONIO’S ABSTRACT AND REAL DEPRESSION

The play of merchant of Venice begins on a note of depression and this feeling of gloom permeates the entire play. Therefore it can be said that the tone of depression in the voice of Antonio strikes the keynote of the play. Antonio’s admission of the nature of his strange depression is something that is not comprehensible to his friends. They try to offer explanations to him about the nature of his depression in a bid to cheer him up. But he eludes their explanations bordering on exaggeration and gives one an impression of his obsession with depression. This becomes evident when he says that the role that has been assigned to him on the stage of life is that of depression and he will continue to play it in his own way.

His assertion of depression prompts his friend to say that he is looking forward to a cheap way of popularity and should steer clear of this trend. Though Bassanio after his arrival tries to make light of this comment of Gratiano saying that it amounts to nothing but sheer nonsense, Antonio does not succeed in getting rid of this feeling of sadness.

Bassanio receives a letter from his friend and this feeling of depression permeates the letter, though it is for an obvious reason now. 

When the jailor allows him to come out of the cell to start a conversation with Shylock and he fails to persuade him to relent, he gives expression to his feeling of depression. Now he speaks in the light of the stark reality of the imminent death looking him in the face. He says that as a pound of flesh will be cut from his chest, he does not have the least prospect of life but he is ready to accept this end of his life only if Bassanio, the embodiment of his unconditional love, arrives there once to see him paying the former’s debt with his life.

The intensity of this depression rings in his voice again in the court when all the pleas to spare his life are not heeded by Shylock. He says that the sooner he can offer himself to the dagger of Shylock the Jew the better drawing consolation in an ironical manner that Fortune favours him by awarding him a quicker death than drawing it out till the old age in a state of agonized poverty.

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.

SHYLOCK TALKS TO HIS DAUGHTER

Who has come to the house of Shylock when the latter is preparing to leave for the house of Bassanio to attend the feast? What does Shylock tell him?

When Shylock is preparing to leave for the house of Bassanio to attend the feast, Launcelot appears.

Shylock tells Launcelot that his own eyes can judge the difference between him and the new employer Bassanio. He tells him further that working under Bassanio he would not be able to enjoy himself the way he did under him. He warns him saying that at the house of Bassanio he would not be able to eat like a glutton, sleep soundly and snore and use his garments the way he did while working under him.

What does Shylock tell his daughter at the time of leaving the house to attend the feast at the house of Bassanio?

While leaving the house to attend the feast at the house of Bassanio Shylock tells his daughter about his reluctance to go there. He says that he is aware of the fact that he has been invited with the purpose of flattering him and not out of a feeling of love.  He says further that still he wants to go to waste the resources of the prodigal Christian by eating at his house.

What is shylock’s parting advice to his daughter at the time of leaving the house?

While leaving the house to attend the feast at Bassanio’s Shylokc tells his daughter to be on her guard. He tells him that she should not climb up to the window and stick her face out of it to look down at the painted faces of the Christians passing by in a masquerade. He tells her particularly not to allow the hollow sound of the foppery to enter her serious house and vitiate the atmosphere of gravity. Finally in order to drive home the importance of taking good care of the household things, he uses a proverb. He says that though the proverb ‘fast bind, fast find’ is an old one it has not still lost its significance.

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.

WHAT WAS THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE DUKE IN THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

We find the mention of the duke at the time he had come to the harbor to search the ship in which Bassanio had set sail for Belmont. He had been roused to action by Shylcok who clamoured for justice as a Christian by the name of Lorenzo had run away with his daughter along with his jewels and money. The Duke did not ignore the pleas of the Jew and sought to take action immediately. Here he shows his sense of duty to stand by a man who is otherwise despised by the majority of people on account of his hard dealings. In the same way he does not fail to persuade the Jew when he insists on cutting a pound of Antonio’s flesh on the basis of his forfeiture. Besides being humane in his own efforts, he seeks to enlist the support of other merchants and noble men for Antonio in his utter crisis.

 Even when the duke fails to make the Jew lenient, he makes another attempt to play on his emotions in the open court. He tells him that people have a very positive opinion about him despite the show of cruelty he has put on. He wants to arouse sympathy in him by telling him that people including him believe that though he is now bent on exacting his penalty, that is, a pound of Antonio’s flesh he will turn around in an amazing manner at the end when the time for the execution of the bond ripens by acting in manner of generosity. Out of his sympathy for the Merchant presently bowed down by his heavy losses he will not only give up his demand for the pound of his flesh but also forgive him a small portion of the principal amount of three thousand ducats.But the persuasive words of the duke influenced by his compassion for Antonio did not have any effect on Shylock.

When the vindictive Jew told him that he had sworn by their holy day of prayer and meditation that he would end up cutting a pound of Antonio’s flesh, the Duke reacted with his sense of shock. He asked him how he could expect to get mercy from others without doing acts of charity. This prompted the Jew to cut the Duke short with his hard hitting words that eventually defined his deep rooted aversion for Antonio the merchant. Later when the Jew had been pinned down with the charge of trying to murder a Christian and faced severe punishment, the duke was the first one to show him mercy even before he had asked for it. That the duke had an intrinsic sense of courtesy was evident from the way he had made a suggestion to Bassanio at the end of the trial to give her a token of thanks. 

I BELIEVE

                                                                                      

 The very title of the poem ‘I Believe’ conveys a great sense of conviction. In the first three stanzas the poet gives expression to her potential to accomplish tasks that appear to be herculean but she says with a sense of robust confidence that she is capable of accomplishing them. She speaks in a tone of exaggeration that she will accomplish the most impossible tasks with grit and determination. These hyperbolic assertions give us an idea of the way she is able to utilize the most of her potential to achieve what appears to be incredible under normal circumstances. She intentionally raises the pitch to a height impossible to drive home the message that we need to be honest in our approach to the basic problems of life to deliver the results. She imbues (inspires) us with the message of humanity and eventually states in clear terms that we need to address ourselves to the tasks that should be accomplished to work towards the betterment of our fellow men. She means honestly that we should have the intention and willingness to make efforts to promote the well being of our fellow men, making the world a better place to live in. She gives us an idea of her prudence as well as her compassion when she says that one has to make efforts and render services to the people of the world in order to make it a better place to live in as this is the very place where we live and nurse the most cherished of our aspirations.

In the short but very inspiring poem the poetess distinguishes between capabilities and priorities. She talks about the way she is able to harness her potential to do things which apparently seem absurd. But this is indicative of the way she is able to use the figment of her imagination when it comes to thinking of accomplishing the most difficult tasks. She talks about her capabilities in a hyperbolic manner but it speaks volume for the robustness of her confidence. She wants to give an idea of the fact that man can have an absolute sway over the different manifestations of nature provided he or she wants to achieve it. But behind the portrayal of such a galvanic approach there is a message of reality that relates to the mundane and pragmatic ways of life. There is a suggestion loud in its nature that no matter how great the potential or capability of a human being is, one has to keep in mind the nature of his or her commitment to the very world he or she belongs to as a member of the human race. By virtue of being a human being one has to take on oneself the very task of contributing to the wellbeing of the world around him or her. She begins on a note of exaggeration in order to highlight human stamina but tones it down with a practical sense of life that is fairly collective from an altruistic (selfless) point of view. 

In the different stanzas the poet lists the tasks she believes she can perform with ease. In a tone of exaggeration, she goes on talking about her capabilities. She talks about her belief of piercing the heavens by throwing a mere pebble with the result that she would be able to see the angels playing there. It is interesting to note that the poet wants to use a mere object like a pebble to achieve the great task of penetrating the heavens to be able to see the angels enjoying their fun and frolic. In the second stanza she talks about flying up to the infinite spaces of the sky to be able to touch the delicate and fleecy clouds and feel the stars. After conquering the loftiness of the heavens and sky, the poet talks about how she can plunge to the depth of oceans and seas. In the third stanza her action is one of diving into the depth of oceans and proving equal to the deadliest of marine creatures such as sharks by swimming with them. Now the poet wants to dig into the earth to make the most of the treasures lying embedded in its cavity. Her confidence urges her to believe that she can claw into the bowels of the earth to retrieve priceless gems and beautify herself with them. Then there is a sudden shift in the poet’s scheme of things and her conviction urges her to focus on her priorities as a human being.  She talks about how she can make efforts to do many things in the midst of human beings and thus promote the well being of the mankind surrounded by the world’s treasures. Then the poetess goes on to say emphatically that it is her firm belief that she will have to play her role as a human being in an effective manner. The poetess imbibes the spirit of philanthropy and wants to complete the role that has been assigned to her by virtue of being a member of the human race. She stresses the importance of the role of humanity, rendering services towards the people in the world where she nurses her dreams and breathes. 

PREPOSITION TEST

fill in the blanks with prepositions:
They did not look----the complaint.
The economy of the war ravaged country is tottering------the brink of collapse.
The betrayal will not go------well with the people of the country.
Sanjib used to correspond------his friend every week.
The details corresponded-----those supplied by the local people.
Both the countries decided to resolve their differences-------dialogue.
Ronit was  astonished------the reaction of his friend.
Some of the members left the room-----a huff.
The king took pity-----the poor subjects.
They are not likely to approve-----the bizarre alliance.
The host put the guest------his ease.
I could not take my eyes----- the cherubic face of the boy.
The traveller was taken------a ride by a dishonest agent.
The poor father pinned all his hopes-------his son.
All the details were laid------in the agreement.