Merchant of Venice Act 2 scene 9

Merchant of Venice Act 2 scene 9: Important Questions and quick Review

(Four RTC Questions along with answers)

REVIEW

(i) In this scene, Prince of Arragon, another suitor to take the risk of the lottery of caskets, comes. He swears if he fails he will never reveal which casket it was that he chose and go back silently.

(ii) He opens the silver casket and is shocked to find a fool's head with a scroll. The inscription in the scroll is, "who chooseth me will get as much as he deserves." To the relief of Portia another suitor, whom she did not want, fails and goes back.

(iii) A servant comes and informs her of the arrival of a young Venetian who has brought gifts and greetings. She is reminded of Bassanio and is eager to see him.

(iv) This scene just gives a glimpse of the beginning of the end of Portia's anxiety and the main love story of the drama.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Portia: Behold there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contained straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized, but if you fail, without speech, my lord you must be gone from hence immediately.

(1) Who is the prince?

The prince is the Prince of Arragon, another suitor for Portia, who has come to try his luck.

(ii) What does Portia say to him?

Portia tells him that if he chooses the right casket she will be immediately married to him but if he fails he will have to leave immediately without saying anything.

(iii) Which conditions in the oath Arragon explicitly keeps at the end of the scene? He goes away immediately with his train saying to Portia, "Sweet adieu, I will keep my oath."

(iv) What does Portia feel about the lottery of caskets?

Portia does not feel happy about this lottery of caskets. It depends totally on chance and she should marry the person who wins, whether she likes him or not. She is loyal to her father and will not disobey him. Therefore, she has to accept the winner.

Q2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Arragon: Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house, Tell me once more what title thou dost bear; "Who chooseth me will get as much as he deserves". And well said too, for who shall go about to cozen fortune and be honourable without the stamp of merit? Let none presume to wear an underserved dignity. What does the inscription on the silver casket say? The inscription on the silver casket says, "who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 

(i) Why did the words of the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon? 

The words of the inscription on the silver casket appealed to Arragon because he was arrogant and proud and considered himself a proper deserving candidate for marrying Portia.

(ii) Give the meaning of - To cozen fortune and be honourable without the stamp of merit.

Arragon believes that without merit or deserving something one cannot and should not try to deceive fate. To deceive fate would be dishonorable. 

(iii) How does Arragon explain further the importance of deserving before getting honoured position?

Prince Arragon believes that it is not honourable to try to get something which one does not deserve. To be deserving, in his opinion is the first condition before trying to get anything by luck.

(iv) Which casket did Arragon finally choose? What was the result of his decision ?

Arragon opened the silver casket.

It revealed a fool's head. He was shocked and departed immediately.

Q3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Portia:

No more, I pray thee, I am half  afeared

Thou, will say anon he is some kin to thee Thou spend 'st such high day wit in praising him,come, come Nerissa, for I long to see quick cupid's post that comes so mannerly.

Nerissa: Bassanio, Lord love, if thy will be.

(1) About whose arrival has the servant just told Portia? 

Bassanio has reached her place. The servant has just told Portia about him.

(ii) In what mood has Portia received the message?

Portia is in a joyous and carefree mood. Those, she despised have left and he whom she remembered and liked has come. His success also depends on fate but at least she has got a respite from the long period of anxiety and despair.

(iii) Give the meaning of 'cupid's post".

In Greek mythology, cupid is the God of Love. The word 'post' means messenger.

Cupid's Post means messenger of God of Love.

(iv) What does Nerissa say? 

Nerissa prays that the young noble man who has come may be Bassanio. She prays to God of Love that it may be so.

(v) What do these words tell about Nerissa?

The statement of Nerissa shows that she liked Bassanio and above all she loved Portia and wanted to see her happily married to the person whom she liked.

Q4. I am enjoin’d by oath to observe three things :

First, never to unfold to any one

Which casket ’tivas I chose; next, if I fail

Of the right casket, never in my life

To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly

If I do fail in fortune of my choice

Immediately to leave you and be gone

Question 1.

Who is the noble Prince? Explain ‘Wherein I’m contained’.

Answer:

The noble prince is Prince of Arragon, a pompous suitor of Portia. Portia says that if he chooses the casket in which her portrait is contained, he will be able to marry her.

Question 2.

What are nuptial rites? What will happen, if he doesn’t choose the right casket?

Answer:

Nuptial rites are ceremonies of marriage. If he doesn’t choose the right casket, he will have to leave without saying anything.

Question 3.

What three things does he have to observe?

Answer:

As per the conditions of the will, he has to observe three things. He should not reveal to anyone which casket he had chosen. If he fails, he should not woo a maid ever in his life. And he should leave immediately.

Question 4.

Later on, which casket does he choose and why?

Answer:

Prince of Arragon chose the silver casket as the inscription on it says, ‘Who chooseth me shall get what many men desire’. He feels that there is no one in the world who deserves Portia as he does, because he doesn’t choose anything that he doesn’t deserve. Clear honour is purchased by the merit of the wearer.

Question 5.

What does the person find in the chosen casket?

Answer:

The person finds the portrait of a blinking idiot. The scroll along with it says that perfect judgement, that never makes mistakes, is tested seven times. Some embrace the illusion of happiness. Foolishness of some people is concealed by their silvery hair, just like what is inside the casket is concealed by the silver casket.