The Merchant of Venice Questions and Answers
by William Shakespeare

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Explain love and marriage in The Merchant of Venice.
  In The Merchant of Venice, Portia is not allowed to marry freely. She is in love with Bassanio, who borrows money from Antonio to woo her. However, he cannot simply propose to her and be accepted....

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  In your opinion what is the significance of the following dialogue from The Merchant of Venice, especially in regard to the meaning and function of the mythological references? "LORENZO: The moon shines bright: in such a night as this, / When the...
  In act 5, scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo and Jessica have eloped and are waiting outside Portia’s estate for her return. The quoted lines mention the two love stories, which would then...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Is The Merchant of Venice an anti-Semitic play?
  The Merchant of Venice is full of anti-semitic tropes. Shylock is an avaricious moneylender. For centuries before Shakespeares's time, Jews were regarded as greedy money-lovers due to the fact that...

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• The Merchant of Venice
   Explain the following lines from Act I, Scene i of The Merchant of Venice: 'Your mind is tossing on the ocean; There, where your argosies with portly sail, Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood Or, as it were, the pageants of the...
  These lines are spoken by Salerio (I.i.8-14). Salerio is a friend of Antonio, who is one of the main characters of the play. Salerio is replying to Antonio, who has just opened the play by...

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  In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, what literary techniques can be found in the following quote: "I dare be bound again, my soul upon the forfeit”?
  Portia has given Bassanio a ring, making him swear never to give it to another person. However, when Portia is disguised as a male lawyer and has successfully defended Antonio, saving him from...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, what literary techniques can be found in the following quote? "And speak between the change of man and boy / With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps / Into a manly stride, and speak of frays...."
  In the passage below in act 3, scene 4, Portia says, And speak between the change of man and boyWith a reed voice, and turn two mincing stepsInto a manly stride, and speak of frays.... Portia is...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Who is Jessica in The Merchant of Venice?
  Jessica is portrayed as a determined, independent young woman, who experiences an oppressed homelife living with Shylock and eventually elopes with a penniless Christian named Lorenzo. Before...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How did Shakespeare represent women in his plays, especially in The Merchant of Venice? Is this treatment (whether it was good or bad) influenced by men’s authority or the patriarchal society at that time?
  In Shakespeare's Renaissance society, men were considered superior to women in intelligence, commonsense, and strength. They were given the leadership positions in society. Society was completely...

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  Why is the bondage of servitude important in The Merchant of Venice?
  The bondage of servitude is important in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice because it serves to highlight the ethical dilemma of Launcelot, who is in Shylock’s service and repelled by Shylock’s...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What kinds of figures of speech are in act 1, scene 2, of The Merchant of Venice?
  Act 1, scene 2, of The Merchant of Venice contains many different figures of speech that display Portia’s wit as well as her disdain for her suitors. Examples of various figures of speech include...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How does The Merchant of Venice relate to contemporary society in terms of prejudice?
  William Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice more than 400 years ago, but the prejudice shown by the characters is still present in the world today. The play reflects the prejudice against Jews...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Why does Shylock hate Antonio and Christians in general in The Merchant of Venice?
  In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock hates Antonio for many reasons. First, Shylock claims that he hates Antonio because he is a Christian. Historically, many tensions have existed...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Why would Antonio entrust Bassanio with the task of writing his epitaph in The Merchant of Venice?
  In act 4, scene 1, when Antonio's ships have not come to port and he has no way to repay Shylock for his loan, Antonio fears he might have to give up his pound of flesh in repayment. As Shylock...

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  In The Merchant of Venice, which quotes support prejudice as a major theme?
  There are a number of quotes which indicate prejudice. I have selected the most pertinent ones. The first significant one is Portia's disdainful references to the waiting suitors, who all wish to...

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  In what ways does the presentation of Shylock differ between the original text and the film, and why are there differences?  
  I assume you mean the recent-ish Al Pacino version of Merchant of Venice. Well, linked to your question, one of the crucial decisions any director of this play needs to make is to decide how to...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Why does the Prince of Arragon choose the silver casket in The Merchant of Venice?
  The Prince of Arragon is the second suitor to come try for Portia's hand (the second one we see in the play, anyway), in Act 2, Scene 9. Like the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Arragon reasons...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Is Nerissa witty, strong-willed and/or manipulative? Please give evidence with quotes from the play to support this claim.
  In The Merchant of Venice, Nerissa is witty, strong-willed and manipulative. She is also smart, level-headed, and loyal to her mistress, Portia. Since Portia has become an orphan, Nerissa has in...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  The final scene in act 5 takes place in the last hours of moonlight before the sun rises. Is there significance to this?
  In The Merchant of Venice, the late-night setting of act 5, scene 1 is conducive to the romantic interactions among the young couples: Lorenzo and Jessica, Portia and Bassanio, and Nerissa and...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How are the themes of revenge and mercy explored in The Merchant of Venice? Please provide at least 3 pieces of evidence, with quotes.
  SHYLOCK. If I can catch him once upon the hip,I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. (1.3.41–42) With these two lines, Shylock sums up his feelings towards Antonio and towards everyone...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  The pairs of lovers are all back together in the last act of The Merchant of Venice. Who seems best suited to one another? Who is in love, and who is not in love?
  The three pairs of lovers in act V of The Merchant of Venice are Lorenzo and Jessica, Bassanio and Portia, and Gratiano and Nerissa. The act opens with Lorenzo and Jessica, who seem very much in...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How successfully has Shakespeare used this quote from Shylock to interest and engage the reader? There I have another bad match!—a bankrupt, a prodigal who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto, a beggar that was used to come so smug upon...
  In act 2, scene 6 of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock's daughter, Jessica, elopes with Lorenzo, a penniless Christian. By act 2, scene 8, Shylock has roused the Duke and importuned him...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Why does Shakespeare have Portia, dressed as a man, be the one to save Antonio and to best Shylock? Examine her language, particularly in the “Quality of Mercy” monologue, and the way her speech here differs from the beginning of her play. What is...
  Women dressing as men is a common image in Shakespeare's comedies, going as far back as his earliest, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Usually, this occurs because the woman in question is in the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How is other people's treatment of their slaves comparable to Shylock’s treatment of his “pound of flesh,” according to Shylock? How does this argument test Venetian law? Why is it significant, given Shylock’s Jewish faith and heritage?
  Please note: The post contains numerous questions. The eNotes Homework Help policy allows for one question per post. This answer addresses the first two questions. In Act IV, Scene 1 of The...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Is the trial in act 4 of The Merchant of Venice considered fair? Why or why not?
  The trial in act 4 of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice regarding the "pound of flesh" loan contract between Shylock and Antonio is a farce. The court's ruling against Shylock should be rendered...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How does Morocco describe himself?
  The Prince of Morocco, one of Portia's suitors, is a pretty confident man, even a tad arrogant. When he makes his grand entrance, it's clear that he's a flamboyant character, assertive and...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What were the inscriptions and contents of the three caskets, and what significance do they play on the course of the plot in The Merchant of Venice?
  The first casket is gold and reads, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold box. Inside he finds “A carrion Death, within whose empty eye / There...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How are the themes money and love explored in The Merchant of Venice? Please provide at least 3 supporting quotes, citing the act and scene.
  On the surface, love and money are linked in The Merchant of Venice in that daughters are treated as property, to be hoarded and disbursed as their fathers see fit. Portia's marriage partner, for...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What happens in Act IV of the Merchant of Venice, giving a summary of the key elements in this act? What sort of details are established, complicated or resolved in this act?
  William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy also known as a tragicomedy. This literary device is unique in that it not only contains traditional lighthearted, humorous,...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Compare and contrast the 3 women in The Merchant of Venice: Portia, Jessica, and Nerissa. What do they have in common, and what are their differences?
  Portia is the classic example of a Shakespearean heroine: witty, beautiful, and wealthy. The heir to her late father's fortune, she is a free spirit who openly rejects the rules and blazes her own...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How are the themes of prejudice and social injustice explored in the Merchant of Venice? Please provide 3 pieces of evidence from the quotes (citing the act and scene).
  The major instances of prejudice and social injustice in William Shakespeare’s play are concerned with anti-Semitism. Although the character of Shylock has many stereotypical features that were...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In The Merchant of Venice, the women (Portia, Jessica, Nerissa) are represented as wily, strong-willed, and independent. Give at least 3 pieces of evidence, citing quotes from the play, to support this statement.
  Each of the three women characters in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice demonstrates the strength of character and the indomitable spirit that enables them to overcome the limitations imposed on...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Who is the ambassador of love?
  The ambassador of love is none other than Launcelot Gobbo, the servant of Bassanio. Portia has been participating in the casket test, a clever game designed by her late father to winnow out the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What role does the relationship between Jessica and Lorenzo play in The Merchant of Venice?
  Jessica and Lorenzo have a relationship that differs significantly from the other relationships in the story. The key difference lies in the ex-societal nature of their bond. In the relationships...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Explain the role of women in the Merchant of Venice and why they have those roles.
  The only woman with a leading role in The Merchant of Venice is Portia, who, in her most significant scene, is impersonating a man. The other two women in the play are Nerissa, Portia's servant who...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Is Balthasar a minor character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?
  Portia's servant, Balthasar, is the most minor of characters. He appears on stage in only one scene, when Portia sends him with a message to Doctor Bellario in Padua. She asks him to bring "notes...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What is a character sketch of the six suitors in The Merchant of Venice?
  In Act 1, Scene 2 of The Merchant of Venice, Portia gives her assessment of each of six suitors who have come to woo her. Each suitor comes from a different country. (These six do NOT include the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  How would you describe the friendship of Antonio and Bassanio in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?
  The two men share a very deep bond and seem to have a deep affection for one another. It has been suggested by many commentators that the melancholy that Antonio experiences at the beginning of the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Discuss the theme of loyalty and disloyalty in The Merchant of Venice.
  Loyalty is expressed most fully in Antonio's willingness to be loyal to his friend Bassanio. He takes a risk in pledging a pound of his own flesh as collateral in order to obtain a loan from the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Which characters show choice versus fate and wisdom versus foolishness in Merchant of the Venice? For each binary, please provide evidences.
  The contrasts between fate and choice, and between wisdom and foolishness, are visible in numerous places in The Merchant of Venice. The financial fortunes of Antonio illustrate fate versus choice....

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What effect does the imagery of Crete have in conveying Antonio's mindset at the beginning of the play?
  Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice opens with Antonio, the Venetian merchant of the title of the play, talking with his friends and fellow merchants, Salanio and Salerio. They're trying to...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Was Shylock treated fairly or unfairly by the laws of Venice at the time?
  Venice, as represented in the play, is a fictitious reconstruction by William Shakespeare. His careful construction of the play enables him to raise, though not answer, some fundamental questions...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In act 3, scene 2, is Bassanio the type of man Portia’s father would have chosen for her? Compare his logic to that of the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon. How does his process of elimination differ? How does his description of the...
  There are a number of questions being asked here. I'll try to cover most of them. I'll start with the last question about whether or not Bassanio has an unfair advantage in choosing the right...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In act 3, scene 1, was Salerio and Solanio’s report about Shylock’s reaction to Jessica’s escape correct? How has this affected your opinion of those two characters? Consider their role in the play—how is Shakespeare using them? How has the...
  In act 3, scene 1, Salerio and Solanio do not report Shylock's reaction to Jessica's elopement—that is actually in act 2, scene 7. Solanio reports Shylock's reaction as follows: I never heard a...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What purpose does act 2, scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice serve? Why is Jessica so ashamed to be a Jew? How much of her running away is related to her oppressive father, and how much is related to her faith?
  The scene is meant to highlight Shylock's generally disagreeable nature. As well as being a vindictive money-lender who hates Christians, Shylock is presented to us in this scene as a tyrannical...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In act 2 scene 4, Jessica laments Launcelot leaving the house which is otherwise “hell.” Give evidence from the text to support your answer. How accurate were Launcelot’s and Jessica’s descriptions of Shylock’s household? How does this further...
  Interestingly, Shakespeare never goes into specific detail about Shylock and Jessica's relationship at home. All the audience has to go on are the things Jessica says, brief interactions between...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In The Merchant of Venice, what is Portia's role in the ring ceremony?
  Portia has a key role to play in the ring ceremony. She is the one who gives Bassanio her ring, along with her wedding vows and her inheritance. This is just what Bassanio needs. Though he loves...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  What impression do you form of Gratiano from Bassanio's speech?
  Before Bassanio or anyone else can say a word about Gratiano, Gratiano's first speech speaks for itself. Gratiano has been on stage in the first scene of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Newspaper assignment for The Merchant of Venice:   It's a quiet day at The Belmont Times. You are dozing off at your desk when Mr. Chua, your grumpy news editor, comes up and kicks your chair. He tells you, "A suitor has claimed Portia's hand...
  What a neat assignment! I love ideas for creative writing like this, and it's even better for people who enjoy news writing. :) This sort of assignment truly forces the reader to get into the...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  Please explain whether Shylock or Antonio is shows more villainous characteristics in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
  Shylock shows more villainous characteristics than Antonio. This is in keeping with the prevailing racial prejudice of the time which portrayed Jews as greedy and money-grabbing. Whereas Antonio is...

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• The Merchant of Venice
  In The Merchant of Venice, why does Jessica run away from Shylock and why does she take his money?
  In Act II, Scene 3, we get an idea as to why Jessica is going to leave her father and run off with Lorenzo. She implies it is because he acts in evil ways. She'd rather run off and become a...

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