Act IV, Scene 1 - Study Questions

1. What do the Duke and the others expect of Shylock?
2. What reason does Shylock give for not showing mercy to Antonio?
3. What is the point Shylock makes about the Venetian slaves?
4. Why has the Duke sent to Padua for an opinion, and what answer does he receive?
5. What is the main point of Portia's comments in her "quality of mercy" speech?
6. Why does Portia say she cannot, as Bassanio suggests, "do a great right [by doing] a little wrong"?
7. Shylock rejoices by saying of Portia, "a Daniel! O wise young judge." If you know the biblical story of Daniel and Susanna, how could this have a bitter irony?
8. After Shylock once again demands justice, the court prepares the knife and the scales. What comment does Bassanio make that Portia hears? What does Portia say in response?
9. As Shylock prepares to get his pound of flesh, what condition does Portia put on him?
10. How does Portia defend this decision?
11. What does Portia mean by this line: "Soft./The Jew shall have all justice;.../He shall have nothing but penalty."
12. As Shylock prepares to leave court with nothing, Portia stops him. Why does she say that Shylock must beg mercy from the Duke?
13. What prompts Shylock to say, "You take my house, when you do take the prop/that doth sustain my house"?
14. When Antonio and Shylock's positions are reversed, what mercy does Antonio show?
15. At the end of this scene, what happens regarding the rings of Bassanio and Gratiano?
16. Throughout this scene, the Christians ask Shylock to be merciful toward Antonio. When the situation is reversed, how merciful do you think the Venetians are toward Shylock?

Act III, Scene 5 - Study Question

This scene does not seem to advance any of the plots. What is its apparent purpose?

Act III, Scene 4 - Study Question

After commending the care of her house to Jessica and Lorenzo and telling them that she plans to seclude herself and Nerissa in the country to await their husbands' return, what does Portia tell her servant?

Act III, Scene 3 - Study Questions

1. Shylock, repeating several times that he will have his bond, appears intent on getting revenge on Antonio. Given his strong feelings, do you think he will settle for twenty times the amount of the debt?
2. Explain Antonio's point in the passage that begins, "the duke cannot deny the course of law..."

Act III, Scene 2 - Study Questions

1. Why does Portia not want Bassanio to rush into making a choice?
2. While Bassanio ponders over the three caskets, he makes a speech. State the main point of the speech and Bassanio's action at the conclusion of the speech.
3. As he addresses the casket, Bassanio says,
   "...thou meager lead,/Which rather threat'nest than dost promise aught,/Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence..."

   To what is he referring?

4. Upon opening the casket, Bassanio is overjoyed at seeing the picture and reading the scroll, yet he is anxious. Why?

5. With her response, some critics believe that Portia emphasizes the motif of "love as a form of money." What could be pointed out in this respect?

6. What is the significance of the ring that Portia gives to Bassanio?

7. What information do Gratiano and Nerissa give to Portia and Bassanio?

8. Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio enter. What news does Salerio bring?

9. What is Portia's response to this news?

10. What is Antonio's one request of Bassanio?

Act III, Scene 1 - Study Questions

1. At the beginning of this scene, what is foremost in Shylock's mind?
2. What does Salerio mean when he says of Jesica:
   That's certain [she will be damned] if the devil may be her judge."

3. In response to Salerio's comment about Antoni's bond of a pound of flesh, Shylock makes one of the most famous speeches in this play. What is the main point of this speech, and what is your reaction to it?
4. How justified do you think Shylock is for wishing to seek his "pound of flesh"?
5. Tubal tells Shylock of a second ship lost by Antonio and of Jessica's extravagant spending almost in the same breath. For what reason do you suppose Shakespeare presents these two items in this mixed fashion?

Act II, Scene 9 - Study Questions

1. We finally learn all three conditions that a suitor agrees to when he makes a choice of caskets. What are these three conditions?
2. What is Arragon's choice? What does he find in the casket, and how does he seem to respond?
3. What news does the servant girl bring, and what is Portia's witty response?

Act II, Scene 8 - Study Questions

1. Why do Shylock and the Duke (the chief legal official) go to search Bassanio's ship?
2. Shylock's reaction to his daughter's elopement is probably a comical scene for the Elizabethans. How does he behave?
3. What ominous comment does Solanio make about this development and how it will affect Antonio?
4. In this regard, what news has Salerio heard that worries him? Why?
5. How is the bond of friendship, love, and money further developed in this scene?

Act II, Scene 7 - Study Question

1. The Prince chooses the gold casket. What is the message he receives?

Act II, Scene 6 - Study Question

1. From the window, Jessica throws the casket to Lorenzo; it contains Shylock's wealth. As she does, she says that she is glad it is night because she is ashamed of her exchange:
   "But love is blind and lovers cannot see/the pretty follies that themselves commit..."
   What becomes clear only in the last line of that speech? To what exchange is she referring?