Women in "Merchant of Venice" -Female Characters -The Role Of Women-Will...

Bassanio's Character-The Merchant of Venice-William SHakespeare

Antonio’s Character-The Merchant of Venice-William Shakespeare

 Antonio’s Character

Antonio is definitely the central character in the play The Merchant of Venice. He is th@e person around whom most of the story of the play revolves. He certainly possesses the qualities of head and heart. So he is claimed to be the hero of the play. But that is really a question of debate.

Let’s discuss the character of Antonio and try to find out what qualities and shortcomings he had in his personality.

The first and foremost (chief) characteristic of his character is his melancholy nature. In the very beginning, the readers come to know about his sad nature. In the opening scene, he is in the company of his two friends, Solanio and  Salarino. After some time Gratiano also reaches there. They all try to guess the reason behind Antonio’s sadness. Even Antonio does not know the reason behind his sad mood. It is said that he is sad because all his investments are at stake because in the sea anything could happen to his ships. It is also said that Antonio might have fallen in love with someone and that might be the reason of his sad mood. But Antonio rejects all these speculations (guesses) about the reasons for his being in a sad mood. Finally, he tells his friends that God has given every person a certain role to perform on the stage of this world. He has been given a sad role to perform in his life. So he is in a sad mood.

As the play advances, the readers come to know about the adverse (unfavourable, unpleasant) impact of his melancholy nature on his personality. He remains disinterested in his life. It seems that he has lost all his excitement that may bubble up the personality of a young man. This is the reason why he is unable to enjoy a joke, nor is he able to create it. He is also not able to events like merry-making as torch ­light, masked processions in which his friend takes great pleasure.

He is a static character throughout the play. He does not show any considerable growth. He remains the same up to the end of the play. But one thing great has been done by him and that sets the ball of the action of the play to roll fast to reach its logical conclusion. He signs the dangerous bond that enables his close friend Bassanio to get a loan of three thousand ducats from the avaricious (/ˌæv.əˈrɪʃ.əs/ greedy) moneylender of Venice, Shylock. Antonio’s act of signing the bond is really a great event in the play and it is because of it the whole attention of the readers is focussed on him. It is also because of this Antonio becomes the central character in the play.

But in spite of this big flaw in his character; William Shakespeare has endowed (gifted) him with certain qualities that make him really a great character in the play.

He is the esteemed merchant of Venice and is known for his honesty, kindness, faithfulness, and generosity. He gives loans to the people of Venice without interest though he is not a moneylender. He saves people from the clutches of Shylock. He also gives a loan to his friend Bassanio. It is his loyalty to his true friendship with Bassanio that makes him sign the deadly (dangerous) bond.

He is the most popular and respected man in Venice. His friends often speak of his kindness and goodness of heart. Gratiano calls him the royal merchant. Solanio finds no words to explain his goodness of heart. Portia also feels proud of helping such a good person. Bassanio is not far behind his friends speaking of his kindness.

But still, his hatred for Shylock on the basis of his religion lowers (belittles) his esteem (regard, respect) in the eyes of modern readers, who believe that there should be no room in our minds for the thoughts that divide one human being from the other on the basis of race and religion. On several occasions, he has degraded (dishonoured, insulted) Shylock publically and even spat on his clothes.

To conclude, we may say that Antonio is indeed a great character in this play. He is the Merchant of Venice. He wins the hearts of the people of Venice by his acts of kindness. He is in sharp contrast to Shylock, who becomes his staunch (strongly loyal) enemy due to his generous (liberal, kind) nature. As far as Antonio’s hatred for Shylock as a Jew is concerned, that is due to the social setup to which he belonged. There was a bitter feeling against the Jews in those days. And it may be because Shylock was also not a good human being. His own daughter was also against him.

Bassanio’s Character-The Merchant of Venice-William Shakespeare

 Bassanio’s Character

Ans. Bassanio is one of the major characters in the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. He is the romantic character in this play, who has immense love for Portia, the heroine of the play. Finally, he succeeds in marrying her.

But Bassanio’s character suffers from certain shortcomings which show him in dim colours in the beginning of the play. He is not at all dominating other characters. Although he marries the heroine of the play, yet he fails to gain the stature of being called the hero of this play.

Bassanio is an extravagant type of person. He is habitual of spending money beyond his means. He is already in debt and requests another loan from Antonio, his close friend. This time he wants money to go to Belmont to win Portia’s hand by taking part in the casket contest. The reader gets the impression that he marries Portia for money. He himself tells Antonio that he would be able to pay off all of his loans after he marries Portia, the rich and beautiful lady of Belmont.

The readers have also another point in mind. Bassanio. It is argued that he must have forced Antonio not to sign the dangerous bond. But we may say that he had advised him not to sign it. But Antonio was hopeful that his ships would return safely to Venice.

Portia thinks very high of Bassanio. This may be because she loves him most. He must have an attractive personality. He also proves his wisdom and balance of mind by selecting the right casket and winning Portia’s hand for marriage. Thus Bassanio shows his deep insight into life by understanding the words inscribed on the caskets. He is not at all attracted by the shine of gold and silver. Rather his words in the casket scene exhibit his wisdom and understanding of life.

Bassanio is a lovable person. Not only his friends, but also the servants like Launcelot admire him.

Bassanio’s poetic bent of mind is also revealed to the readers when he describes Portia’s beauty to Antonio. He tells him that Portia is ‘fairer than that word. He also compares her to the ancient Rome’s Portia, Brutus’ wife.  He quotes Greek mythology to praise her hair shining like gold fleece. Even after opening the lead casket, he praises Portia’s beauty in deep romantic words.

Bassanio’s other qualities also impress the readers. He is a handsome, polite, and lovable person. Portia expresses her excitement for him when Nerissa reminds her of him. Her joy and excitement are shown in her words:

‘Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think, he was so called.’

He has control over his feelings. When Gartiano wants to go with him to Belmont, he lets him go on the condition that he would put control on his tongue there.

 He has great love for his friend Antonio. He had also stopped Antonio from signing the fatal bond. But Antonio was confident that he would pay the loan on time. When Bassanio comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he at once reaches Venice to help his friend. He offers the Jew not only several times more money than taken from him, but also every part of his body. He feels guilty that Antonio’s troubles were due to him.

It is true that Bassanio has certain shortcomings but that makes him the man of the world. But his good points overshadow his weaknesses. Thus we may say that Bassanio's character is very much liked by the readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trial Scene-Dramatic Importance of the Trial Scene-The Merchant of Venice-English...

Who is the hero of the play The Merchant of Venice

 Q1. Who is the hero of the play The Merchant of Venice?

Ans. Portia is the real hero of The Merchant of Venice. She asserts herself above all the male characters in this play. She is a bold, intelligent, clever, witty, and wise lady. It is because of her, Antonio’s life was saved from the death trap made by Shylock. She has not been shown with any such a weak trait in her character. 

The Dramatic Importance of the Casket Scene-The Merchant of Venice-Engli...

The Merchant of Venice- As A Tragi-Comedy-English for B.A.III Semester V...

The Merchant of Venice as a Tragi-comedy

 The Merchant of Venice as a Tragi-comedy

Ans.  ‘The Merchant of Venice’ cannot be called purely a tragedy or a comedy. The great dramatist mixed both the comic and the tragic elements together in this play. That is why ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a unique play.

The bond story is the main plot that creates a tragic atmosphere in the whole play. There are three other subsidiary plots that are very deftly (skillfully) interwoven by the playwright (dramatist). Whenever tension mounts (rises) in the play, some relaxing scene from any of these subplots takes place (occurs).

 The comic scenes provide both entertainment and relief to the audience/reader. In this way, the play has a well-knitted plot. Let’s have some examples from the play to discuss the play as a tragi-comedy.

 Antonio’s woes make the general atmosphere in the play gloomy and sad. He is not a cheerful person. He remains sad even though he does not know the reason for his sadness. Then he signs a deadly bond to enable his close friend, Bassanio, to get a loan of three thousand ducats from the greedy and cruel moneylender Shylock.

 At that time, he hoped that his ships would return with great profit and he would easily repay Shylock’s loan on time.

But it does not happen. He easily falls into the death trap created by Shylock to take his life. Antonio is unable to pay the loan on time because he gets reports that his ships are destroyed.

  The tragic atmosphere is built up in the play by this unfortunate incident. Antonio surrenders (feels defeated) in front of his destiny. He becomes hopeless in the Duke’s court because Shylock was adamant to take his life. The tension reaches the climax when Portia allows Shylock cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

 But at another moment, there is some relief as Portia starts pushing the Jew to the back-foot by her intelligence and wisdom. At last, the Jew, Shylock, is punished by the law of Venice. This is the main plot that culminates with punishment to the wrongdoer and relaxation to the sufferer and his companions. It also brings relief to the audience/reader too.

 

But still, there are some incidents and some characters’ dialogues that create much of tragic effect in the play. First, Antonio’s sad mood sets the keynote of the play. Then Portia talks about her father’s will which limits her desire to choose a husband of her own choice.

  After that, the conversation between Shylock and Antonio is full of bitterness. This is the time when Bassanio and Antonio were present in Shylock’s house and asked him to get a loan of three thousand ducats. Then Antonio’s ships are reported to be wrecked in the sea. Shylock lodges a complaint against Antonio in the Duke’s court.

 Bassanio also reaches Venice after hearing the sad news. Further, the atmosphere in the trial scene remains tensed.

On the other hand, Shakespeare has also created comic effects in the play. These scenes serve both purposes. They not only entertain the audience/reader but also relax the tension that mounts in the play from time to time.

 

Portia’s description of her suitors is entertaining to the reader. Launcelot’s playing pranks with his own father Old Gobo, who is almost blind, is quite entertaining. Then their conversation with Bassanio is quite funny. Again Launcelot’s conversation with Jessica is entertaining.

 The ring episode also serves the same purpose. The happy ending of the play is also a welcome to the audience.

Thus the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is neither a pure tragedy nor is it a pure comedy. But the tragic elements overshadow the comic elements in the play.

 The reader does not forget about Shylock’s punishment of forcing him to convert himself from a Jew to a Christian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female Characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

 Female Characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Ans. William Shakespeare is a past master in creating life-like characters in his plays. There is a large range of male and female characters in his plays painted in different shades of colours in life. Some of his female characters like Cordelia in King Lear, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Desdemona in Othello, and so on are really wonderfully created female characters.

Let’s discuss female characters in the Merchant of Venice.

Shakespeare seems to have created female characters in this play intentionally stronger than their male counterparts. We have three female characters: Portia Jessica and Nerissa.

 

Portia dominates by her qualities not only the female but also the male characters. She has several qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, loyalty, romantic nature, presence of mind, confidence, kindness, wit, humour, etc.

 

These qualities make her stature very high. The reader/audience loves her even in her weak moments of life, when she feels herself caught in difficulty due to the vow given to her late father. She is not free to choose the husband of her choice. She respects her father’s strange will unto the last. She shows her deep love for Bassanio and deep respect and loyalty to her father. She is also full of the milk of human kindness. When she comes to know from Bassanio about  Antonio’s difficulty, she at once tells her husband to stop all his work and go to Venice to save his friend.

It is her presence of mind that she at once makes a plan to reach Venice to save Antonio in the Duke’s court. She intelligently and very confidently handles Antonio’s case. Thus she not only saves Antonio but also gets Shylock punished for the crime that he committed against humanity.

In this way, she also overshadows not only other female characters but also male ones including her husband Bassanio, who has been created in low profile. It is, later on, Bassanio’s character is redeemed (saved/recovered) when he reaches Venice to help Antonio in the Duke’s court. There he shows much concern for his friend’s life. He offers Shylock several times more money than it was taken as a loan from him. But the Jew is not ready to forgive Antonio. Bassanio also tells the Jew that he can cut every part of his body but spare Antonio’s life.

Another female character is Jessica. She is Shylock’s daughter. She elopes with her lover Lorenzo taking with her a lot of valuables from her house. She does not love her father. She condemns him for his evil-doings. She also calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being called Shylock’s daughter. although she feels bad for such types of feelings for her father. Lorenzo and Jessica waste Shylock’s money when they stay at several places during elopement time. Thus we do not have a very high opinion about Jessica. She loves money. That is why she took diamonds and ducats with her. In Portia’s absence, Lorenzo and Jessica take care of her house.

The third female character in the play is Nerissa, who marries Gratiano. She is Portia’s woman-in-waiting. She provides (gives) company to her. Portia shares her thoughts and feelings with her. In Act I, Scene (ii), Portia feels sad to think that she is not free to choose the husband of her choice. Then she tells Portia that her father was really a wise person. She consoles her that she would finally get a husband who would truly love her. Nerissa also accompanies Portia in the Duke’s court. In the ring episode also, Nerissa has an equal part to play. In a way, she has been created as a foil to Portia to highlight her qualities.

 In this way, there are three female characters in The Merchant of Venice, who dominate their male counterparts.

The Trial Scene-Its dramatic significance-The Merchant of Venice

 The Trial Scene & Its dramatic significance (importance).

Ans. The trial scene is the most dramatic scene in The Merchant of Venice. It has several dramatic value points attached to it. The action of the bond story reaches its climax in this scene.

We know that Antonio is unable to repay the loan that he had taken from Shylock for Bassanio on his own guarantee. For this, he had to sign a bond that empowered Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from his body in case the loan is not returned in time.

Unfortunately, Antonio’s ships were destroyed and he could not repay the loan on time. The case reaches the Duke’s court for the hearing. The Duke knows the result and requests the Jew to spare Antonio’s life. Bassanio also offers him several times more to the money given on loan. But he seems to take Antonio’s life. HE does not explain the reason as to why he wants to take one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

In the meantime, Portia appears in the court in place of a learned lawyer, Bellario, whom the Duke had sent for. She appears in the court in male dress as a young layer Balthazar sent by Bellario. She is accompanied by Nerissa also as Portia’s assistant in male dress. She reads the bond and tells the court that Shylock has a right to take one pound of flesh from Shylock’s body. The Jew feels very much happy at Portia’s remarks in his favour. But she requests Shylock to show mercy on Antonio, whose ships have got destroyed in the sea. Shylock refuses to do so. Then Portia understands that the Jew is adamant about taking Antonio’s life.

After that, Portia plays her trump card. She tells Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, neither less nor more than a pound. She puts another condition on him she says that the bond allows him to take flesh not even a single drop of blood. If a drop of blood from Antonio’s body sheds, then, the law of Venice will punish him for taking the life of a citizen of Venice. The Jew comes on the back foot. He asks for only three thousand ducats.

After some time, he is ready to drop the case and go. But Portia plays the role of a shrewd (smart/astute) lawyer here. She does not let him go unpunished. She tells him about a law of Venice that applies to him. If a foreigner tries to take the life of a citizen of Venice, his half property will be confiscated (taken by law) by the state. Another half of the property will be given to Antonio, the aggrieved party. The life of the culprit (wrongdoer) will be at the mercy of the Duke.

Finally, the Duke spares Shylock’s life and even reduces the penalty regarding the half portion of his property. Antonio is allowed to take the second half of the Jew’s property as a trustee. After Shylock’s death, it would be given to Jessica and Lorenzo. In that case, Shylock will have to become a Christian. In addition, he will have to sign the documents regarding the transfer of his property to Jessica and Lorenzo after his death. Shylock agrees to all the conditions and is allowed to go home.

Dramatic Importance of the Trial Scene:

The trial scene has certain dramatic value points attached to it. First, the bond story reaches its climax in this scene. The problem created due to the signing of the bond is resolved in this scene. Antonio’s life is saved from Shylock’s death trap. Portia’s wisdom and her presence of mind find full expression in this scene. She turns the tables on Shylock with her logic. Her poetic bent of mind is again (after the Casket Scene) revealed when she speaks about the qualities of mercy. It also shows that she is also full of mercy, and thus, is a virtuous lady.

 

Portia’s wit and humour is also shown in this scene. She and Nerissa very tactfully get rings from their husbands, Bassanio and Gratiano just to tease them later on. It shows her sense of humour. The ring episode also gets related to this scene.

Antonio’s pessimism becomes known to all in this scene. He does not defend himself. He just surrenders in front of the adverse situation caused by his misfortune. He just wants to die as he is unable to pay money to Shylock. It reflects his righteousness and honesty also.

 

Bassanio’s true friendship with Antonio is also reflected in this scene. He is greatly grieved (pained) to see his friend Antonio in a death trap. He leaves Belmont at once and reaches Venice to help Antonio. Portia also tells him to reach Venice by suspending all his work. He is ready to pay Shylock several times more money than it was taken on loan. He even wants to give all parts of his body to save Antonio’s life.

We also come to know how the casket and the trial scenes are interrelated. This shows Shakespeare’s skill as the greatest playwright in the world. All the scenes and acts are inter-woven. They have logical unity in them.

 

Antonio-Bassanio-Relationship: Its Dramatic Importance- The Merchant of Venice-William Shakespeare

 Antonio-Bassanio Relationship: Its Dramatic Importance

Ans. The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio is the very basis of the main plot of The Merchant of Venice. Without this relationship of the close friendship between these characters, several major incidents in the play would not have taken place. Bassanio could never have been gone to Belmont to win Portia’s hand for marriage.

 

There would have been no bond story. There would have been no Casket Scene in which we come to know about several qualities of Portia and Bassanio’s characters.

 

There would have been no Trial scene that throws much light on several characters like Portia, Bassanio, Antonio, shylock, Gratiano, Jessica, and even the Duke.

 

If we see in totality, this relationship keeps on moving the ball of action of the play's main plot at a quicker pace. The interest of the reader/audience also remains maintained (intact).

 

Let’s now have a glimpse of this relationship of close friendship between Antonio and Bassanio.

Antonio-Bassanio relationship becomes crystal clear to the reader in act I, Scene (i).

 

At Bassanio’s entry on the stage, Solanio tells Antonio:

 

‘Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, …’

 

Bassanio is Antonio’s kinsman also. We also come to know that Antonio is ready to do anything for his friend, Bassanio. Bassanio also confides (opens his heart to) in him his heart’s secrets.

 

In this scene, Antonio asks him to tell him about his love:

 

‘Well, tell me now what lady is the same/ To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage…’

 

Here Bassanio does tell about Portia and also requests his friend about a fresh loan in order to reach Belmont to take part in the casket contest.

 

He says:

‘Tis not unknown to you, Antonio/ How much I have disabled mine estate…’

 

Thus Bassanio opens his heart to Antonio and tells him about Portia, his love, in his most poetic manner. But he needs a fresh loan to reach Belmont to take part in the casket contest. Antonio has recently invested all his money in ships. At present, he has no cash with him. But he cannot see his friend sad.

 

So he manages somehow a loan of three thousand ducats from Shylock, the cruel money lender of Venice.

 

But he has to sign a dangerous bond. If he fails to repay the loan in a fixed time, Shylock would be free to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body part that is very close to his heart. Bassanio stops him to sign this bond, but Antonio is hopeful that his ships would return in time with profits in his business.

 

It is this loan which lands Antonio in Shylock’s death trap. The reason for Shylock’s enmity with Antonio is just the latter’s (Antonio’s) generous nature. He gives loans to people without any rate of interest. Thus Shylock considers Antonio his business rival.

 

Bassanio takes part in the casket contest and wins Portia’s hand for marriage. But as soon as he comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he reaches Venice at once to save Antonio. It happens that Antonio’s all ships are destroyed in the sea.

 

According to the bond’s condition, Shylock was free to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

 

In the meantime, Portia reaches Venice in the guise of a lawyer in male dress. She enters the Duke’s court and proceeds to argue. She saves Antonio very cleverly from Shylock’s death trap. She also proves the Jew guilty of a crime against humanity and gets him duly punished.

 

Thus in the Trail scene, Bassanio’s character is also redeemed (saved/recovered). Otherwise, the reader would have thought him to be a spendthrift who marries Portia for money. He offers his life to Shylock in order to spare his friend’s life.

 

Thus we see that the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio has a lot of dramatic significance.

 

Shylock’s Character-The Merchant of Venice-Questions-Answers

 Describe Shylock’s character.

Ans. Shylock is one of the most important characters of the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. He has been created by William Shakespeare with several negative points. All these points make him a villain in this play. He is a cruel, cunning, hypocrite, greedy and revengeful person.

 He is a very cruel moneylender of Venice. He charges (takes) a very high rate of interest for the loans he gives to the people of Venice. On the other hand, Antonio does not take any interest from people on the money he gives to the people of Venice. This is the root cause of Shylock’s hatred and dislikes for Antonio. He thinks that Antonio has caused a great loss to his business. So he wants to kill Antonio by taking one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

 In the Trial Scene, Shylock's evil-mindedness becomes clear to all. All including the duke of Venice requests him to forgive Antonio by taking money. He is offered several times more than 3000 ducats, but he is adamant about taking one pound of Antonio’s flesh. This shows his cruelty.

 Shylock can do anything for money. He charges high interest from the people. When his daughter Jessica flees with Lorenzo by taking diamonds and ducats, he cries more for money and very less for his daughter. He says:  ‘….I would my daughter dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear!...’

Even his daughter does not love her father. She does not like his diabolic nature. She thanks God that she has not inherited any evil from her father. She calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being Shylock’s daughter.

Shylock is not only greedy for money but he is cunning and a hypocrite also. He very cunningly gets the dangerous bond signed by Antonio. He calls it just a joke, a formality. But in the heart of hearts, he feels happy to catch Antonio in a death trap.

 

He is a hypocrite person. He shows that he endures misbehaviour and maltreatment done to him by Christians. But he also hates them very much. He does not like his daughter to marry a Christian boy. He advises her not to open the window and see the Christian procession that would pass through their street.

 

His daughter, Jessica does not like her father. She does not want to live with him. She calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being Shylock’s daughter. She feels happy that she has not inherited even a single feature from her father’s personality.

 

But some critics defend Shylock. One of them is Hudson. In his opinion, Shylock’s character is ‘essentially tragic’. It is also said that Shylock is ‘more sinned against than sinning.’ It is true that he has several negative features in his character.

 

But the punishment given to him is harsher than he deserves. No matter, all of his property has been confiscated and his life has been spared. But he has been converted to a Christian. That is quite wrong.

To conclude, we may say that Shakespeare created Shylock’s character as a villain in this play. He created him in the social and religious background that prevailed in society at that time. If we see Shylock in the modern perspective, in spite of his defects, he has been given unduly harsh treatment by the Christians of that time.

 

Portia’s Character-The Merchant of Venice-Questions-Answers

                                     Portia’s Character

Q1.Portia’s Character

Among all female characters in Shakespeare’s plays, Portia’s character is the most developed round character. She has all the qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, far-sightedness, presence of mind, wit and humour, kindness, poetic mind, and romance in her heart.

She is introduced to the reader/audience in Act I, Scene (ii). In this scene, she is discussing with Nerissa, her attendant, about her father’s will. She feels caught in a difficult position. She is unable to choose husband of her own choice due to that will. She has to welcome unknown people who come to her mansion to try their luck to win her hand for marriage. In spite of that, she honours her father’s will up to the last stage when Bassanio succeeds in choosing the right casket. She does not reveal any clue about the right casket to Bassanio. She wants that he must select the right casket and marry her.

 

It seems she had love at first sight with Bassanio when he visits Belmont and meets her late father. When Nerissa mentions Bassanio’s name to her, she feels excited and says, “Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so-called.”

Then we find Portia’s love for Bassanio blooming forth in the main casket scene, Act III, Scene (ii), in which Bassanio takes part and wins her hand. She does not want that Bassanio should choose the wrong casket. She tells him not to hurry and take much time before deciding about his choice. She enjoys his company most. Whatever she speaks in this scene is most poetic and romantic and shows her love for Bassanio. Her joy knows no bounds when he chooses the right casket.

Portia has all the qualities of head and heart. She is wise and intelligent. She is able to read human minds. She knows well that Bassanio would prove faithful to her. She understands Shylock and his evil mind in the Duke’s court. Her wisdom turns the tables on Shylock. Her fore-sightedness and presence of mind is proven when she leaves for Venice to help Antonio. It also shows her feelings of sympathy. She keeps her and Nerissa’s identity secret. This also shows her maturity.

Thus it may be concluded safely that Portia’s character in this play is fully developed.

 

The Casket Scene-Dramatic Importance-The Merchant of Venice-William Shakespeare

 Describe the dramatic importance of the Casket Scene

Ans. The Casket and the Trial scenes are very important in The Merchant of Venice. Both the scenes are interrelated to each other. Let us discuss the dramatic importance of the Casket Scene. There are two subsidiary scenes to the main Casket Scene also.

The Casket scene plays a vital role in developing the plot of the play. First, it enables Bassanio win Portia as his wife. It is Portia, who plays a very significant role in the Trial scene. Had Bassanio not taken a loan from Shylock and then won Portia as his wife, the Trial Scene would not have taken place. Hence the whole play would have become nothing. So it is Shakespeare’s creativity and his great skill that made all the events inter-linked.

Portia’s romantic and poetic side of her personality finds full exposure in front of Bassanio in the casket scene. We come to know as to how much she loves Bassanio. She expresses her deep love for him in her most poetic manner. Bassanio also shows his balance of mind, intelligence, and wisdom while choosing the right casket. He does not show any hurry. He thinks and rethinks about the meanings of the words written on each casket. He applies his own reasoning and then decides not to be deceived by the shine neither of the gold nor of the silver casket. Finally, he selects the lead casket and wins Portia. When he comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he feels very sad. Portia also shows her greatness by advising her husband to reach Venice at once to save his friend. She also decides to help Antonio secretly.

Thus Bassanio’s character is redeemed in the reader’s mind due to this scene. Earlier, the reader had an impression about Bassanio that he is extravagant and wishes to marry Portia only for her beauty and money.

Even Portia’s loyalty towards her late father is proven in this scene. She does not tell anything about the secret of the caskets to Bassanio, whom she loves most.

In the subsidiary two scenes in which the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon try their luck to win Portia. We come to know that Portia does not like them. We come to know that both of them were boastful and were attracted by the outward glitter of the things.

Thus the casket scene is very important in this play. It has a very important role in the plot of the play.