Act 4 Merchant of Venice

Question 1

Scene 2

What scheme does Nerissa now plan? How does this propel the play forward?

Answer 1

Nerissa now takes Gratiano’s ring which makes dramatic irony for the future

Question 2

Scene 1

How does portia save Antonios life?

Answer 2

Portia saves Antonio’s life by finding a loop hole in Shylock’s bond, so therefore shylock cannot have a pound of flesh if it means even a drop of blood is shed.

Question 3

Scene 1

What does Bassanio say in court that may insult portia? What about gratiano and Nerissa?

Answer 3

Bassanio and Gratiano insult their wives by saying that they would trade their wives for Antonios life and revenge on shylock.

Question 4

Scene 1

Why cant shylock change his mind and just take the money?

Answer 4

Shylock cant just take the money because he showed no mercy, so portia refuses to show mercy back to him.

Question 5

Scene 1

What does Bassanio offer shylock? Does he take it? Why or why not?

Answer 5

Bassanio offers shylock 9 thousand dukats. Shylock doesnt take it.

Question 6

Scene 1

Summarize what portia is saying in her speech that begins (the quality of mercy is not strained….) what’s her major message?

Answer 6

Portia is trying to convey her message that mercy is a good quality to have, if you have mercy, people will have more faith in you and you could have better luck. People who treat people with respect will get respect back.

Question 7

Scene 1

When bassanio offers Portia a reward for her help, what two things does she ask for?

Answer 7

Portia says she would like his gloves and rings.

Question 8

Scene 2

What does gratiano deliver in this short scene?

Answer 8

Gratiano delivers the ring to Portia

Question 9

Scene 2

How does Portia react?

Answer 9

Portia happily accepts the ring.

Question 10

Scene 1

How does Shylock react to this judgement?

Answer 10

Shylock insists he didn’t threaten the life of a citizen and that this is all BS

Question 11

Scene 1

Summarize shylocks argument for wanting his pound of flesh?

Answer 11

Shylock says he wants his flesh to get revenge for antonio being racist and he now has his bond to get that revenge

Question 12

Scene 1

Under the law of Venice what is Shylock guilty of? What is the penalty?

Answer 12

Shylock is guilty of threat to a citizens life. The penalty is death

Question 13

Scene 1

What condition does Antonio place upon the penalty? Why is he allowed to do so?

Answer 13

Antonio places the penalty of Shylock having to turn Christian. He is allowed to do so because Shylock threatened his life.

Question 14

Scene 1

What does Bassanio offer Shylock? Does he take it? Who or why not?

Answer 14

Bassanio offers Shylock 9000 dukats. Shylock refuses because he is entitled to his flesh.

Question 15

Scene 1

Why does Antonio the Bassanio to stop trying to reason with Shylock.

Answer 15

Antonio tells Bassanio to stop because he has given up hope, and is prepared to die.

Question 16

Scene 1

What excuse did doctor Bellario send for not coming himself?

Answer 16

Dr. Bellario sends fourth the excuse that he is so sick to come fourth himself.

Question 17

Scene 1

Who was the duke expecting to come and decide the case? Who arrives instead? Why?

Answer 17

The duke was expecting dr Bellario to arrive, but Portia arrived instead as Balthasar because Bellario is “to-sick”

Question 18

Scene 1

What does the duke ask of Shylock? What is he hoping the answer will be? Why?

Answer 18

The duke asks Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. He is hoping he agrees so that Antonio can live and he doesn’t need to kill Antonio.

Question 19

Scene 1

Why does Shylock call Portia a wise young judge?

Answer 19

Shylock calls Portia a wise young judge because at the start portia was making it seem like Shylock would win but in reality she was playing him.

Question 20

Scene 1

Who does the duke tell antonio he is much indebted too?

Answer 20

He is much indebted to Balthasar

Question 21

What object does Bassanio have trouble parting with? Why? In the end what does he do? Why?

Answer 21

He has problems parting with the rings. In the end he gives it to her.