Quotations and Analysis

Question 1

Topic Sentences for Bassanio

Answer 1

Shakespeare presents Bassanio as a reckless, foolish and naïve character with his money; Bassanio’s love for Portia is shown to be ambiguous as the audience struggles to determine what the true source of Bassanio’s love is; Bassanio is displayed as being a very exploiting and manipulative person without a sense of loyalty for Portia and more loyal to Antonio

Question 2

Bassanio Topic 1: Shakespeare presents Bassanio as a reckless, foolish and naïve character with his money. Quotes

Answer 2

‘My time too prodigal’, ‘I have disabled mine estate’, ‘left gag’d’

Question 3

Bassanio Topic 1 - ‘My time too prodigal’ Analysis

Answer 3

Shakespeare uses the word ‘prodigal’ to reference the Bible story, the Prodigal Son. This vividly emphasises how frivolous and reveals how foolish Bassanio has been, comparative to the Prodigal Son.

Question 4

Bassanio Topic 1 - ‘I hath disabled mine estate’ Analysis

Answer 4

His revelation that he is responsible for his situation conveys to the audience his acknowledgement of the consequences of his reckless behaviour.

Question 5

Bassanio Topic 1 - ‘Left gag’d’ Analysis

Answer 5

The dual semantics of ‘gag’d’ informs the audience of Bassanio’s reality of being so desperate and powerless as he is trapped by his naïve actions.

Question 6

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: Bassanio’s love for Portia is shown to be ambiguous as the audience struggles to determine what the true source of Bassanio’s love is. Quotes

Answer 6

‘ She is fair, fairer than that word of wondrous virtues’ (Against), ‘my chief care is too come freely off from the great debt’, ‘I live upon the rack’, ‘Like a golden fleece’, ‘Lady richly left’

Question 7

Key phrase for argumentative paragraph

Answer 7

On the surface, it is justifiable to argue X. Yet, despite the validity of this, it is more convincing to argue Y.

Question 8

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: ‘ She is fair, fairer than that word of wondrous virtues’ Analysis

Answer 8

Some may argue that Bassanio’s tone of awe while finding it ineffable to describe her beauty reflects his genuine feelings for her.

Question 9

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: ‘ my chief care is too come freely off from the great debt’

Answer 9

The word “chief” gives us an indicator that this is Bassanio’s highest priority, even above Portia. In addition, he wishes to come “freely” off from his debt, or in other words without paying it back which prompts the audience to infer that he plans on using Portia’s wealth to accomplish this.

Question 10

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: ‘I live upon the rack’ Analysis

Answer 10

The dual semantics of ‘rack’d’ conveys Bassanio’s uncertainty of the future due to his economical decisions. He compares to the torture method of being ‘rack’d’ as he displays his emotional anguish of financial stability, overshadowing his love for Portia.

Question 11

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: ‘Like a golden fleece’ Analysis

Answer 11

The imagery evoked by the simile emphasises how highly prized and valued Portia is but also objectifies her and frames her merely as a thy to be won.

Question 12

Bassanio Topic 2/Portia Topic 3: ‘Lady richly left’ Analysis

Answer 12

The adverb ‘richly’, particularly as the first thing he suggests, suggests that what Bassanio values above all is her wealth.

Question 13

Bassanio Topic 3: Bassanio is displayed as being a very exploiting and manipulative person without a sense of loyalty for Portia and more loyal to Antonio. Quotes

Answer 13

‘When you part from, lose, or give away, let it presage the ruin of your love‘, ‘ When this rings parts from this finger, then parts life from hence’, ‘If you did know for whom I gave the ring, and would conceive for what I gave the ring, and how unwillingly I left the ring, when naught would be accepted but the ring, you would abate the strength of your displeasure’, ‘If you had known the virtue of the ring, or half her worthiness that gave the ring, or your own honour to contain the ring, you would not then have parted with the ring‘, ‘ life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not with me esteemed above thy life’,

Question 14

Bassanio Topic 3: ‘When you part from, lose, or give away, let it presage the ruin of your love‘

Answer 14

Bassanio gives the ring away to the disguised lawyer (Portia herself) who saves Antonio. This act of breaking his promise to Portia reveals his disregard for her wishes and symbolizes his lack of true loyalty.

Question 15

Bassanio Topic 3: ‘ When this rings parts from this finger, then parts life from hence’

Answer 15

The fact that Bassanio knows the consequences of him giving up the ring, yet still does in return for Antonio to remain alive, shows us the intensity of his loyalty towards Antonio while also portraying how it outshines the loyalty towards Portia

Question 16

Bassanio Topic 3: ‘If you did know for whom I gave the ring, and would conceive for what I gave the ring, and how unwillingly I left the ring, when naught would be accepted but the ring, you would abate the strength of your displeasure’‘

Answer 16

This further reinforces the audience perception of Bassanio’s priorities where Antonio is above Portia as he gives up a ring, symbolising his love for her being outshined by his loyalty for Antonio.

Question 17

Bassanio Topic 3: “If you had known the virtue of the ring, or half her worthiness that gave the ring, or your own honour to contain the ring, you would not then have parted with the ring.”

Answer 17

Portia’s reprimanding statement shows to the audience how she perceives Bassanio’s betrayal and how she beliefs she is twice the “worthiness” of Bassanio while having more honour and understanding the “virtue of the ring”.

Question 18

Bassanio Topic 3: ‘life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not with me esteemed above thy life’

Answer 18

This stark contrast in his loyalties reveals a manipulative side of Bassanio, as he readily exploits Portia’s wealth to solve his problems while expressing genuine concern for Antonio.

Question 19

Bassanio Topic 3: ‘The dearest friend to me, the kindest man’

Answer 19

His declaration illustrates his deep affection and loyalty to Antonio as he further expresses his willingness to sacrifice things for his friend.

Question 20

Topic Sentences for Shylock

Answer 20

Shylock is a victim of Antonio’s religious prejudices and cruelty which symbolically represents the Jew’s suffering in the hands of Christians; Shakespeare uses Shylock to draw attention to the horrifying injustice of religious prejudice between both Christian and Jews; Shakespeare evidently warns the audience of how hypocrisies can hinder a religion, in this case Christianities, core principles of mercy and treating your neighbour as yourself from being properly obeyed.

Question 21

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: Shylock is a victim of Antonio’s religious prejudices and cruelty which symbolically represents the Jew’s suffering in the hands of Christians Quotes

Answer 21

‘You call me cut-throat dog and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine… You did void your rheum upon my beard’, ‘I am like to call thee so again, to spurn thee too’, ‘He hath disgraced me, hindered me, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned at my nation … cooled my friend, heated mine enemies’, ‘what’s his reason? I am a Jew’, ‘Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?’, ‘If you prick us do we not bleed’

Question 22

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘You call me cut-throat dog and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine… You did void your rheum upon my beard’ Analysis

Answer 22

The revelation that Antonio has repeatedly spat on Shylock conveys his utter contempt towards him, vilely conveying his disgust at his religion and work. It also reveals the repeated indignity that Shylock suffers at A’s hands. The repeated animal imagery, comparing Shylock with a ‘dog’ or a ‘cur’, dehumanises him, reinforcing Antonio’s contempt and condescension.

Question 23

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘I am like to call thee so again, to spurn thee too‘ Analysis

Answer 23

Antonio’s assertion, wholly unemotive, conveys how he has no regrets, guilt, or shame for his actions; this serves to vividly and powerfully reinforce how entrenched Antonio’s and all Christians’ prejudice and hatred is towards all Jews was in Venice at this point.

Question 24

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘He hath disgraced me, hindered me, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned at my nation … cooled my friend, heated mine enemies’ Analysis

Answer 24

Shylock’s listing emphasises his tone of (EITHER!) despair and anguish (OR) outraged bitterness at the sheer extent and enormity of the injustices that he has suffered at the hands of Antonio, and by extension all of Christianity. The vivid, sensory image that is evoked by the antithesis, ‘heated’ and cooled’, powerfully emphasises how all­encompassing the nature of Shylock’s suffering has been; it also draws attention to his increasing isolation and helplessness.

Question 25

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘what’s his reason? I am a Jew’ Analysis

Answer 25

The blunt, short answer to his own rhetorical question draws emphatic attention to the wholly disproportionate and absurdly unjustified extent of Antonio’s cruelty towards him. Tone: incredulous? Outrage?

Question 26

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?’

Answer 26

The vivid listing of corporeal (i.e. bodily) imagery in Shylock’s rhetorical question conveys his outrage and incredulity at the Christians’ failure to recognise our inherent and shared humanity that ought to be so obviously and readily apparent.

Question 27

Shylock/Antonio Topic 1: ‘If you prick us do we not bleed’

Answer 27

Shylock’s rhetorical questions, to which the answers are so obvious / impossible to challenge, vividly emphasise the reason and logic that underpins his argument; at the same time, the imagery evoked of pain / suffering and of feeling emotions serves to emphatically remind the Christians / the audience of the innate humanity of Jewish people and the horror and injustice of dehumanising and vilifying them. (OR simply failing to recognise that!).

Question 28

Shylock Topic 2: Shakespeare uses Shylock to draw attention to the horrifying injustice of religious prejudice not only from the Christians but also the Jews Quotes

Answer 28

‘I hate him for he is Christian’, ‘The Devil can score scripture for his purpose’, ‘fool of Hagar’s offspring’

Question 29

Shylock Topic 3/Portia Topic 3: Shakespeare evidently warns the audience of how hypocrisies can hinder a religion’s, in this case Christianity’s and Juadism’s, core principles such as forgiveness such and treating your neighbour as yourself from being properly obeyed.

Answer 29

‘I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him’ (Shylock - Judaism), ‘It will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge’, ‘When mercy seasons justice’ (Portia), ‘His sceptre shows the force of temporal power’ (Portia), ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven’

Question 30

Shylock Topic 2: ‘I hate him for he is Christian’ analysis

Answer 30

The emotive language conveys the intensity of his resentment and anger towards Antonio.

Question 31

Shylock Topic 2: ‘The devil can cite scripture for his own purpose’

Answer 31

The metaphor conveys Antonio’s engrained religious prejudice as it aligns Shylock with the ‘devil’, implying his inherent / innate malevolence and untrustworthy nature. Ironically / note that the audience is also prompted to recognise Antonio’s hubris as, despite apparently recognising Shylock’s untrustworthy and dangerous nature, he still agrees to the ‘merry sport’ of the bond – foolish / blinded by arrogance

Question 32

Shylock Topic 2: ‘Fool of Hagar’s offspring’

Answer 32

Shylock is hugely derisive in his treatment of Lancelot and scorns him due to being Christian which further reflects his innate religious prejudice.

Question 33

Shylock Topic 3: ‘ ‘I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him’

Answer 33

The imagery evoked by the metaphor is unsettling in the way that Shylock compares himself to / frames himself as a predator who will prey on Antonio. At the same time, the audience infers that Shylock’s tone is one of sadistic pleasure and excitement at the prospect of gaining revenge for his own mistreatment and the opportunity to cause Antonio suffering.

Question 34

Shylock Topic 3: ‘It will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge’

Answer 34

Echoing the earlier assertion that he would ‘feed fat the ancient grudge’ (1.3) the imagery evoked conveys the intensity of his hatred by framing himself as a savage predator taking pleasure in devouring its prey as he rejects the possibility of financial motive.

Question 35

Portia Topic 3: When mercy seasons justice’

Answer 35

The imagery evoked by the metaphor vividly and powerfully emphasises how being merciful improves and enriched raw ‘justice’. At the same time, it also serves to be persuasive by revealing Shylock can still enjoy a form of justice while being merciful

Question 36

Portia Topic 3: ‘His sceptre shows the force of temporal power‘

Answer 36

The imagery evoked by the metaphor vividly and powerfully insist that mercy is superior to any earthly power that can be welded. This further reinforces the elevated and noble nature of mercy as Portia tries to make it appeal to Shylock.

Question 37

Portia Topic 3: ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven’

Answer 37

The imagery evoked by the simile aligns mercy as natural, necessary and nourishing; as such withholding mercy is made to seem unnatural and self destructive.

Question 38

How does Portia Topic 3 Quotes support the statement?

Answer 38

However, Shylock is convicted and all his money is stripped away, but more importantly he loses his religious identity as he i stormed to convert to Christianity. This reveals the Christian’s failure to show Shylock genuine mercy as described by Portia. In her quality of mercy scene.

Question 39

Antonio Topic Sentences

Answer 39

Antonio serves as embodiment of Christianity that is revealed to be morally alhorrent and repugnant in his cruelty towards Shylock in his anti-semitic ways; Antonio, on the other hand, is presented to be overly loyal to Bassanio as he helps assist him out of his financial struggles; Shakespeare shows Antonio to be foolish and blinded by his arrogance.

Question 40

Portia Topic Sentences

Answer 40

Shakespeare shows Portia as having a lack of autonomy and being controlled by men in the patriarchal society; Shakespeare portrays Portia as an intelligent woman, especially in the Trial Scene while also having to disguise herself as man in order to be properly heard; Shakespeare evidently warns the audience of how hypocrisies can hinder a religion’s, in this case Christianity’s and Juadism’s, core principles such as forgiveness such and treating your neighbour as yourself from being properly obeyed.

Question 41

Antonio Topic 2: Antonio, on the other hand, is presented to be overly loyal to Bassanio as he helps assist him out of his financial struggles Quotes

Answer 41

‘ Try what my credit can do, that shall be rack’d even to the uttermost’, ‘I no question make … to have it of my trust or for my sake’, ‘be assur’d: my purse, my person my extremest means lie all unlocked to your occasions’

Question 42

Antonio Topic 3: Shakespeare shows Antonio to be foolish and blinded by his arrogance Quotes

Answer 42

‘This kindness I will show…in a merry sport.’, ‘…like a villain with a smiling cheek, / A goodly apple rotten at the heart’

Question 43

Portia Topic 1 Quotes: Shakespeare shows Portia as having a lack of autonomy and being controlled by men in the patriarchal society

Answer 43

‘O me, the word choose! I any neither choose who I would m nor refuse who I dislike’, ‘the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.’

Question 44

Portia Topic 2: Shakespeare portrays Portia as an intelligent woman, especially in the Trial Scene while also having to disguise herself as man in order to be properly heard

Answer 44

‘So young a body with so old a head’, ‘we turned o’er many books together’, ‘young doctor of Rome’

Question 45

Antonio Topic 2: ‘ Try what my credit can do, that shall be rack’d even to the uttermost’ analysis

Answer 45

The imperative conveys Antonio’s tone of genuine insistance portraying his earnestness of determination to support Bassanio. Also, the image of torture that is evoked by the metaphor of credit being ‘rack’d’ conveys his willingness to subject himself to excruciating hardship and pain for Bassanio.

Question 46

Antonio Topic 2: ‘I no question make … to have it of my trust or for my sake’, Analysis

Answer 46

Antonio’s negation emphatically dismisses the notion of doubt or reservation about Bassanio further reinforcing his absolute unquestioning trust in him.

Question 47

Antonio Topic 2: ‘be assur’d: my purse, my person my extremest means lie all unlocked to your occasions’ Analysis

Answer 47

The auxetic tricolon and imagery evoked by the metaphor reveals Antonio’s unquestioning willingness to help and serves to emphasis the intensity of his loyalty and love towards Bassanio as he willingly places himself in a wholly vulnerable and exposed position.

Question 48

Antonio Topic 3: ‘This kindness I will show…in a merry sport.’

Answer 48

Shylock’s jovial and friendly description of the bond, framing it merely as a joke or ‘merry sport’, shrewdly prevents Antonio’s suspicions from arising that he intends to use this opportunity for violent and brutal revenge should he get the opportunity.

Question 49

Antonio Topic 3: ‘… like a villain with a smiling cheek, / A goodly apple rotten at the heart’

Answer 49

Antonio’s naivety / foolishness OR the intensity of his love for Bassanio is further intensified as the simile both vividly and powerfully conveys his awareness of Shylock’s ability to mask the truth / reality / his true nature with a false outward façade (i.e. Antonio still takes the risk of trusting him and agreeing to the bond)

Question 50

Portia Topic 1: ‘O me, the word choose! I any neither choose who I would m nor refuse who I dislike’,

Answer 50

The blunt exclamation conveys her anger / resentment / anguish at the notion of free will implied by ‘choose’ as she laments / grieves her lack of autonomy. ALSO repeated negation further reinforces her powerlessness and how she is trapped by the casket test.

Question 51

Portia Topic 1: ‘ the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.’

Answer 51

The juxtaposition of ‘living’ and ‘dead’ conveys the intensity of P’s resentment towards the patriarchal status quo in society at the INJUSTICE of how powerless women are / how inferior women’s desires are compared to men’s.

Question 52

Portia Topic 2: ‘So young a body with so old a head’

Answer 52

The juxtaposition of young and old evokes an image of the intensity of Balthazar’s (intelligence). This hyperbolic language eliminates the qualities of Balthazar as Bellario explains that Bakrhazar’s greatness is ineffable.

Question 53

Portia Topic 2: ‘we turned o’er many books together’,

Answer 53

The assertion evokes an image that further reassures the Duke and court that Balthazar is fully prepared with legal knowledge and that the arguments have also been discussed with Bassanio.

Question 54

Portia Topic 2: ‘young doctor of Rome’

Answer 54

By revealing that he comes from Rome, the letter establishes he is from a respected, cultural centre and by revealing that he is a doctor, it further draws attention to his expertise which he could bring to the case.