Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Po

1.	Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Portia : As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now converted: but now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now, This house, these servants, and this same myself, Are yours, my lord: (i) Where are Portia and Bassanio? What has just taken place which makes Portia to speak these words? What was the inscription given in the lead casket?(ii) What does Bassanio say in praise of Portia’s portrait? (iii) What news saddens Bassanio on this happy occasion ? What does Portia ask him to do? (iv) Who is Balthazar? What was the work assigned to him by Portia? (v) Where does Portia really plan to go ? What similarity do we find between Portia and Antonio ? What does this scene reveal about the character of Portia ? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Answer» (i) Portia and Bassanio are in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont. Portia speaks these words when Bassanio says that he is doubtful that all what he sees is true or not until it is fully confirmed, signed and approved by Portia. The lead casket read that “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath’. (ii) Bassanio praises Portia’s portrait by saying that when he moves his eyeballs it seems that Portia’s eyeballs are also moving. He also says that from the parted lips of Portia a sweet breath is coming out. He further praises her picture by saying that in her golden hair the artist has worked like a spider and instead of painting her hair he has woven a golden trap to entrap the hearts of men faster t\|ian flying insects are trapped in spider webs. (iii) The news that Antonio’s all the ships are lost in the sea and not even one venture has been successful saddens Bassanio. Bassanio is also sad because Antonio’s bond to the Jew has been forfeited and since Antonio has not repaid the money to the Jew he is not going to live anymore. Portia tells Bassanio to go to Venice and pay the’Jew six thousand ducats then double the six thousand and then three times that to cancel the bond. She tells Bassanio to do all this fast before even a hair of Antonio should fall because of Bassanio’s fault. (iv) Balthazar is a servant to Portia and he has always been true and honest to her. Portia expects him to be the same now also. She gives him the task of delivering a letter to her cousin Dr. Bellario who lives in Paduan. She asks him to go as fast as possible. She also asks Balthazar to bring the notes and clothes that Dr. Bellario gives him to the water route through which trade with Venice is carried out. (v) She plans to go Venice to help Bassanio to save Antonio’s life from Shylock, the Jew. Both of them love Bassanio from the bottom of their heart. They both have a helpful nature as shown by Antonio by giving Bassanio money and as shown by Portia by giving money to Bassanio to save Antonio’s life. Portia reveals that she is a strong woman who is both bold and capable. She takes charge of the situation, thinks of a daring plan, sends Bassanio to Venice with instructions and money to help Antonio.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Portia : As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now converted: but now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now, This house, these servants, and this same myself, Are yours, my lord: (i) Where are Portia and Bassanio? What has just taken place which makes Portia to speak these words? What was the inscription given in the lead casket?(ii) What does Bassanio say in praise of Portia’s portrait? (iii) What news saddens Bassanio on this happy occasion ? What does Portia ask him to do? (iv) Who is Balthazar? What was the work assigned to him by Portia? (v) Where does Portia really plan to go ? What similarity do we find between Portia and Antonio ? What does this scene reveal about the character of Portia ? Give a reason to justify your answer.

Answer»

(i) Portia and Bassanio are in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont. Portia speaks these words when Bassanio says that he is doubtful that all what he sees is true or not until it is fully confirmed, signed and approved by Portia. The lead casket read that “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath’.

(ii) Bassanio praises Portia’s portrait by saying that when he moves his eyeballs it seems that Portia’s eyeballs are also moving. He also says that from the parted lips of Portia a sweet breath is coming out. He further praises her picture by saying that in her golden hair the artist has worked like a spider and instead of painting her hair he has woven a golden trap to entrap the hearts of men faster t|ian flying insects are trapped in spider webs.

(iii) The news that Antonio’s all the ships are lost in the sea and not even one venture has been successful saddens Bassanio. Bassanio is also sad because Antonio’s bond to the Jew has been forfeited and since Antonio has not repaid the money to the Jew he is not going to live anymore. Portia tells Bassanio to go to Venice and pay the’Jew six thousand ducats then double the six thousand and then three times that to cancel the bond. She tells Bassanio to do all this fast before even a hair of Antonio should fall because of Bassanio’s fault.

(iv) Balthazar is a servant to Portia and he has always been true and honest to her. Portia expects him to be the same now also. She gives him the task of delivering a letter to her cousin Dr. Bellario who lives in Paduan. She asks him to go as fast as possible. She also asks Balthazar to bring the notes and clothes that Dr. Bellario gives him to the water route through which trade with Venice is carried out.

(v) She plans to go Venice to help Bassanio to save Antonio’s life from Shylock, the Jew. Both of them love Bassanio from the bottom of their heart. They both have a helpful nature as shown by Antonio by giving Bassanio money and as shown by Portia by giving money to Bassanio to save Antonio’s life. Portia reveals that she is a strong woman who is both bold and capable. She takes charge of the situation, thinks of a daring plan, sends Bassanio to Venice with instructions and money to help Antonio.

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