Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Duke : What, is Antonio here?
Antonio : Ready, so please your grace.
Duke : I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.
(i) What are the terms of the bond that Antonio has signed?
(ii) Why does the Duke call Shylock ‘inhuman’? What does the Duke expect Shylock to do?
(iii) What reason does Shylock give for choosing rotten flesh over money? What are the things hated by some people?
(iv) State three examples Antonio gives to illustrate Shylock’s stubborn attitude.
(v) How is Shylock’s property distributed at the end by Antonio?
Do you think Shylock deserves the punishment given to him?
Give a reason to justify your answer.
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(i) If three thousand ducats /are not paid in three months/ Antonio will have to pay the penalty of having exactly one pound of flesh cut off and taken from whichever part of Antonio’s body that pleases Shylock.
(ii) Shylock is insisting on extracting the penalty specified in the bond./He wants to kill Antonio.
The Duke expects Shylock to show mercy at the last moment/ not only will he let go of the penalty / but also forgive half the original money lent to Antonio / the Duke expects a gentle answer from Shylock.
(iii) It is his humour (fancy, desire, whim)/He hates Antonio (bears a loathing)
Antonio is like a rat in his house. He will pay ten thousand ducats to have the rat poisoned.
There are people who do not like a gaping pig,
Some get mad when they see a cat,
Some cannot tolerate the shrill notes of a bagpipe.
(iv) We cannot expect the high tide of the ocean to reduce its height / ask the wolf why he made the ewe cry for its lamb / you may forbid the mountain pines from waving their high tops / and make no noise when they are shaken by gusts of wind / it is easier to do something as difficult as these than try and soften a Jew’s hard heart.
(v) Antonio requests the Duke to forgive the fine that is equal to one half of his wealth
(let him keep half of his wealth) / Antonio will keep the other half in trust and hand it over to Lorenzo after Shylock’s death /Shylock will have to make a will that all his wealth and property will be inherited by his son-in-law Lorenzo and daughter Jessica.
- Yes / No
- Personal response