That Time A Ladies Marriage Was Determined By Boxes

This period we started reading Act Two of The Merchant Of Venice.

So far, this act has entailed a meeting with the Prince of Morocco and Portia. In previous parts, we find out that Portia is to get married to the person who selects the correct casket from the ones her father left. She has no choice from her suitors though she dislikes them all.

1. We have watched racial and religious tensions at work in A1S3. The Prince of Morocco opens A2S1 with another sensitive issue. What is it? Racism. He says "Mislike me not for my complexion," Meaning, "don't hate me for the colour of my skin," which is brown. We know that because he says "The shadowed livery of the burnished sun.To whom I am a neighbour and near bred." He believes that Portia won't like him due to the colour of his skin
2. If Antonio loses his gamble, he must forfeit a pound of flesh. What must Portia’s suitors give up if they fail to win her? Their hand in marriage to any women."If you choose wrong. Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage. Therefore be advised."
3. Shylock practices ‘usury’. What is this? Lending money with intrest
4. Why do Shylock and Antonio hate each other? Because of their difference in religions and values. On top of the fact that Antonio has teased and picked on Shylock for these same reasons.
5. What is Portia’s opinion of the Prince of Morocco- give examples. She thinks as highly of him as she does her other suiters "Yourself, renownèd Prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have looked on yet For my affection." Meaning, "then you’d have had as good a chance to marry me as any of the suitors I’ve met so far, prince."

Scene Two

1. Why does Launcelot want to leave Shylock? Give evidence from the text to support your thinking. Because of their different values. Another reason is that Shylock treats Launcelot very poorly. We know this because he says, “the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong,”  which means, “the truth is that the Jew has done me wrong.” 
2. Why is Bassanio worried about taking Gratiano with him to Belmont? Because Bassanio is afraid that Gratiano will do something stupid or idiotic and the blame will fall on Bassanio. In lines 114-142...
3. Launcelot and his father are very anxious to find Launcelot a new job. They both want to impress Bassanio. This leads to
   a. frequent interruptions.
   b. contradictions
   c. misuse of words to impress.
   Find examples of each of these in the text.
   A. Many times in this scene this sort of thing happens: LAUNCELOT To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify unto you— GOBBO I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is— B. GOBBO Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy- LAUNCELOT Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man that would, sir, as my father shall specify— (Their words go against each others) C. Not exactly sure of this one..

Scene Three

1. What does Jessica think of her life at home? Give evidence from the text to support your thinking. She hates it, she believes it’s a hell hole. She says “Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,” Meaning “It’s hell in our house, and you helped cheer it up, like a funny devil”
2. Which of Bassanio’s friends is Jessica planning to marry? Lorenzo

Scene Four

1. How does Jessica get a message to her lover? Through Launcelot, she gave him a letter to give to Lorenzo
2. How will she be disguised for the elopement? She will be dressed a page boy

Scene Five

1. Why is Shylock uneasy about going out for the evening? Give evidence from the text to support your thinking. Launcelot told him they've been plotting things ("And they have conspired together.") and that there is going to be a masque he wasn't aware of. Also because he dreamed of money bags the past night, which was thought to be a sign of things not going your way ("There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, for I did dream of money bags tonight.")

Scene Six

1. How does Launcelot manage to tell Jessica that Lorenzo will be there that evening? Through vague messages. He says to Jessica "Mistress, look out at window, for all this. There will come a Christian by will be worth a Jewess' eye." In short, that means, there will be a christian worth your viewing, referencing Lorenzo
2. What does Jessica throw down to Lorenzo?
   A box/casket thing with gold ducats inside.
3. Why is Antonio looking for Gratiano?
   To tell him that the masque has been canceled

Act Two Discussion Questions:

1. In A2S2, Launcelot deceives his father. In A2S6, Jessica deceives hers, What does each of them hope to achieve? Revenge and Freedom
2. In A2S5 Lines 11-18 & 28-39. In both speeches Shylock is speaking to his daughter, Jessica. What is his attitude to her? Give supporting examples from the text. 
3. Trusting but nervous and worried, “I am bid forth to supper, Jessica. There are my keys.—” " Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors,”
4. In A2S5 Lines 11-18 & 28-39. What do Launcelot and the audience know, that Shylock does not? How does this show dramatic irony. We, the audience, and Launcelot know that Jessica is planning on eloping.The dramatic irony is that while Shylock is concerned with his valuable possessions, it is his daughter that he is going to lose, and it’s her that he’s trusted his stuff with.

Scene Seven

1. Which casket does the Prince of Morocco think is worthy to contain Portia’s portrait. Use evidence of the text to justify your answer. The gold one. He says “One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is ’t like that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation To think so base a thought. It were too gross To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she’s immured, Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? O sinful thought!” Meaning that thinking that the lead and silver caskets were worthy of having Portia’s portrait in them was a really bad thing.
2. How is Portia feeling in A2S7 -at the beginning, -while the Prince is making his choice, at the end
   At the beginning she’s partly nervous, while he’s making his choice, she’s annoyed with the process. At the end, she’s relieved.
3. What was Portia’s father trying to achieve by the use of the caskets. Does this seem to be working?
   To see who is worthy of Portia. It’s not really working, because Portia doesn’t like any of them...

Scene Eight

1. What double disaster has struck Shylock? His daughter ran away, with a christian, and took some of his money and jewels.
2. Where did Shylock think Lorenzo & Jessica might be? On Bassanio’s ship. (The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke, Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.)
3. How did Bassanio and Antonio part? With a short conversation and an affectionate handshake
4. What is the first suggestion of trouble for Antonio? Find a quote that tells you this. Salarino says “in the narrow seas that part the French and English, there miscarried a vessel of our country richly fraught. I thought upon Antonio when he told me, And wished in silence that it were not his.” This means there was a sunken boat from Venice and he hopes it wasn’t Antonio’s

Scene Nine

1. What is the purpose of the rhymes in the caskets?
   To make fun of and mock the choices of the suitors.
2. Why does the Prince of Arragon discard the golden caskets. What does his interpretation of the inscription tell us about his character?
   Because it says “He who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” He believes that it may be that some people are as foolish as to not see past looks, the expensive look of the gold.
3. What is Portia’s reaction to Bassanio’s arrival?
   She doesn’t realise it’s him, she believes it’s the messengers relative because of how highly they think of him

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