Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Portia: ……But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word “choose”! I may neither choose whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?
(i) What test had Portia’s father devised for her suitors? What oath did the suitors have to take before making their choice?
(ii) Who is Nerissa? What does she say to cheer up Portia?
(iii) Why does Portia disapprove of the County Palatine? Whom would she rather marry?
(iv) How, according to Portia, can the Duke of Saxony’s nephew be made to choose the wrong casket? What do these suitors ultimately decide? Why?
(v) Whom does Portia ultimately marry? Who were the two other suitors who took the test? Why, in your opinion, is the person whom she marries worthy of her?
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(i) Portia’s father had devised a lottery / by which she would marry the suitor who chose correctly from three caskets / made of gold, silver and lead.
If the suitors chose the wrong casket they took an oath not to marry anyone else.
(ii) Maid / attendant / lady in waiting
She says that Portia’s father was virtuous / Holy men have divine guidance on their deathbeds / That is why he devised the lottery of the three caskets / The right casket will no doubt be chosen by the one whom Portia will love.
(iii) He does nothing but frown / The expression on his face says, “If you do not marry me, choose anyone, I do not care” / He doesn’t smile when he hears amusing stories / He will become like the weeping philosopher when he grows old / He is so full of unpleasant sadness in his youth.
Portia would rather marry a death’s head (skull) with a bone in his mouth.
(iv) If a deep glass of Rhenish wine is kept on the wrong casket the young German will choose that.
The suitors decided to return to their homes / and not trouble Portia with requests to marry
They did not wish to risk the penalty of choosing the wrong casket.
(v)
- Bassanio
- Prince of Morocco and Prince of Arragon.
- He truly loved her / he chose the right casket / he was not swayed by external appearances / he was truthful and did not hide his true financial situation from Portia / Portia loved him.