Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English The Merchant of Venice Summary, Lesson Explanation with difficult word meanings from Tulip Book
The Merchant of Venice– Are you looking for Summary and Lesson Explanation for Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Lesson 7 The Merchant of Venice from Tulip Book. Get notes, summary of the Lesson followed by line by line explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.
The Merchant of Venice Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English
Charles Lamb
- The Merchant of Venice Introduction
- Theme of the Lesson
- The Merchant of Venice Summary
- The Merchant of Venice Summary in Hindi
- The Merchant of Venice Lesson Explanation
The Merchant of Venice Introduction
The lesson “The Merchant of Venice” by Charles Lamb tells us a story about friendship, love, and justice. It is set in the city of Venice, where a merchant named Antonio helps his friend Bassanio. Bassanio needs money to impress a rich and beautiful lady named Portia. Since Antonio’s money is tied up in his ships at sea, they ask for a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who dislikes Antonio because Antonio does not charge interest on loans.
Shylock agrees to lend the money but makes Antonio sign a strange bond. If Antonio cannot pay the money back in time, Shylock can take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. The story takes a serious turn when Antonio’s ships are lost at sea, and Shylock demands the pound of flesh.
In the end, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, saves Antonio by finding a clever loophole in the bond.
Theme of the Lesson The Merchant of Venice
The theme of “The Merchant of Venice” by Charles Lamb revolves around justice, mercy, and the conflict between revenge and forgiveness. The play talks about how the law can be used for both good and bad purposes, as seen in the trial between Shylock and Antonio. Shylock insists on strict justice, demanding a pound of flesh as part of a bond, while Portia, disguised as a lawyer, argues for mercy. The play also talks about the theme of prejudice, particularly the mistreatment of Shylock as a Jewish moneylender. It shows how deep rooted hatred can lead to cruelty, but also how kindness and forgiveness can create positive change.
The Merchant of Venice Summary
The lesson “The Merchant of Venice” by Charles Lamb talks about a kind merchant in Venice, who borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Antonio needs the money for his friend Bassanio, who wants to marry a wealthy lady named Portia. Since Antonio does not have cash available, he agrees to Shylock’s condition: if he cannot pay back the loan in time, Shylock can take a pound of his flesh. Shylock agrees to this because he holds a grudge against Antonio for insulting him and not charging interest on loans. When Antonio’s ships are delayed, he cannot repay the money, and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The case is taken to court, where Shylock refuses to show mercy. Portia, disguised as a lawyer, cleverly argues that while Shylock can take a pound of flesh, the contract does not allow him to shed any blood. This traps Shylock, who is forced to give up his claim and part of his wealth. Antonio is saved, Shylock is punished, and in the end, Bassanio marries Portia. Everyone celebrates, and the play ends on a happy note, emphasizing mercy over strict justice.
The Merchant of Venice Summary in Hindi
चार्ल्स लैम्ब का पाठ “द मर्चेंट ऑफ वेनिस” वेनिस के एक दयालु व्यापारी के बारे में बात करता है, जो एक यहूदी साहूकार शाइलॉक से पैसे उधार लेता है। एंटोनियो को अपने दोस्त बैसानियो के लिए पैसे की ज़रूरत है, जो पोर्टिया नाम की एक अमीर महिला से शादी करना चाहता है। चूँकि एंटोनियो के पास नकदी उपलब्ध नहीं है, वह शाइलॉक की शर्त से सहमत है: यदि वह समय पर ऋण नहीं चुका सकता है, तो शाइलॉक उसके मांस का एक पाउंड ले सकता है। शाइलॉक इस बात से सहमत है क्योंकि वह एंटोनियो द्वारा उसका अपमान करने और ऋण पर ब्याज नहीं लेने के लिए उसके प्रति द्वेष रखता है। जब एंटोनियो के जहाजों में देरी होती है, तो वह पैसे नहीं चुका पाता है, और शाइलॉक अपने पाउंड मांस की मांग करता है। मामला अदालत में ले जाया गया, जहां शाइलॉक ने दया दिखाने से इनकार कर दिया। वकील के वेश में पोर्टिया चतुराई से तर्क देती है कि शाइलॉक एक पाउंड मांस ले सकता है, लेकिन अनुबंध उसे खून बहाने की अनुमति नहीं देता है। इससे शाइलॉक फंस जाता है, जिसे अपना दावा और अपनी संपत्ति का कुछ हिस्सा छोड़ने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ता है। एंटोनियो को बचा लिया जाता है, शाइलॉक को दंडित किया जाता है, और अंत में, बैसानियो ने पोर्टिया से शादी कर ली। हर कोई जश्न मनाता है, और सख्त न्याय पर दया पर जोर देते हुए नाटक एक ख़ुशी के साथ समाप्त होता है।
The Merchant of Venice Lesson Explanation
Passage:
Shylock, the Jew, lived in Venice. A usurer by profession, had amassed an immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian merchants. Being a hard-hearted man, he exacted the payment of the money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all good men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and Shylock as much hated Antonio, because he used to lend money to people in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent. Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio. Whenever these two met on the Rialto, (Exchange) Antonio used to reproach Shylock for his hard hearted usury. The Jew would bear this with seeming patience while he secretly meditated revenge.
Word Meanings:
usurer (n): someone who lends money to people with the agreement that they will pay back a very much larger amount of money later
covetous (adj.): desiring something too much, especially something that belongs to someone else
fortune (n): a large amount of money
amassed (v): to get a large amount of something
merchants (n): a person whose job is to buy and sell products in large amounts, especially by trading with other countries
distress (n): a feeling of extreme worry, sadness, or pain
enmity (n): a feeling of hate
reproach (v): to criticize someone
Explanation: Shylock, a Jewish man who lends people money, living in Venice, is described as someone who has made a lot of money by lending to Christian merchants and charges high interest. He is seen as a cold-hearted man, asking for repayment harshly, which makes people, especially good men, dislike him. Antonio, a young man and seller, particularly dislikes Shylock because Antonio helps people in need by lending money without charging interest.
Shylock, in turn, hates Antonio for this. The two are enemies because of their different views on lending money. When they meet at the Rialto (the marketplace), Antonio often criticizes Shylock for his greed, but Shylock pretends to be patient while secretly planning revenge against Antonio.
Passage:
Antonio’s young friend Bassanio was in love with a rich and beautiful lady called Portia, who lived in the city of Belmont. He wanted to travel to Belmont to propose to her but did not have the money he needed to make himself look as rich and important as her other suitors. So, he went to Antonio and asked him to lend him a sum of three thousand ducats.
Word Meanings:
ducats (n): any of various former European gold or silver coins, esp. those used in Italy or Netherlands
suitors (n): a man who wants to marry a particular woman
Explanation: Bassanio, a friend of Antonio, was in love with a wealthy and beautiful woman named Portia, who lived in Belmont. He wanted to go to Belmont to ask her to marry him. However, he didn’t have enough money to appear as a rich and important man like the other men who wanted to marry her. So, Bassanio asked Antonio to lend him three thousand ducats (a type of money) to help him out.
Passage:
Antonio had at this time, no ready money to give Bassanio because he had invested all his money in trade. His ships, carrying rich cargoes, had gone abroad, and they would take some time to get back to the port of Venice. But being very eager to provide his friend with the money he needed, he decided to borrow the sum from an old Jew called Shylock.
Word Meanings:
cargoes (n): the goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or other large vehicle
invested (v): to put money into a bank, business, property, etc. in the hope that you will make a profit
eager (adj.): wanting very much to do or have something, especially something interesting or enjoyable
Explanation: Antonio didn’t have any cash to give to Bassanio because he had invested all his money in his trading business. His ships, filled up with valuable goods, were away on trips and would not return to Venice for a while. But since Antonio really wanted to help his friend, he decided to borrow the money from an old Jewish moneylender named Shylock.
Passage:
Antonio and Bassanio went together to Shylock, and Antonio asked the Jew to lend him three thousand ducats upon any interest he should require, to be paid out of the merchandise contained in his ships at sea.
Word Meanings:
lend (v): to give something to someone for a short period of time
merchandise (n): goods that are bought and sold
Explanation: Antonio and Bassanio went to Shylock together. Antonio asked Shylock to lend him three thousand ducats, promising to pay it back with whatever interest Shylock wanted. Antonio promised Shylock that he would repay the money using the profits from the goods on his ships that were still out at sea.
Passage:
On this, Shylock thought within himself, “If I can once catch him on the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him; he hates our Jewish nation; he lends out money gratis; and among the merchants he rails at me and my well-earned bargains, which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe if I forgive him!”
Word Meanings:
gratis (adv): free
grudge (n): a strong feeling of anger and dislike for a person who you feel has treated you badly, especially one that lasts for a long time
bargains (n): something on sale at a lower price than its true value
Explanation: Shylock thought to himself that he would use this chance to get revenge on Antonio. He remembered how Antonio had always criticized him and his way of lending money. Shylock felt that Antonio didn’t like him or his Jewish background, so he decided he wouldn’t forgive Antonio for anything.
Passage:
Antonio, finding he was musing within himself and did not answer, and being impatient for the money, said:
“Shylock, do you hear? Will you lend the money?”
Word Meanings:
musing (v): to think about something carefully and for a long time
impatient (adj.): not willing to wait for something to happen and becoming annoyed at delays
Explanation: Antonio noticed that Shylock was quiet and not responding quickly. Since he was eager to get the money, he asked Shylock if he would lend it to him.
Passage:
To this question the Jew replied, “Signior Antonio, on the Rialto many a time and often you have railed at me about my monies and my usuries, and I have borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe; and then you have called me unbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spit upon my Jewish garments, and spurned at me with your foot, as if I was a cur. Well then, it now appears you need my help; and you come to me, and say, ‘Shylock, lend me monies.’ Has a dog money? Is it possible a cur should lend three thousand ducats? Shall I bend low and say, ‘Fair sir, you spit upon me on Wednesday last, another time you called me dog, and for these courtesies I am to lend you monies.” ‘
Word Meanings:
monies (n): (plural) amounts of money
cur (n): a mongrel (dog of mixed type), especially one that is frightening or fierce
railed (v): to complain angrily
garments (n): a piece of clothing
spurned (v): to refuse to accept something or someone because you feel that thing or person is not worth having
courtesies (n): polite behaviour, or a polite action or remark
Explanation: Shylock responded to Antonio by reminding him of all the times Antonio had insulted and mistreated him. Shylock had put up with this mistreatment patiently because that’s what his people were used to. Antonio had called him names, treated him badly, and showed disrespect. Now, Antonio was asking Shylock for a loan. Shylock was saying that he found it hard to believe that he should lend money to someone who had treated him so poorly in the past.
Passage:
Antonio replied, “I am as like to call you so again, to spit on you again, and spurn you too. If you will lend me this money, lend it not to me as to a friend, but rather lend it to me as to an enemy, that, if I break, you may with better face exact the penalty.”
Word Meanings:
penalty (n): a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law
Explanation: Antonio told Shylock that he might insult him again in the future. He said that if Shylock was going to lend him the money, he should do it as if Antonio was his enemy and not as a friend. This way, if Antonio couldn’t pay back the loan, Shylock could demand the penalty without feeling bad about it.
Passage:
“Why, look you,” said Shylock, “how you storm! I would be friends with you and have your love. I will forget the shames you have put upon me. I will supply your wants, and take no interest for my money.”
Word Meanings:
shames (v): to make someone feel ashamed, or to make someone or something lose honor and respect
Explanation: Shylock noticed that Antonio was angry and upset. He said that despite the way Antonio had treated him badly before, he wanted to be friends and help him out. Shylock offered to lend Antonio the money he needed without charging any interest, showing that he was willing to look past the past issues to assist Antonio.
Passage:
This seemingly kind offer greatly surprised Antonio; and then Shylock, still pretending kindness and that all he did was to gain Antonio’s love, again said he would lend him the three thousand ducats, and take no interest for his money; only Antonio should go with him to a lawyer, and there sign in merry sport a bond, that if he did not repay the money by a certain day, he would forfeit a pound of flesh, to be cut off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased.
Word Meanings:
seemingly (adv): appearing to be something, especially when this is not true
merry (adj.): for fun or enjoyment
bond (n): an official paper given by the government or a company to show that you have lent them money that they will pay back to you at a particular interest rate
forfeit (v): to lose the right to do or have something because you have broken a rule
flesh (n): the soft part of a human or animal body (between the bones and under the skin
Explanation: Antonio was surprised when Shylock offered to give him the money without charging interest. Shylock said he wanted to be friendly and was doing this to gain Antonio’s favor. However, Shylock also wanted Antonio to sign a document with a strange condition: if Antonio didn’t pay back the money on time, Shylock would be allowed to take a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body. He wanted that they go to a lawyer and sign a bond for this.
Passage:
“Content,” said Antonio. “I will sign to this bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew.” Bassanio grew angry when he heard this. He begged Antonio not to risk his life by signing this strange bond. But Antonio was perfectly sure he ran no risk, and cheerfully agreed to the penalty. As soon as the bond was signed and the money taken, Bassanio left for Belmont.
Word Meanings:
cheerfully (adv): in a happy and positive way
Explanation: Antonio agreed to sign the strange bond, saying it showed that Shylock was being kind. Bassanio was worried and tried to ask Antonio not to take such a dangerous risk. However, Antonio felt confident that there was no real danger and was happy to accept the terms. After the document was signed and the money was given, Bassanio went to Belmont to visit Portia.
Passage:
There he succeeded in winning the hand of Portia, who indeed fell in love with him the moment she saw him and was happy to be asked to marry him. A day was fixed for the wedding.
Word Meanings:
succeeded (v): if you succeed, you achieve something that you have been aiming for
Explanation: Bassanio went to Belmont and successfully won Portia’s heart. She immediately fell in love with him when she met him and was thrilled to be asked to marry him. They set a date for their wedding.
Passage:
But before the wedding there came a letter from Antonio bringing dreadful news. Antonio’s ships had not been seen at sea. And since the three months mentioned in the bond had now passed, the Jew had filled a suit against Antonio claiming the penalty of a pound of flesh. Antonio wrote to say that before he died he wanted to see his dear Bassanio and bid him farewell. When Bassanio was returning to Venice to help Antonio, Portia gave him a ring and asked him to wear it always. Bassanio said he would certainly do so. As soon as he left, Portia sent word to Bellario, a cousin of hers who was a lawyer, telling him of Antonio’s situation and asking for his advice. Bellario quickly sent his advice and also the lawyer’s clothes which Portia had asked for. With these clothes for herself and the clothes of a lawyer’s clerk for her maid, Portia set out for Venice.
Word Meanings:
dreadful (adj.): causing fear, shock, or suffering
suit (n): a problem taken to a law court by an ordinary person or an organization rather than the police in order to obtain a legal decision
farewell (n): an occasion when someone says goodbye
Explanation: Before the wedding, Bassanio received a disturbing letter from Antonio. The letter said that Antonio’s ships had not arrived, and since the three months given in the bond had passed, Shylock was demanding the penalty of a pound of flesh. Antonio wanted to see Bassanio one last time before he died. As Bassanio was about to leave for Venice to help Antonio, Portia gave him a ring, asking him to wear it always. Bassanio promised he would. After he left, Portia sent a message to her cousin Bellario, who was a lawyer, to ask for his advice and some clothes worn by lawyers. Bellario quickly responded with the advice and the lawyer’s clothes. Portia then dressed up in these clothes and set off for Venice with her maid, who also wore a lawyer’s clerk outfit.
Passage:
The trial of the case began at the court of the Duke of Venice, in the presence of Bassanio and several other friends of Antonio. The duke decided to wait for some time for Bellario, Portia dressed herself and her maid, Nerissa, in men’s apparel, and, putting on the robes of a counsellor, she took Nerissa along with her as her clerk. Setting out immediately, they arrived at Venice on the very day of the trial. The case was just going to be heard before the Duke and Senators of Venice in the Senate House when Portia entered this high court of justice and presented a letter from Bellario, in which the learned counsellor wrote to the duke that he would have come himself to plead for Antonio but that he was prevented by sickness, and he requested that the learned young Doctor Balthasar (so he called Portia) might be permitted to plead in his stead. This the Duke granted, much wondering at the youthful appearance of the stranger, who was prettily disguised by her counsellor’s robes and her large wig.
Word Meanings:
disguise (adj.): to conceal the identity
trial (n): the hearing of statements and showing of objects, etc. in a law court to judge if a person is guilty of a crime or to decide a case or a legal matter
duke (n): a man of very high rank in a country
senators (n): a politician who has been elected to a senate
apparel (n): clothes of a particular type
permitted (v): to allow something
wig (n): a covering of artificial hair worn on the head to hide a loss of hair or to cover your own hair
Explanation: The trial for Antonio started in the Duke’s court. Bassanio and other friends were there. The Duke was waiting for Bellario, who hadn’t shown up yet. Meanwhile, Portia and her maid, Nerissa, dressed as men, arrived. Portia wore a lawyer’s outfit, and Nerissa dressed as a clerk.
They arrived in Venice just in time for the trial. When it was about to start, Portia entered and showed a letter from Bellario. The letter said Bellario couldn’t come because he was sick and asked if Portia, dressed as a young lawyer named Doctor Balthasar, could represent Antonio instead. The Duke agreed, curious about the young lawyer’s appearance.
Passage:
Portia looked around the court and saw on one side Antonio, and Bassanio and their friends. On the other side stood Shylock, quite alone, sharpening a knife! Portio began by arguing in favour of Shylock, and said that he indeed had a right to his pound of flesh. At the same time, in a moving speech she appealed to Shylock to show mercy to Antonio and not to claim the penalty. But this appeal had no effect on the Jew. He insisted upon the pound of flesh which was due to him according to the bond.
Word Meanings:
appeal (n): a request
Explanation: Portia looked around the courtroom and saw Antonio, Bassanio, and their friends on one side. On the other side, Shylock was alone, sharpening a knife. Portia started by supporting Shylock’s right to the pound of flesh according to the bond. Portia also asked Shylock to be kind and not take the penalty from Antonio. But even though she begged him, Shylock wouldn’t change his mind and was set on taking the pound of flesh as the bond said.
Passage:
“Why then, Antonia,” said Portia, “you must prepare your bosom for the knife.” And while Shylock was sharpening a long knife with great eagerness to cut off the pound of flesh, Portia said to Antonio, “Have you anything to say?”
Word Meanings:
bosom (n): the front of a person’s chest
Explanation: Portia told Antonio to get ready for the knife because Shylock was sharpening it to cut off the pound of flesh. Then she asked Antonio if he had anything to say before the knife was used.
Passage:
Antonio with a calm resignation replied that he had but little to say, for that he had prepared his mind for death. Then he said to Bassanio:
“Give me your hand, Bassanio! Fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen into this misfortune for you. Commend me to your honorable wife and tell her how I have loved you!”
Word Meanings:
commend (v): to formally praise someone or something
resignation (n): a sad feeling of accepting something that you do not like because you cannot easily change it
misfortune (n): bad luck, or an unlucky event
honorable (adj.): honest and fair
Explanation: Antonio, accepting his fate calmly, told Bassanio that he was ready for death and had little to say. He asked Bassanio to hold his hand and say goodbye. He told Bassanio not to be sad about his bad luck, and to give his love and respect to Bassanio’s wife, letting her know how much he had valued their friendship.
Passage:
Bassanio in the deepest affliction replied, “Antonio, I am married to a wife, who is as dear to me as life itself; but life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not esteemed with me above your life; I would lose all, I would sacrifice all to this devil here, to deliver you.”
Word Meanings:
affliction (n): something that makes you suffer
esteemed (adj.): highly respected
Explanation: Bassanio, feeling very sad, told Antonio that his wife means a lot to him, but he would give up everything, even his wife, if it meant saving Antonio from trouble.
Passage:
Shylock now cried out, impatiently: “We trifle time; I pray pronounce the sentence.”
Portia asked if the scales were ready to weigh the flesh, and she said to the Jew, “Shylock, you must have some surgeon by, lest he bleed to death.”
Shylock, whose whole intent was that Antonio should bleed to death, said, “It is not so named in the bond.”
Portia replied: “It is not so named in the bond, but what of that? It were good you did so much for charity.”
Word Meanings:
trifle (n): a matter or item of little value or importance
scales (n): a device for weighing things or people
charity (n): help, especially in the form of money, given freely to people who are in need
Explanation: Shylock impatiently demanded that the judgment be declared. Portia asked if they had the scales ready to weigh the flesh and told Shylock to bring a doctor to make sure Antonio didn’t die from bleeding. Shylock said that the bond didn’t require a doctor. Portia replied that even though it wasn’t in the bond, it would be kind to have one.
Passage:
To this all the answer Shylock would make was, “I cannot find it. It is not in the bond.”
“Then,” said Portia, “a pound of Antonio’s flesh is thine. The law allows it and the court awards it. And you may cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it.”
Again Shylock exclaimed: “O wise and upright judge! A Daniel is come to judgment!” And then he sharpened his long knife again, and looking eagerly on Antonio, he said, “Come, prepare!”
“Tarry a little, Jew,” said Portia. “There is something else. This bond here gives you no drop of blood; the words are, ‘a pound of flesh.’
Word Meanings:
tarry (v): to stay somewhere for longer than expected and delay leaving
Explanation: Shylock said that everything was in order and that the bond allowed him to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. He praised Portia for her intelligence and prepared his knife. But Portia stopped him, saying that the bond only mentioned taking flesh, not blood. She pointed out that if Shylock took the flesh, Antonio would bleed, which is not allowed by the bond.
Passage:
Now as it was utterly impossible for Shylock to cut off the pound of flesh without shedding some of Antonio’s blood. This wise discovery of Portia’s, that it was flesh and not blood that was named in the bond, saved the life of Antonio and all admiring the wonderful sagacity of the young counsellor.
Word Meanings:
sagacity (n): wisdom
shedding (n): the act or process of allowing tears, blood, etc. to flow
counselor (n): a lawyer
Explanation: Portia’s clever discovery saved Antonio’s life. Since it was impossible for Shylock to cut off a pound of flesh without spilling blood, Portia pointed out that the bond only allowed for flesh, not blood. This intelligent move impressed everyone, and Antonio was saved from harm.
Passage:
This unexpected judgment upset all Shylock’s plans. Who could cut off a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of blood?
Word Meanings:
judgment (n): an official legal decision
Explanation: Shylock’s plans were ruined by this ruling because it was impossible to cut off a pound of flesh without spilling any blood.
Passage:
Realizing that he was completely defeated, Shylock turned to Bassanio and asked for three times his principal. But as Bassanio came forward with a bag of gold Portia stopped him and said, “Shylock has already refused the money. He can only have the penalty.” Shylock now said that he was ready to accept his bare principal but even this Portia refused him. He could take his pound of flesh or nothing. All was now lost for Shylock. He turned away angrily to leave the court, but there was something more that Portia had to say to him.
Word Meanings:
principal (n): an amount of money that someone has invested in a bank or lent to a person or organization so that they will receive interest on it from the bank, person, or organization
defeated (n): the fact of losing against someone in a fight or competition
Explanation: Seeing he had lost, Shylock asked for three times the amount of money he was owed. When Bassanio offered the money, Portia stopped him, saying that Shylock had already turned down the offer and could only have the pound of flesh. Shylock then said he would take just the original amount of money, but Portia refused this as well. She told him he could either take the pound of flesh or nothing at all. Defeated, Shylock was about to leave the court angrily when Portia had one more thing to say to him.
Passage:
“You cannot leave so soon, Shylock,” she said. “The law has now a hold on you, Shylock. You have plotted against the life of a Christian and a citizen of Venice. According to the law of Venice, the punishment for this crime is death. Besides, half your goods and money will go to the State of Venice and the other half to Antonio against whose life you plotted.”
Word Meanings:
plotted (n): a secret plan made by someone to do something that is wrong, harmful, or not legal, especially to do damage to a person or a government
Explanation: Portia told Shylock that he couldn’t leave yet. She explained that, according to the law, he was now in serious trouble because he had tried to harm a Christian and a citizen of Venice. For this crime, the law required that he be punished with death. Moreover, half of his wealth would go to the city of Venice, and the other half would go to Antonio, whom he had tried to harm.
Passage:
This was a terrible blow to Shylock. It was now his turn to beg for mercy. The Duke, who was happy at the way things had gone, was ready to spare his life and even allow him to keep a part of his property, but he would have to give half of it to Antonio. The generous Antonio, however, instead of taking the money himself, suggested that it should be given to Shylock’s daughter who had married a Christian against her father’s wishes.
Word Meanings:
mercy (n): kindness that makes you forgive someone, usually someone that you have authority over
Explanation: Shylock was very upset and begged for kindness. The Duke agreed to spare Shylock’s life and allowed him to keep part of his property. However, Shylock had to give half of his wealth to Antonio. Antonio decided not to take the money for himself. Instead, he suggested giving it to Shylock’s daughter, who had married a Christian, even though Shylock did not approve of her marriage.
Passage:
After Portia, in the disguise of a lawyer, had won the case for Antonio, Bassanio went to thank her. He, of course, did not know who she was. He asked her to accept a gift. Portia at first refused to receive any, but when Bassanio insisted she suggested that he could give her the ring on his finger. Now Bassanio was in a difficult situation, because he had promised never to part with the ring. He told Portia that the ring was valueless and he wanted to give her something of real value.
Word Meanings:
valueless (adj.): not worth any money
Explanation: After Portia, disguised as a lawyer, won the case for Antonio, Bassanio wanted to thank her. He didn’t know she was actually Portia. He tried to give her a gift, but she said she did not want anything. When Bassanio insisted, Portia asked for the ring he was wearing. Bassanio was worried because he had promised never to part with the ring, so he said it was not valuable and wanted to give her something else.
Passage:
But Portia wanted that very ring. Bassanio told her that the ring had been given by his wife and she would not like him to part with it. Indeed she had even made him promise that he would never do so. He appealed to Portia to ask for some other thing. But Portia turned away pretending to be angry.
Word Meanings:
appealed (n): the act of asking for something
pretending (v): to behave as if something is true when you know that it is not, especially in order to deceive people or as a game
Explanation: Portia really wanted the ring that Bassanio was wearing. Bassanio said he couldn’t give it to her because it was a special gift from his wife, and he had promised never to part with it. He asked Portia to choose something else, but she acted like she was angry and refused.
Passage:
Antonio thought that she was feeling insulted. “Dear Bassanio,” said Antonio, “let him have the ring. Let my love and the great service he has done for me be valued against your wife’s displeasure.” Poor Bassanio had to agree. How could he say ‘no’ to Antonio who had risked his life for him? So he very unwillingly gave away the ring.
Word Meanings:
displeasure (n): a feeling of being annoyed or angry
unwillingly (adv): in a way that involves someone doing something they do not want to do
Explanation: Antonio thought Portia was upset, so he told Bassanio to give her the ring. Antonio believed that the help he had received from Portia and the risk he had taken for Bassanio were more important than Bassanio’s promise to his wife. Feeling he had no choice, Bassanio gave Portia the ring.
Passage:
Just as Antonio and Bassanio were leaving the court, news came that Antonio’s ships, which were thought to have been lost, had safely arrived at port! Filled with joy, the two friends now hurried to Belmont to tell Portia the story of their great good fortune.
Word Meanings:
port (n): a town by the sea or by a river that has a harbour, or the harbour itself
Explanation: As Antonio and Bassanio were about to leave the court, they got great news: Antonio’s ships, which everyone thought were lost, had safely returned. They were so happy that they quickly went to Belmont to tell Portia about their good luck.
Passage:
When Bassanio reached Belmont, he wanted to hide the fact that he no longer had the ring. But Portia soon found that he had not the ring on his finger. When he did not produce it, she told him with a serious face that he had broken his promise! Then Antonio asked Portia to forgive Bassanio. Portia pretended to agree. She said to Bassanio, “Here is another ring, see that you don’t lose this one too.” Bassanio looked at the ring. It was exactly like the first! As he stood there staring at it, Portia gave a merry laugh and told them the whole story.
Word Meanings:
forgive (v): to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done
Explanation: Once Bassanio arrived in Belmont, he tried to hide that he no longer had the ring. Portia quickly noticed he didn’t have it and said he had broken his promise. Antonio asked Portia to forgive Bassanio, and Portia pretended to agree. She then gave Bassanio another ring, which looked exactly like the first one. Bassanio was surprised, and Portia then laughed and revealed the truth that she had disguised as the young lawyer.