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Character Sketch of Jessica in Merchant of Venice

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Character Sketch of Jessica in Merchant of Venice – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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JESSICA

Her Strong Dislike of Her Father’s Nature and Temperament

Jessica is the daughter of the Jew, Shylock, but a daughter who is ashamed of having that man as her father. She finds the atmosphere of her father’s home to be suffocating and almost intolerable. She is sensitive girl having an artistic temperament; and she is unable to endure the narrow-mindedness, the miserliness, and the tyrannical nature of her father. Although her father is a fanatical Jew who is intolerant of Christians, she falls in love with a Christian and runs away from home with a bag full of her father’s money and jewels. Her conduct in running away from home and stealing her father’s cash and jewels is certainly objectionable in the extreme. However, we feel inclined to take a lenient view of her conduct because we know that her father is really a close-fisted and suspicious man with a dictatorial nature and that he imposes all kinds of restrictions on his daughter’s movements.

A Beautiful, Wise, and Faithful Girl

Jessica impresses the Christian Lorenzo as a very beautiful, wise, and faithful girl; and she strikes us as a charming girl with a strong sense of humour and a poetical nature. Lorenzo tells his friends that he would “place her in his constant soul”, meaning that he would always remain loyal to her. For his sake, she does not mind giving up her own religion and becoming a Christian.

Her Artistic and Poetic Temperament

Jessica’s artistic and poetic temperament manifests itself clearly in the moonlight scene at Belmont when she is having a conversation with Lorenzo about the beauty of the night. Here she appears in a favourable light because of her wide knowledge and her capacity to make use of that knowledge when occasion demands it. She recalls the ancient, mythological love-stories, competing with Lorenzo in this respect and holding her own in this amorous dialogue. She refer to the stories of Thisbe and Medea; and tells Lorenzo that she can “out-night him*” if she is not interrupted in the course of this conversation. Her artistic nature shows itself also in her responsiveness to music. She gets into a melancholy mood whenever she hears sweet strains of music; and this effect is produced on her by music because she is very sensitive to it.

Her Essential Femininity and Modesty

Jessica is basically a modest girl even though she takes the initiative in eloping with Lorenzo. It is because she is feeling desperate that she decides to quit her father’s home; and she goes to the extent of arranging for a boy’s clothes so that she can disguise herself as a boy in order to join Lorenzo when the masked procession is passing through the street. At this time she tells Lorenzo that she is feeling very ashamed of her boy’s disguise, and that she is glad that he cannot see her in this disguise because of the darkness of the night. When Lorenzo asks her to carry a burning torch to light the way for the maskers, she says that she cannot “hold a candle to her shames”, meaning that she would not like to be seen by anyone in her boy’s disguise.

Her Sense of Humour and Her Wit       

Jessica is certainly not devoid of a sense of humour. She likes Launcelot because he keeps her amused with his light-hearted talk and his jokes; and she feels sorry when he quits her father’s service. She can herself make a joke too. For instance, when Lorenzo says that he is a very good husband to her, she replies that he should first ask her what she thinks of him as a husband, meaning that she may not be holding as high an opinion about him as he himself has.

Arguments Against, and For, Her Flight from Home

As already indicated, Jessica is certainly guilty of having disgraced her father and having done a great damage to his reputation even though his reputation is already not a good one. By running away from home and stealing her father’s money and jewels, a daughter brings great shame to her father who would then not be able to show his face to his neighbours and his acquaintances. Such behaviour on the part of a daughter is never approved by anyone in any society or community. There are certainly extenuating circumstances in the case of Jessica. But even so, nobody, who believes in the good name of his family, would justify this conduct. However, there is another side of this picture. Today we are living in times when women have achieved equality with men, and when the rights of grown-up daughters are also fully recognized. Even in orthodox Indian homes, girls have begun to assert their rights. The modem girl is not willing is concerned. We still do not approve of a girl running away from home to marry the man of her choice; but we do recognize a girl’s right to choose her husband. Thus Jessica’s action in running away from home and stealing her father’s ill-gotten money has to be judged by every reader according to his own views in the matter. Even her conversion to Christianity is an action which we may denounce or defend according to our own ideas.

Her Contribution to the Plot and to Its Atmosphere

Jessica contributes to the romantic atmosphere of the play, and adds considerably to the interest of the plot. She is the heroine of the romantic Lorenzo-Jessica sub-plot. Her role in the moonlight scene at Belmont is important because it enhances the romantic and the poetical qualities of the play. Furthermore, by running away from home with a Christian, who is one of Antonio’s associates, she further inflames Shylock’s hatred for Christians in general and for Antonio in particular. Her disguise as a boy lends further interest to the play; and she inspires Lorenzo, by her beauty and her artistic tastes, to make some of his finest speeches which delight us by their poetical and romantic qualities. Nor can we ignore the fact that she enhances Portia’s image in our eyes. She is completely free from jealousy and, when asked by Lorenzo what she thinks of Portia, she says that there is no earthly woman who can be regarded as Portia’s equal. She pays a rich tribute to Portia when she says that “the poor rude world hath not her fellow”. (The word “fellow” here means equal or peer).

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Character Sketch of Lorenzo in Merchant of Venice

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Character Sketch of Lorenzo in Merchant of Venice – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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LORENZO

His Achievement in Winning the Heart of a Jewish Girl

Lorenzo is a Christian young man who is able somehow to capture the heart of Jessica, the daughter of Shylock the Jew. He seems to be a smart and dashing young man with a handsome appearance and an active mind. He must, of course, have taken the initiative in making Jessica’s acquaintance and then’ winning her heart. Indeed, for a Christian to win the heart of a Jewish girl in those days was like , conquering a fort or a citadel because of the bitter antagonism which existed between the two races. Lorenzo may be regarded as a romantic hero, though on a much smaller scale than Bassanio.

An Adventurous man, Truly in Love, But Not Very Scrupulous

Lorenzo is an adventurous young man and is prepared to face danger for the sake of his love. He readily agrees to Jessica’s plan to run away from home and join him when he would be leading a masked procession through the city streets at the time of night. No timid young man can take such a risk. Lorenzo shows himself to be a fearless young man willing to take risks for the sake of the girl with whom he has fallen in love. Nor does he discourage Jessica from stealing as much of her father’s money and jewels as she can. There is certainly a worldly and even mercenary ingredient in his love for Jessica. Beautiful she is; sincere she also seems to be; and she is wise too. If, in addition to being fair, wise, and sincere in her love, she can also bring a rich dowry with her, so much the better. Such is • Lorenzo’s line of reasoning with regard to Jessica. Money is welcome to him, just as it is welcome to Bassanio. But we must also acknowledge the fact that Lorenzo is lacking in moral scruple. A strictly conscientious man would not have encouraged Jessica to run away from home with him because the whole affair would most probably be regarded as a case of a Christian young man’s abduction of a Jewish girl. But, in the Elizabethan age, such conduct on the part of Christian in luring a Jewish girl away from her home and her father was thought to be a commendable action rather than an immoral or obnoxious one.

His Sense of Humour; His Wit; His Artistic Temperament

Lorenzo has a keen sense of humour and also a capacity for making witty remarks. When Gratiano describes the silent kind of man, Lorenzo says that he certainly belongs to the class of such silent men because Gratiano himself talks so much that he does not allow him (Lorenzo) to talk at all. “I must be one of these same dumb wise men”, says Lorenzo. He also gives evidence of his wit when he tells his- friends that, when their turn comes to meet their beloveds, he would wait for them with the same patience which they have shown in waiting for him. Besides being a witty man, Lorenzo has an artistic nature which he reveals in the moonlight scene at Belmont when, in the course of his conversation with Jessica, he recalls the love-affairs of Cressida and Dido, and describes them in a most fanciful manner.in that scene, he speaks in a poetical style of which he gives further evidence when he describes the music of the spheres and the effect of music on animals and on human beings.

His Praise of Antonio; and Portia’s Favourable Impression of Him

Lorenzo expresses a high opinion about Antonio, telling Portia that Antonio is a true gentleman and a dear friend of Bassanio. He also wins Portia’s confidence by his apparent good nature and trustworthiness. Portia leaves her house and her property in his charge when she leaves Belmont to preside over the legal proceedings in a Venetian court of law. Lorenzo is a good judge of character too. He not only appreciates the character of a fine gentleman like Antonio and a lovable young woman, namely Jessica, but also understands the temperament and nature of the clown, Launcelot. He rightly calls Launcelot a “wit- snapper’’. and says that “the fool hath planted in his memory an army of good words”, He correctly perceives the fact that Launcelot tries to amuse him and others by his punning and his persistent play upon words.                                         .

A Likeable Young Man, Romantic and Witty

On the whole, Lorenzo is a very likable young man who contributes greatly to the romantic atmosphere of the play by his love-affair with Jessica and who contributes also to the comedy of the play by his wit and humour.

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Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations

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Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act III Scene II

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 1

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 2

Modern English Reading
Act III Scene II

PORTIA : Please wait; wait a day or two before you choose; because, in choosing wrong, I lose your company; so wait a while. I have a feeling, but it is not love, that I would not lose you; and you yourself don’t hate premonitions like that. But for fear that you don’t understand me well,—A and still a maiden only has thought for a voice,—I would keep you here for a month or two before you gamble for me. I could teach you how to choose right, but then I’m breaking my oath; I’ll never do that; you may not win me; and if you don’t, you’ll make me wish I had sinned, that I had broken my oath. Curse your eyes, they have looked me over and divided me: One half of me is yours, the other half is also yours, my own love, I would say; but if my love, then yours, and so everything yours. Oh! these wicked times put up bars between the owners and their rights; and so, though I am yours, I am not yours. Prove it like that, Let fortune come on hell for it, not me. I’m talking too long, but it’s to balance the time, To lengthen it, and to draw it out in length, To keep you from choosing.

BASSANIO : Let me choose;Because as I am, I live in torture.

Word Meaning With Annotation

In choosing wrong : in case you should choose wrongly. There’s something tells me, (but it is not love,) I would not lose you : the words are deliberately vague. Portia wishes to tell Bassanio that she wants him to be with her but maidenly modesty prevents her from declaring actual love for him. So she hints at the truth, saying, “A certain reeling, I will not say it is love- prompts me in wanting you to remain.” She neither confesses her love nor denies it. quality : manner, and yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought : a maiden is prohibited by modesty from telling her love; she may only think of it. I am forsworn: I would have committed a breach of faith, miss me : lose me by making the wrong choice, wish a sin, that I had been forsworn : she will then wish that she had committed a sin, and had informed Bassanio which casket was the right one to choose. Beshrew your eyes : means “Curse you!” though the expression is always used in a humorous and light-hearted manner, where a curse is not intended, overlook’d : the evil eye. these naughty times put bars between the owners and their rights : “the evil times we live in put obstacles between men and their rightful property.” Portia refers to the compulsory choice between the caskets, as a barrier to be surmounted before Bassanio can possess himself of what is already his own by right, herself. There is also a reference to the artificial barriers which society raises between lovers of high position. Prove it so, let fortune go to hell for it, not I : “If such should prove to be the case, my ill-fortune be punished, and not myself.” Portia insinuates that if Bassanio’s choice between the caskets should be wrong, her love for him will make her defy the decision. In this case, ill-fortune should receive the punishment of hell-fire for such a breach of her oath, and not herself, to peize the time : to “peize” anything meant to retard it by hanging weights upon it. Cp. Richard III. eke : prolong; augment, election : choice; selection, upon the rack : “in a state of torture.” The rack was an instrument something like a bed; the victim was stretched upon it, and his wrists and ankles attached to the four comers. The levers stretched him out violently, leaving in great agony. It was used to force confessions from a prisoner, and is still used as a metaphor for intense pain.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 3

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 4

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : In torture, Bassanio! Then confess what evil is there mingled with your love.

BASSANIO : None but that Ugly evil of mistrust, which makes me fear the enjoying of my love: there may as well be friendship and life between snow and fire as evil and my love.

PORTIA : Yes, but I’m afraid you speak out of torture, where men will say anything.

BASSANIO : If you promise to grant me my life, I would confess the truth.

PORTIA : Well then, confess and live.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Treason : disloyalty to State or ruler, which was often punished by torture in the middle ages, which makes me fear the enjoying of my love : which makes me fear that I shall never enjoy my love, there may as well be amity and life, ’Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love : there could be agreement between snow and fire as easily as between treason and my love, when men enforced : the torture of the rack was so extreme that men subjected to it would gladly confess any crime for the sake of a brief respite, confess and live : if you confess the truth, you shall (like the prisoner on the rack) be given a promise of life.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 5

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 6

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : “Confess” and “love” Have been the very sum of my confession: Oh, happy torment, when my torture Teaches me answers for escape from evil! But let me go to my fortune and the chests.

PORTIA : Away, then! I am locked in one of them: If you do love me, you will find me out. Nerissa and the rest, stand away; Let music sound while he makes his choice; Then, if he loses, he will die as a swan, Fading in music: so that the comparison may be extended, my eyes shall be the stream and watery deathbed for him. He may win; and what is music then? Then music is sounds as the trumpets when true subjects bow to a new-crowned king; music is those sweet sounds at sunrise that creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear and summon him to marriage. Now he goes, with no less confidence, but with much more love, than young Alcides went to redeem the sacrifice of young women made by howling Troy to the sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice; The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives, with tear-stained faces coming out to view the outcome of the event. Go, Hercules! If you live, I live. I view the fight with much, much more sadness than you that are fighting. Tell me where is fancy bred, in the heart or in the head, How begot, how nourished? Answer; answer. It is born in the eyes, Fed with gazing; and fancy dies in the cradle where it lies. Let’s all ring fancy’s knelhl’ll begin it.— Ding, dong, bell.

Word Meaning With Annotation

O happy torment, when my torturer, Doth teach me answers for deliverance : still the metaphor of the rack. Bassanio says that his torturer, Portia, who is keeping him in an agony of suspense, is a kindly torturer, since she suggests the answer which will have the effect of releasing him from the ordeal! if you do love me : Portia seems to think that the test of the casket is indeed a test of true love, a swan-like end, fading in music : An old superstition that the swan, usually mute, sings a beautiful song just before its death, my eye shall be the stream, and watery death-bed for him : Portia says to him that, just as the stream on which it floats is the death-bed of the dying swan, so her tear-filled eyes will be the death-bed of Bassanio if he fails, dulcet: from Latin dulcis, sweet. Alcides : another name for Hercules; Cp. II, I, 35. bleared visages : tear-stained faces, issue of the exploit : the result of his achievement. Go, Hercules : she fancifully addresses Bassanio as her Hercules. Live thou, I live : “if you are successful, I shall live in happiness.” Ding dong bell : an imitation of the sound of a church bell, which is rung when any one has died.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 7

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 8

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : These chests may not be what they seem outside : The world is still tricked by ornament. In law, what plea is so tainted and corrupt that, being delivered with a gracious voice, obscures the evil underneath? In religion, What damned error is there that some sober face will bless it, and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with a beautiful ornament? There if  no vice so simple that it takes on some mark of virtue on outside. How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false as stairs of sand, still wear the beards of Hercules and frowning Mars on their chins, who, if searched inside, would have livers as white as milk; and the only thing these men do to look fearful is to put on velvet clothes look on beauty and you shall see it’s bought by the pound: which works a miracle in nature, making them who wear most of it look the lightest: So are those crisp, snaky, golden locks which are playing games with the wind, on made-up beauty, often known actually to be wigs of human hair, the head that bred them is in the tomb. Thus decoration is only the deceived shore to a most dangerous sea; the beautiful scarf Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, the seeming truth which skillful times dress in to fool the’ wisest men. So, you gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I don’t anything from you; and not from you either, you pale and common exchange between man and man: but you, you lowly lead, which threatens rather than promises anything, your plainness moves me more than any speech, and I choose you: joy be the result!

Word Meaning With Annotation

So may he the outward shows he least themselves : The sense here is that the outward appearances of things may differ greatly from their real natures, still: continually; always. In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt, but, being season’d with p gracious voice, obscures the show of evil: Bassanio reflects that a dishonest case in law may be made to appear just, by the eloquence of a clever lawyer. In religion, what damned error, but some sober brow will bless it, and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with fair ornament : similarly in religion it is possible for some wicked doctrine to appear fair and true if expounded by a serious priest, and concluded by a text from the Bible, simple : plain; unmistakable, stairs of sand : these would indeed be very untrustworthy and unreliable steps to walk upon, the beards of Hercules and frowning Mars : men. who are cowards, yet wear beards like Hercules, the God of strength, and wear a frowning expression which might suit Mars, the god of war.

livers white as milk : a man having a brave heart, as if the heart was the seat of physical courage, valour’s excrement : an outward growth as a beard is. purchas’d by the weight : the beautiful colours and complexion of women’s faces have been bought (in the form of cosmetics) in chemist’s shops. Moreover, there is the case of beautiful hair, which is often an artificial wig which has been purchased, making them lightest that wear most of it : Women who wear the greatest amount of artificial aids to beauty are the lightest in morals whereas we would expect to find them heaviest, crisped : curled.upon supposed fairness : upon the head of a lady who has a reputation for beauty, undeserved because the hair is not really her own, but has been cut from the head of some other person who is now dead and in the grave, dowry : possession gulled : a shore which is dangerous to shipping.

He beauteous scarf Veiling an Indian beauty: thought of the negroes of the West Indies as “Indians”. The idea here is that of a beautiful cloth covering the thick lips and flat nose of a negress, a fair outward appearance concealing ugliness, seeming truth : a false appearance of truth, hard food for Midas : Midas was an ancient king who was allowed to ask a certain favour from the gods. Midas was very avaricious and asked that whatever he touched might turn to gold. His request was granted. Then he found that when he attempted to eat, his food was at once turned to gold. So he was in danger of starving to death, and had to pray to the gods to withdraw their gift, meagre lead: unattractive lead, in comparison with gold and silver.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 9

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : How all the other passions fly to the air, as doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy! Oh, love! behave; hold back your thrills; Be happy slowly; limit this excess; I feel your blessing too much; make it less, Because I’m afraid of having too much joy!

Word Meaning With Annotation

All the other passions fleet to air : how every passion except love vanishes like thin air. green-eyed jealousy : jealousy is personified here, and said to be a monster with green eyes. In measure rein the joy : “scatter down the joy.” surfeit : to sicken of a thing from having too much of it.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 10

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 11

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : What do I find here? Beautiful Portia’s picture! What minor god has come so near to making a woman? Do these eyes move? Or do they seem to be moving because they are riding on my eyeballs? Here are parted lips, Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar should tear such sweet friends apart. Here a he painter plays the spider in her hair, and has woven a golden mesh to capture the hearts of men faster than gnats are caught in cobwebs: but her eyes! How could he see to do them? Having made one eye, I think it should have power to steal both his, and leave itself poor: yet look, how far the body of my praise insults this shadow by valuing it less, so far this shadow limps behind ‘the substance. Here’s the scroll, The world and summary of my luck.” You that choose not by looks, Gamble as fair and choose as true! Since this fortune falls to you, be content and seek no other new one. If you are well pleased with this, and hold your fortune for your bliss, turn to where your lady is and claim her with a loving kiss.” A gentle scroll. Beautiful lady, excuse me; I come off to the side, to give and to receive. Like one of two contenders for a prize, that thinks he has done well in people’s eyes, hearing Applause and universal shout, Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt whether those peals of praise are his or not; So, three times beautiful lady, I stand I, even like this, as doubtful of whether what I see is true, until it is confirmed, signed, and ratified by you.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Counterfeit : something made exactly the same as another, what demi-god hath come so near creation : a demi-god is a half-divine person. Bassanio says that the portrait is so near to being alive that the artist has almost created life, or whether, riding on the balls of mine, seem they in motion: or is it the fact that their image is taken up by my own eyeballs, which seem to impart motion to them?here are sever’d lips, parted with sugar breath : her lips are slightly parted by the sweet perfumed breath which passes in and out.

but her eyes, how could he see to do them? having made one, me thinks it stfbuld have power to steal both his, and leave itself unfurnish’d : says that it surprises him that the painter was able to finish the second eye of the portrait, because the beauty of the first eye should have absolutely dazzled the artist, so that he could not see to complete the second one. Thus the first should have been left without its companion eye (unfurnish’d = unaccompanied), doth limp behind the substance : moves like a lame person (limp) in an unsuccessful effort to keep up with the original, continent: that which contains; the container, you that choose not by the view : the whole principle on which the choice of the caskets is founded is expressed in this line, namely that men should not choose by outward appearances, but should look deeply for the real meaning of things, by note : according to this instruction, your leave : kissing her. contending in a prize : the simile is that of two wrestlers, or similar athletes, competing for a prize.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 12

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 13

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, such as I am: though for myself alone i would not be ambitious in my wish to wish myself much better luck. Still, for you, I would be three times twenty times myself, a thousand times more beautiful, ten thousand times more rich; If only to stand high in your account, I might exceed making a count of virtues, beauties, livings, friends. But the full sum of me is the sum of something which, in general, is an un lessoned girl, unschooled, unpracticed; happy in this state, she is not too old to learn; happier than this state, She is not bom so dull that she cannot learn; Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit commits itself to you to be directed, as by her lord, her governor, her king. I and what is mine is now converted to you and yours. However, now I was the lord of this beautiful mansion, master of my servants, Queen over myself; and even now, but now,This house, these servants, and I, are yours – my lord’s. I give them with this ring, which, if you part from it, lose it, or give it away, let it predict the ruin of your love, and be my opportunity to cry out against you.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Livings : property; possessions, exceed account : surpass all reckoning, but the full sum of me, is sum of nothing : but the sum total of all my virtues amounts actually to nothing at all. happier than this : and a happier circumstance than that is etc. to you and yours is now converted : now pass to you, and become part of your property, lord : used as “owner” without regard to sex. and even now, but now : and just now, at this very moment. I give them with this ring; which when you part from, lose, or give away, let it presage the ruin of your love, and be my vantage to exclaim on you : this gift of the ring, which looks no more than a pretty action on Portia’s part, is really the commencement of an important subsidiary action in the latter stages of the play, presage : fore tell, and be my vantage to exclaim on you : and then it will be my opportunity to scold you.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 14

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 15

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : Madam, you have made me speechless, only my blood in my veins speaks to you, and I am so confused Just as there appears buzzing among a happy crowd after a well given speech by a beloved prince; where every piece, blended together, turns to something wild, expressed and not expressed, except for joy. But when this ring parts from this finger, then life parts from my body; Oh! Then you can be strong and say, “Bassanio’s dead.”

NERISSA : My lord and lady, now it’s our turn, o cry, “Good joy,” We who have stood by and seen our wishes for you come true, Good joy, my lord and lady!

GRATIANO : My Lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish for yourselves; Because I am sure you can’t wish any from me; and when you two mean to make the bargain of your vows solemn, please, even then, let me be married too.

BASSANIO : With all my heart, if you can get a wife.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Buzzing : murmuring, where every something, being blent together : where all individual sounds being mingled, a wild of nothing : a wild confusion of sound, expressing nothing, for I am sure you can wish none from me : Gratiano has wished Bassanio all the joy he may desire, and adds “I may safety do this, for I am sure you are not likely to desire anything that will be taken from me” i.e. there is no fear of your wanting Nerissa, who is mine, solemnize : celebrate or confirm solemnly.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 16

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 17

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 18

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : I thank you sir, you have gotten me one. My eyes, my lord, can look as quickly as yours: You saw the mistress, I saw the maid ; You loved, I loved, because a rest doesn’t pertain any more to me, my lord, than to you. Your fortune stood on the chests there, and so did mine, as it works out; Because courting here until I worked up a sweat, and swearing promises until my mouth was dry with oaths of love, at last, if her promise lasts, I got a promise of this beautiful one here to have her love, provided that you were lucky enough to get her mistress.

PORTIA : Is this true, Nerissa?

NERISSA : Madam, it is, as long as you are pleased with the rest of it.

BASSANIO : And you, Gratiano, are you sincere?

GRATIANO : Yes, in faith, my lord.

BASSANIO : Our feast shall be very honored by your marriage.

GRATIANO : We’ll bet them who has the first . boy for a thousand dollars.

NERISSA : What! Bet?

GRATIANO : No; we shall never win a bet at that sport. But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel? What, and my old Venetian friend, Salanio!
Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio.

BASSANIO : Lorenzo and Salanio, welcome here, If my engagement just now gives me the power to bid you welcome. Excuse me, I bid my very friends and countrymen, welcome, sweet Portia.

Word Meaning With Annotation

For intermission, no more pertains to me, my lord, than you : for delay in seizing an opportunity is no more a fault in my nature than it is in yours, as the matter fall : as things turn out. for wooing here, until I sweat again : Gratiano says that his love suit was hard and difficult matter, and compares it to bard labour Which makes a man perspire, swearing : making declarations of his love, if promise last : if her promise still holds good. Achieved : unhold. Infidel : “not faithful” i.e., the one who is not a believer in a particular religion; an unbeliever. Applied to Jessica because she is not a Christian, the youth of my new interest : the beginning of my newly acquired authority here.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 19

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 20

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : So do I, my lord; they are entirely welcome.

LORENZO : I thank you, sir. For my part, my lord, I didn’t intend to see you here; But, meeting with Salanio by the way, he begged me, past all saying no, to come along with him.

SALERIO : I did, my lord, and I have reason for it. Mr. Antonio send you his regards.

BASSANIO : Before I open his letter, please tell me how my good friend is doing.

SALERIO : He’s not sick, my lord, unless it’s in his mind; but he’s not well, unless in his mind; his letter there will show you his state of affairs.
Bassanio opens the letter.

GRATIANO : Nerissa, cheer the stranger; say hello to her. Let me shake your hand, Salanio. What’s the news from Venice? How is that royal merchant, good Antonio?I know he will be happy at our success: We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.

SALERIO : I wish you had won the fleece that he has lost.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Past all saying nay : in spite of all arguments to the contrary, commends him to you : sends his compliments, how my good friend doth : simply “how he is,” like the modem inquiry after a friend’s health: “How do you do?” not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind : he has no illness unless it be mental trouble. On the other hand, he can have no cause for happiness, except in his mind, estate : condition. Royal merchant : a very important merchant. We speak of “merchant princes,” meaning very great men of business, fleece : wealth, fleece : here signifies “wealth.” A sheep’s riches consists of the fleece on its back.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 21

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 22

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : There are some harsh contents in that letter that steal the color from Bassanio’s cheeks: Some dear friend is dead, or nothing else in the world could change the constitution so much of any constant man. What, worse and worse! Please, Bassanio: I am your other half, and I must freely have the half of anything that this letter brings to you.

BASSANIO : Oh, sweet Portia! Here are a few of the most unpleasant words that were ever written on paper. Gentle lady, when I first gave my love to you, I freely told you that all the wealth that I had Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman; and then I told you the truth. And yet, dear lady, even rating myself as zero, you shall see how much I was bragging. When I told you that I had nothing, I should have told you then that I had less than nothing, because; indeed I have indebted myself to a dear friend, Indebted my friend to his notorious enemy, to feed my needs. Here is a letter, lady, the paper is like the body of my friend, and every word in it, a gaping wound Bleeding heavily. But is it true, Salanio? Have all his ventures failed? What, not one came in? From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England, From Lisbon, Barbary, and India? And not one vessel escaped the dreadful touch of the rocks that can break a merchant?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Shrewd : sharp; bitter, constitution normal condition; self-control, constant man : man of firm nerves. I am half yourself : it is proverbial that, on marriage, man and his wife are united into one; hence each can only claim to be one half, all the wealth I had, Ran in my veins : that I possessed no riches except noble blood, rating myself at nothing : when I estimated my possessions at nothing, was a braggart : I was actually boasting and over estimating, mere enemy : one who was his complete enemy, feed my means ; increase my resources, issuing life-blood : dis charging his life-blood, what, not one hit : What! Has not a single one attained its object? merchant-marring rocks : rocks, which ruin merchant by wrecking their ships.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 23

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 24

Modern English Reading

SALERIO : Not one, my lord. Besides, it seems that, even if he had the money right now to pay the Jew, he wouldn’t take it. Never did I know a creature that was shaped like a man, so eager and greedy to destroy a man completely. He petitions the Duke morning and night, and challenges the freedom of the courts, if they deny him justice. Twenty merchants, the Duke himself, and the noblemen of greatest reputation, have all tried to persuade him; but no one can drive him from the envious plea of default, of justice, and his promise to pay.

JESSICA : When I was with him, I heard him swear to Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, that he would rather have Antonio’s flesh than twenty times the value of the sum that he owed him; and I know, my lord, If law, authority, and power, don’t deny him, It will go hard with poor Antonio.

PORTIA : Is it your dear friend that is in trouble like this?

BASSANIO : The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, the best conditioned and unwearied spirit in manners, and one in whom the ancient Roman honor appears more than any man alive in Italy.

Word Meaning With Annotation

If he had the present money : if he had the money at the present time, confound : ruin; reduce to beggary, plies : continues to approach; presses, and doth impeach the freedom of the state : to “impeach” in legal language, meant “to bring an accusation against.” Shylock brings the charge that Venice is denying him his legal rights, and therefore is violating the free rights which foreigners were supposed to enjoy, magnificoes of greatest port: the greatest nobles of Venice were termed “Magnifici”, the noble-minded or magnificent ones “Of greatest port” may be rendered as “of the most noble carriage”, when I was with him, I have heard him swear : this is an indication of the passage of time showing that Jessica is speaking of things by no means recent. It also shows Jessica’s character, and some might fancy that this betrayal of her father’s confidential talk is not an admirable trait. Roman honour : in the early days of the Roman empire the Romans were famed all over the world for the strict and un wavering code of high honour which distinguished their national life. The standard of national honour was made the theme of many a song.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 25

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 26

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : How much does he owe the Jew?

BASSANIO : For me, three thousand ducats.

PORTIA : What! Is that all? Pay him six thousand, and destroy the promise to pay; Double six thousand, and then treble that, before a friend of this description loses a hair because of Bassanio. First go with me to church and marry me, and then go away to Venice to your friend; because you shall never lie by Portia’s side with an uneasy soul. You shall have gold to pay the little debt twenty times over: When it is paid, bring your true friend back with you. My maid Nerissa and I will live as maids and widows in the meantime. Come, let’s go! Because you shall go away on your wedding day, Bid your friends welcome, show a happy face; Since you are bought so dearly, I’ll love you dearly. But let me hear the letter of your friend.

BASSANIO : “Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all sunk, my creditors grow cruel, my funds very low, my promise to pay to the Jew is in default; and since, in paying it, it is impossible forme to live, all debts between you and me are canceled if I might only see you at my death. Anyway, enjoy yourself; if your friendship doesn’t persuade you to come, don’t – let my letter.”

Word Meaning With Annotation

First go with me to church, and call me wife : to have the legal ceremony of marriage performed by the priest, since you are dear bought, I will love you dear : “Since you have cost your friend Antonio so dear a price, I shall hold you equally dear in my estimation.” miscarried : failed, estate : my wealth.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 27

Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 28

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : Oh, love, finish all business and get going!

BASSANIO : Since I have your permission to go, I’ll hurry; but, until I come back again, I will not sleep, and rest will not keep us two apart.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

No bed shall e’er be guilty of my stay : Bassanio says that since Portia is so noble and self-sacrificing as to allow him to leave her on the wedding day, he will also make some self-sacrifice. So he will not be guilty of taking comfortable rest in bed as along as he is away from her, and no rest will refresh him in the interval before he returns.

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Character Sketch of Gratiano in Merchant of Venice

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Character Sketch of  Gratiano in Merchant of Venice – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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GRATIANO

His Copious Talk; His Wit; His contribution to the Comedy of the Play

Gratiano is a very talkative and witty man. Indeed, his garrulity is his most striking trait; and this trait would have repelled us if his talk had not been witty. He has a keen sense of humour, an infinite capacity for talk, and a fertile wit. He is never short of words, and almost every remark that he makes is amusing in one way or another. Antonio, who is a serious-minded man, does not relish Gratiano’s ceaseless talk which is nothing but chatter for his ears. And even Bassanio says that Gratiano talks an infinite deal of nothing and that there is very little real sense in his talk. Bassanio expresses the view that the sense in Gratiano’s talk may be compared to two grains of wheat hidden in a large heap of chaff (or straw). However, Bassanio does not feel much upset by Gratiano’s endless talk though he does have some apprehension that Gratiano’s glib tongue would create some embarrassing moments for him (Bassanio) at Belmont. He feels it necessary to get a promise from Gratiano not to talk too much at Belmont before agreeing to Gratiano’s request that he should take him (Gratiano) there. Gratiano makes a substantial contribution to the comedy of the play. The Merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy which means that it is a play containing both romantic and comic elements in ample measure. If Bassanio is a man who contributes greatly to the romantic character of the play Gratiano is a man who contributes equally greatly to the play’s comic character.

His Satirical Comment on the Silent and Reserved Kind of Man

Gratiano’s comment on Antonio’s melancholy in the very beginning of the play shows the big difference  between these two men. Gratiano says that he cannot understand why a man should feel sad at all. He asks why a man, whose blood is warm within, should sit still and motionless like his grandfather’s statue. And then he asks why a man should creep into the jaundice by being peevish. By contrast with Antonio’s role as a sad man on the world-stage, Gratiano’s role is that of a “fool” (or a jester) who would like to grow old with mirth and laughter. Gratiano ridicules men who try to win respect by remaining silent so as to appear thoughtful and wise. He ridicules to man who talks in the tones of Sir Oracle, who wants others to stop talking as soon as he opens his mouth to say something.

His witty Promise to Bassanio

Gratiano’s promise to Bassanio to exercise restraint upon his natural effusiveness and boisterousness is another example of his witty manner of speaking. He tells Bassanio that he would swear only occasionally at Belmont, that he would carry prayer-books in his pockets, and that he would put on a solemn expression when gracebefore meal is being said. Indeed, Gratiano’s wit has a large share in the comedy of the play, The Merchant of Venice.

His Bitter, Fierce, and Denunciatory or Abusive Wit

Gratiano shows his wit even in the Trial Scene which is, on the whole, a very serous one, bordering almost on tragedy. Here his wit is ironical and sarcastic. Here his wit has an incisive quality which produces a devastating effect on the Jew. He repeats the words which Shylock has originally used when Shylock thought that he had won the case against Antonio. But Gratiano repeats those words in a tone of mockery and ridicule so as to aggravate the mental torture which Shylock is going through on finding that he has completely lost the case. The words Gratiano speaks are: “O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!’’ And then “A second Daniel! I thank thee Jew for teaching me that word.” He also suggests mockingly that the lew should be given a halter gratis so that he may hang himself. Indeed, Gratiano’s wit here becomes bitter, and even fierce and violent. His wit takes even the form of abuse and denunciation. He calls Shylock a damned, cursed dog. He also says that Shylock was in his previous life a wolf because his desires in his present life are wolfish, bloody, and starved.

The Wide Range of His Wit

Gratiano’s wit is wide-ranging. He can be simply jovial but he can also become bitterly sarcastic and even abusive. He can be furious and yet witty in his wrathful remarks. He can be mirthful and gay, and then he can make witty comments to add to the gaiety and the laughter. This pleasant side of his wit comes to our notice more particularly in the concluding scene of the play when the comedy of the rings reaches its climax. Here he defends himself against Nerissa’s allegation with a witty disparagement of Nerissa’s ring and tries to turn the quarrel into a trivial and frivolous manner.

His Knowledge of this World, and the Wisdom Resulting Therefrom

Gratiano is by no means a person who can only talk in a jovial and flippant manner. One or two of his speeches show that he is essentially a discerning man who has observed this world with close attention, and who has become fairly shrewd in judging people and things. On one occasion he makes a speech describing the decline in a man’s enthusiasm for something which had originally inspired a good deal of eagerness and zest in him. Nobody, he says, gets up from a feast with the same keen appetite with which he had sat down to it. Similarly, while a horse runs very fast in the beginning, it runs very slowly when it is coming back to the starting-point. When a ship sails away, it looks splendid; but, when it returns, it presents a sad spectacle because its body has greatly been damaged and its sails look worn- out on account of the strong winds and furious storms which the ship had to endure in the course of its long voyage. And the essence of this whole speech is found in the following lines:

all things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.
Gratiano is by no means a novice in the affairs of the world.

His Marriage with Nerissa

Gratiano’s visit to Belmont does not prove to be futile. He is able to win Nerissa as his wife; and he is able to do so without having to go through the ordeal which Bassanio has to go through in order to win Portia. Gratiano was able to coax Nerissa into agreeing to marry him even though she had laid down a condition. She had promised to marry him if Bassanio succeeded in winning Portia as his wife. He is, on the whole, a pleasing young man, with considerable knowledge of the world and of human nature. Nor do we have any doubt that he would make a good husband for Nerissa who is herself a highly intelligent woman with as penetrating a judgment of human character as her mistress Portia is. He and nerissa are, indeed, well-matched and make an excellent pair.

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Character Sketch of Bassanio in Merchant of Venice

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Character Sketch of Bassanio in Merchant of Venice – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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BASSANIO

The Hero of the Caskets Story

If Antonio is the hero of the Bond story, Bassanio is the hero of the Caskets story. Of course, he is not a hero in the absolute sense of the word. But he is certainly a romantic hero who is able to win the heroine Portia as his wife.

A Young Prodigal Often in Need of Money

When we meet Bassanio first, we find him in need of money.’ He already owes some money to his friend Antonio; and now he approaches that friend of his with a request for another loan. He admits that he has always been spending more money than he could afford. He also acknowledges the fact that he is already under a debt to Antonio. But he also expresses his sincere desire to repay the first loan while asking for a second. And then, to prove his point he argues that, if Antonio gives him a second loan, he (Antonio) would stand a much greater chance of getting back the amount of the first loan in addition to getting back the amount of this second loan. And he supports this argument by citing his own experience as a schoolboy when, by shooting as arrow in the same directiofi in which he had shot the first arrow and lost it, he used to recover both the arrows. This is a very plausible way of arguing a case; and we must give due credit to him in this context. Of course, we can also here interpret his argument differently and say that he is using only, a trick to be able to extract a second loan from a gullible man. But Antonio’s deep love for him is a proof of the fact that Bassanio was not a trickster.

An Ardent and Romantic Lover with a Poetical Nature

Bassanio is certainly a romantic lover, having something of the poet in him. In describing Portia to Antonio, he says that she is fair and fairer than that word. He compares her to Cato’s daughter, Brutus’s Portia. Then he suitors to the many Jasons who went to Colchos to win the golden fleece. Later, he speaks in a poetic manner about the beauty of Portia’s picture. Thus we can have no doubt at all about his imaginative, romantic, and poetical qualities.

His Love of Gaiety

Bassanio has a dual nature. On one hand he is devoted to Antonio who is a reserved and melancholy kind of man, the silent type speaking very little. On the other hand, he is fond of the company of men like Gratiano, Salerio, and Solanio, all of whom are jovial, talkative, and boisterous fellows. On the whole, he may be regarded as a man with a healthy and optimistic outlook upon life. It is because of his handsome appearance and excellent manners, combined with his sense of humour and witty manner of speaking that Portia falls in love with him even before he makes his choice of a casket. Even Nerissa is greatly impressed by his personality and his behaviour, and she sincerely and ardently desires his success in his choice of a casket. His prodigality is a small fault which by no means disqualifies him as a suitor whose success in the test of the caskets is desired by all those who are interested in Portia’s welfare and by us as well. He actually comes out of the test with flying colours; and his success is, of course, the result of his understanding of this world and his knowledge of human nature.

Not at all a Shallow Man

He is not a shallow kind of man. The speeches which he makes before choosing a casket show his essential wisdom. When he comes to Belmont, his chief motive in trying to win Portia is to marry an heiress who owns a vast estate and is also exceptionally beautiful, However, the comments which he makes on the various caskets show that he is not at all a greedy man. He knows that appearances are deceptive and that the world is always deceived with ornament. He then gives several examples from the spheres of law and religion to prove that every vice in this world puts on an outward appearance of virtue. He speaks of cowards who wear the beards of Hercules and the frowns of Mars; and he speaks of women using paint, powder, and false hair to look beautiful and alluring.

His Sincerity in Friendship

Nor can we doubt his sincerity in friendship. He has a deep and genuine affection for Antonio; and his anxiety about Antonio’s safety clearly shows that. On learning that Antonio has fallen into the clutches of the Jew, he feels extremely dejected, and then tries desperately to save his friend’s life. Having plenty of money with him after his marriage with Portia, he is willing to offer any amount of it to Shylock to induce him to give up his demand for a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. When the judgment in favour of Antonio and against the Jew has been delivered, he voluntarily offers three thousand ducats to the judge as a gift. And then, at Antonio’s request, he parts with Portia’s ring to gratify the judge’s desire even though he knows that his giving away the ring would mean some trouble with Portia when he returns home. In short, his true love for Portia, his true friendship for Antonio, and his generous nature make him a lovable man.

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