The Merchant of Venice Act II Scene 2 Workbook Answers and Explanations

ACT II Scene 2

CONTEXT QUESTIONS

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.

(i) Who is Launcelot Gobbo? What inner struggle is going on in his conscience? What does his struggle show about the contemporary Christian practice?
Answer: Launcelot Gobbo is Shylock's servant. An inner struggle is going on in his mind between his conscience advising him to be a faithful servant and the devil tempting him to leave Shylock's service and take up service with Bassanio. Launcelot's inner struggle shows the contemporary Christian practice of struggling with the temptation to yield to it or not.
In simple words: Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant, is battling his conscience (to stay loyal) against the devil's temptation (to leave for Bassanio), reflecting a common Christian theme of internal moral conflict.

🎯 Exam Tip: Launcelot's soliloquy provides comic relief but also reveals deeper themes of moral choice and master-servant relationships in the play.

(ii) Why does Launcelot want to run away from the Jew? What does his conscience advise him to do?
Answer: Launcelot wants to run away from the Jew because his master, Shylock is the very devil in human form. According to Launcelot, Shylock is a miserly man under whose service he remains famished. Besides, he fears that he would become a Jew if he served Shylock any longer. Initially, his conscience tells him not to run away from Shylock's household and to be careful. However, when the devil persuades him to flee, his conscience tells him that as he is the child of a good father or at least a good mother and so, he should stay where he is and not move.
In simple words: Launcelot wants to flee Shylock because he sees him as devilish and miserly, leaving him starved, and fears becoming a Jew himself. His conscience initially advises loyalty, reminding him of his good parentage.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note Launcelot's reasons, which blend practical concerns (hunger) with religious prejudice (fear of becoming a Jew), reflecting societal views of the time.

(iii) Launcelot's speech provides some comic relief in the play. Why was such a relief needed in the context of the play? [Hint: What was happening in the previous scene?]
Answer: In this scene Launcelot provides some comic relief in the play. In the context of the play such a relief was needed because the previous scene related to the bond story, depicted a serious mood where Antonio agrees to sign a treacherous bond that stipulatës a pound of his flesh in case he forfeits the agreement.
In simple words: Launcelot's humorous speech offers a break from the tension created in the previous scene, where Antonio signed the serious, life-threatening bond with Shylock.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding the dramatic function of comic relief-to lighten serious moments-is key to appreciating Shakespeare's structure.

(iv) Enumerate the reasons given by Launcelot's conscience to stay on with the master.
Answer: Launclot's conscience advises him not to run away as such an act of fleeing is a matter of contempt. It adds that he is the child of a good father or at least a good mother and hence he should stay on the master.
In simple words: Launcelot's conscience advises him to stay, arguing that running away is shameful and that, as the child of good parents, he should remain a faithful servant.

🎯 Exam Tip: Launcelot's internal debate showcases common moral arguments of loyalty and reputation prevalent in the era.

(v) Finally, whom does Launcelot obey- the devil or his conscience? How is the theme of racial discrimination brought out in Launcelot's decision to run away?
Answer: Finally, Launcelot obeys the devil. The theme of racial discrimination is brought out in Launcelot's decision to run away because he runs away from his master, Shylock, who was a Jew and takes up service with Bassanic, a Christian.
In simple words: Launcelot ultimately chooses to obey the devil's temptation to flee. His decision highlights racial discrimination as he abandons his Jewish master, Shylock, to work for a Christian, Bassanio.

🎯 Exam Tip: This decision, though comedic, reflects the pervasive anti-Jewish sentiment of the Elizabethan era, where serving a Christian was seen as preferable.

(vi) How is the theme of conflict between the good and the evil shown in this scene?
Answer: The theme of conflict between the good and the evil is shown in this scene. Launcelot's conscience advises him to stay on with his master while the devil advises him to flee. He feels the devil's advice as good and that of the conscience as rigid. He follows the good advice of the devil.
In simple words: The scene portrays the internal conflict between good (conscience urging loyalty) and evil (devil tempting escape), with Launcelot ultimately choosing the devil's path.

🎯 Exam Tip: The personification of conscience and the devil makes the internal struggle clear and provides a simple, relatable depiction of moral dilemma.

Question 2.

(i) Where are Launcelot and old Gobbo? What is meant by 'true-begotten father'? Why can't old Gobbo recognise his son?
Answer: Launcelot and Old Gobbo are in a street in Venice. 'True-begotten father' means 'my father who begot me'. Old Gobbo cannot recognise his son as he is more than half-blind.
In simple words: Launcelot and Old Gobbo are on a Venice street. "True-begotten father" means his biological father. Old Gobbo doesn't recognize Launcelot because he's nearly blind.

🎯 Exam Tip: The father-son reunion is a key comic element. Explaining "true-begotten father" and Gobbo's blindness is essential for context.

(ii) Why is old Gobbo looking for the way to Master Jew's house? How does Launcelot confuse the old man while giving directions to him to reach the Jew's house?
Answer: Old Gobbo is looking for the way to the Jew's house to go there to find out if his son Launcelot, who was working as a servant in Shylock's household is still there. Launcelot confuses Gobbo by giving him wrong directions to Shylock's house.
In simple words: Old Gobbo seeks Shylock's house to find Launcelot. Launcelot, for comedic effect, deliberately confuses his nearly blind father with convoluted, incorrect directions.

🎯 Exam Tip: This interaction is a classic example of Shakespearean low comedy, relying on wordplay and physical gags due to Gobbo's blindness.

(iii) What was Gobbo's reaction to the directions given to him by Launcelot?
Answer: Gobbo says that by the saints, it was a difficult direction to follow.
In simple words: Gobbo found Launcelot's directions confusing and difficult to follow.

🎯 Exam Tip: Gobbo's reaction highlights the absurdity and comedic intent of Launcelot's deliberately confusing instructions.

(iv) What present has Gobbo brought to give to the Jew? What does Launcelot say to his father about it?
Answer: Gobbo has brought a dish of cooked doves to give to the Jew. Launcelot tells his father to give Shylock a rope to hang himself with rather than any present because he has half-starved him.
In simple words: Gobbo brought cooked doves for Shylock. Launcelot, however, sarcastically suggests giving Shylock a rope instead, citing Shylock's miserliness and his own starvation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Launcelot's bitter humor about Shylock's treatment reinforces the theme of racial prejudice and the master-servant dynamic.

(v) Launcelot plays a comic role in this scene. Give two examples of comedy provided by him.
Answer: When Gobbo asks Launcelot the way to Shylock's house, the wrong directions which Launcelot gives him provide real comedy in the scene. The directions are too confusing for Old Gobbo to follow. The second example is Launcelot's asking his fathers' blessing. He kneels before his father. Being blind, his father touches Launcelot's face and says that Launcelot has more hair on his face than that Dobbin, his cart-horse.
In simple words: Launcelot creates comedy by giving his blind father confusing directions to Shylock's house and by a comical interaction during a blessing where his father mistakes his beard for more hair than a cart-horse's tail.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying specific instances of wordplay, mistaken identity, and physical comedy strengthens the analysis of Launcelot's role.

Question 3.

(i) Why does Launcelot use high-sounding words in his conversation with Gobbo? What does Shakespeare want to convey to the audience in this context about the habit of some people in his time?
Answer: Launcelot uses high-sounding words in his conversation with Gobbo to impress him that he possesses classical learning and is a gentleman. Shakespeare wants to convey to the audience the habit of some vain people of his time who pretended to be what they were not.
In simple words: Launcelot uses elaborate language to appear educated and gentlemanly to his father. Shakespeare uses this to satirize the contemporary societal trend of people feigning sophistication.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect Launcelot's linguistic affectations to Shakespeare's commentary on social pretensions of the era.

Question 4.

(i) What has just happened that makes Gobbo say that Launcelot has changed? What present did Gobbo bring? To whom does he want to give it?
Answer: When Gobbo remarked that Launcelot has more hair on his face than Dobbin, their shaft-horse has on his tail, Launcelot responded that Dobbin's tail is growing less because when he last saw him, he had more hair on his tail than he had on his ace. At this Gobbo remarked that Launcelot has changed. Gobbo has brought a dish of cooked doves to be given to Shylock.
In simple words: Gobbo says Launcelot has changed because Launcelot claims his face has more hair than their horse's tail. Gobbo brought cooked doves to give to Shylock.

🎯 Exam Tip: The humor here comes from the misunderstanding and Launcelot's witty, though nonsensical, retort. Always include both parts of the question in your answer.

(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) My master's a very Jew
(b) give him a halter
Answer:
(a) My master's a very Jew: My master is a typical jew, i.e., he is a miserly man.
(b) give him a halter: give him a rope to hang himself with.
In simple words: "(a) My master's a very Jew" means his master is typically miserly. "(b) give him a halter" is a harsh suggestion to give him a rope to hang himself.

🎯 Exam Tip: These phrases reveal the negative stereotypes associated with Jews during Shakespeare's time, reflecting the play's themes of prejudice.

(iii) How can you conclude from the extract that Launcelot has been suffering in the Jew's service?
Answer: In the extract Launcelot tells his father that under Shylock's service he has grown so thin for want of proper food that his ribs and bones are standing out prominently and can be counted with the finger. This shows that Launcelot has been suffering in the Jew's service.
In simple words: Launcelot's complaint that he has become so thin that his ribs are visible indicates he has been deprived of sufficient food and suffering in Shylock's service.

🎯 Exam Tip: Specific physical descriptions like "ribs and bones are standing out" provide strong evidence for the character's suffering.

(iv) What do you find strange in the expression: You may tell every finger I have with my ribs?
Answer: Launcelot means to say that anyone can count all his ribs by feeling them with a finger. But Launcelot reverses the order, thus achieving a comic effect.
In simple words: The expression is strange because Launcelot comically reverses the common phrase, implying his ribs are so prominent you could count them by touching his fingers, instead of counting his ribs with his fingers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognizing and explaining instances of malapropism or inverted phrases highlights Launcelot's comedic intelligence.

(v) What special privilege would Launcelot have if he serves Bassanio? What would happen if Launcelot were to serve the Jew 'any longer'?
Answer: If Launcelot serves Bassanio, he will have the privilege of having new uniforms. According to Launcelot if he works any longer for the Jow, he may become a Jew himself. He means that it is impossible for him to remain in Shylock's service any further.
In simple words: Serving Bassanio would give Launcelot new uniforms. If he stayed with Shylock, Launcelot fears he would spiritually become a Jew.

🎯 Exam Tip: Launcelot's fears reflect societal and religious prejudices, showing how much he associates Shylock's service with a feared identity loss.

(vi) What kind of attitude against the Jews is shown in this scene?
Answer: The miserly nature of the Jews is shown in this scene. Launcelot says that he is half famished under Shylock's service and adds that he has grown so thin for want of food that his bones and ribs are standing out prominently and can be counted with a finger.
In simple words: The scene portrays a prejudiced view of Jews as miserly, with Launcelot complaining of being starved and emaciated under Shylock's service.

🎯 Exam Tip: This scene is a crucial example of the anti-Semitic sentiments woven into the play, reflecting historical biases rather than objective truth.