The Merchant of Venice Act II Scene 7 Workbook Answers and Explanations

ACT II Scene 7

CONTEXT QUESTIONS

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

Question 1.

(i) Who is asked to draw aside the curtains? Who is asked to make his choice?
Answer: Portia asks one of her attendants to pull apart the curtains so that the different caskets are made visible. The Prince of Morocco is asked to make the choice.
In simple words: Portia instructs an attendant to open the curtains to reveal the caskets, then asks the Prince of Morocco to make his choice.

🎯 Exam Tip: This moment marks the formal beginning of the casket lottery for a suitor, a key plot point.

(ii) What does Portia say later to the prince regarding the right casket?
Answer: After reading the inscription on the three caskets, Morocco asks Portia how he will know if he chooses the correct casket. Portia replies that her portrait will be in the right casket. If he selects that one, then she will be his wife.
In simple words: Portia later tells Morocco that her portrait is inside the correct casket, and choosing it means she will be his wife.

🎯 Exam Tip: This rule is central to the casket lottery, providing the criteria for a successful choice and Portia's marriage.

(iii) Which casket does the prince of Morocco finally choose? What are the reasons for his choice?
Answer: The prince of Morocco finally chooses the golden casket. Morocco argues that base lead cannot contain such a saintly person like Portia. Silver which is ten times inferior to gold also cannot hold Portia as she is such a rich gem. So he concludes that Portia, whom many men desire and is most precious must be contained in the golden casket. Besides, the English have a gold coin with the figure of an angel engraved on it. Portia is an angel and hence her portrait may be in the golden casket.
In simple words: Morocco chooses the gold casket, reasoning that Portia, being noble and precious, could only be housed in gold, not base lead or inferior silver. He also links her angelic qualities to the "angel" on an English gold coin.

🎯 Exam Tip: Morocco's choice, based on appearance and perceived value, is a classic example of the "appearance vs. reality" theme in the play.

(iv) For what reasons does the prince reject the other two caskets?
Answer: The prince rejects the base lead arguing that it cannot contain such a noble person like Portia and silver which is ten times inferior to gold cannot contain Portia as she is such a rich gem.
In simple words: Morocco rejects the lead casket as too base for Portia's noble nature, and he dismisses the silver casket because he believes it's too inferior in value compared to gold for such a precious person.

🎯 Exam Tip: His rejection of the lead and silver caskets reveals his materialistic and superficial judgment, aligning with the "appearance vs. reality" theme.

(v) What does the prince find when he opens the casket?
Answer: When the prince opens the casket he finds a skull and in its eyeless socket a scroll.
In simple words: Upon opening the gold casket, Morocco discovers a skull with a scroll inside its empty eye socket.

🎯 Exam Tip: The skull is a powerful symbol of mortality and the deceptive nature of outward appearance, directly contradicting Morocco's reasoning.

(vi) How does the prince bid farewell to Portia? What does Portia say when the prince leaves the place?
Answer: Morocco bids farewell to Portia with the warm-heartedness of a lover and says he must accept the cold comfort of the rejected. He says that his sorrow is too great for many words. Those who have lost their hearts' desire depart thus sadly. When the prince leaves the place, Portia calls it a good riddance and wishes that every suitor like him should make a similar choice.
In simple words: Morocco bids Portia a heartfelt, sorrowful farewell, lamenting his loss. Portia, relieved, remarks it's a "good riddance" and hopes all suitors like him make the same choice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Contrast Morocco's sincere sorrow with Portia's relieved reaction to highlight the differing stakes and their true feelings.

Question 2.

(i) On which casket do the words, Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves, appear?
Answer: The above words appear on the silver casket.
In simple words: The silver casket bears the inscription, "Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves."

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing the inscriptions on each casket is vital for understanding the suitors' choices and the play's thematic messages.

(ii) Why does Morocco initially doubt his worth to deserve the lady?
Answer: Morocco initially doubts his worth to deserve the lady because he thinks that though by his own standard, his merits may be very high, yet those merits may not be sufficient enough to deserve Portia, as her reputation is greater than his.
In simple words: Morocco initially questions his worth, believing his own high merits might still be insufficient for Portia, whose reputation surpasses his own.

🎯 Exam Tip: Morocco's brief moment of self-doubt is quickly overshadowed by his pride, which ultimately influences his incorrect choice.

(iii) Why does he change his mind and say that he deserves the lady?
Answer: Morocco, after having doubts about his worth to win Portia, later on changes his mind. He feels that he deserves Portia because of his royal birth, his wealth, his virtues and his upbringing. Above all, he is worthy of her because of his deep affection for her.
In simple words: Morocco's initial doubt quickly gives way to pride; he concludes he deserves Portia due to his royal lineage, wealth, virtues, good upbringing, and, most importantly, his deep affection for her.

🎯 Exam Tip: This shift from doubt to certainty highlights Morocco's inherent arrogance and self-centered view of merit, a flaw that leads to his failure.

(iv) Give the meaning of:
(a) And weigh thy value with an even hand:
(b) a weak disabling of myself:
Answer:
(a) And weigh thy value with an even hand: And compare your personal worth impartially.
(b) a weak disabling of myself: A sign of weakness which would bring discredit on myself.
In simple words: "(a) And weigh thy value with an even hand" means to assess one's personal worth fairly and impartially. "(b) a weak disabling of myself" refers to a sign of weakness that would damage one's reputation.

🎯 Exam Tip: These phrases reveal Morocco's struggle between self-assessment and maintaining his proud image.

(v) Why does Morocco think that Portia's picture is not in the lead casket?
Answer: Morocco read the inscription on the lead casket which stated that whosoever selects it must be prepared to give all and to risk everything. Morocco declares that no one except a fool will be prepared to risk everything for the sake of dull lead. He argues that lead cannot contain such a noble person like Portia.
In simple words: Morocco believes Portia's picture isn't in the lead casket because its inscription demands risking everything, and he sees lead as too dull and base to contain someone as noble as Portia.

🎯 Exam Tip: Morocco's reasoning here clearly demonstrates his superficial judgment, failing to grasp the deeper meaning of the lead casket's inscription.

Question 3.

(i) Who speaks these words? Where is he? What has he said about his courage in an earlier scene?
Answer: The Prince of Morocco speaks these words. He is in a room in Portia's house getting ready to make his choice of caskets. In an earlier scene, Morocco said that with his sword he had slain the emperor of Persia and a Persian Prince, who had defeated Solyman of Turkey thrice. He boasted that he was courageous enough to confront a hungry lion, defy the most valiant warrior on earth and face the wrath of a mother-bear by separating its young ones from her.
In simple words: The Prince of Morocco speaks these words in Portia's house before choosing a casket. Earlier, he boasted of his courage, claiming he'd slain emperors, faced lions, and dared mother bears.

🎯 Exam Tip: Morocco's previous boasts of courage contrast with the internal struggle he faces regarding the casket choice, highlighting his pride versus vulnerability.

(ii) What is the significance of the words 'shrine' and 'saint' in the context? Which breathing saint does the speaker refer to?
Answer: Shrine is a place where any sacred relic of a holy person or the image of a saint is kept. In this context, the saint is Portia and the shrine is Belmont. The Breathing Saint is a reference to Portia. Morocco says that people came from every part of the globe to worship at the holy place which enshrines this living object of adoration - Portia.
In simple words: "Shrine" and "saint" here refer to Portia and her home, Belmont, respectively, indicating her revered status. The "breathing saint" is Portia herself, whom Morocco sees as an object of global adoration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding Morocco's metaphorical language (Portia as a "saint," Belmont as a "shrine") reveals his idealization of her, which unfortunately doesn't lead to a wise choice.

(iii) What warning is given by Portia to the speaker before he makes the choice?
Answer: Before he makes the choice, the speaker is told by Portia that the correct casket contains her picture and if he chooses it, she will be his wife.
In simple words: Portia warns Morocco that if he chooses the casket containing her picture, she will become his wife.

🎯 Exam Tip: This reiteration of the stakes by Portia ensures the suitor understands the direct consequence of his choice.

Question 4.

(i) Who are 'they' that are referred to in the extract? What difficulties do they face while coming?
Answer: The word 'they' refers to the many suitors who come to Belmont from all parts of the globe to woo Portia. While coming they travel through Persian deserts, immense wilderness of Arabia and even cross the oceans.
In simple words: "They" refers to the numerous suitors who travel from across the globe, enduring hardships like crossing vast deserts and oceans, to reach Belmont and woo Portia.

🎯 Exam Tip: This emphasizes Portia's widespread fame and desirability, making her marriage a highly sought-after prize.

(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Hyrcanian deserts:
(b) The watery kingdom:
Answer:
(a) Hyrcanian deserts: Hyrcania was a province of the ancient Persian empire. Hyrcanian deserts were deserts lying in the south of Caspian sea.
(b) The watery kingdom: The oceans and its fierce waves do not stop suitors from abroad.
In simple words: "(a) Hyrcanian deserts" refers to the vast, arid lands in ancient Persia, south of the Caspian Sea. "(b) The watery kingdom" denotes the formidable oceans and their waves that suitors bravely cross.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explaining these geographical and metaphorical terms adds depth to the description of the suitors' arduous journeys.

(iii) Describe the 'coin' referred to in the extract. What is the difference between the angel on the coin and the angel in the casket?
Answer: The 'coin' referred to in the extract is the gold coin in England on which the figure of Archangel Michael standing and piercing a dragon was engraved on one side. The coin was called an angel and its value was about ten shillings. Morocco says that the figure of the angel on the coin is engraved on the surface of the coin. It is outside, whereas Portia is an angel, who lies on a golden bed within the casket entirely hidden from view.
In simple words: The "coin" is an English gold "angel" coin, featuring Archangel Michael. Morocco contrasts its visible, external angel with Portia, the "angel" hidden inside the casket, suggesting true value is unseen.

🎯 Exam Tip: This comparison is crucial for understanding the theme of appearance versus reality, as Morocco focuses on superficial external value.

(iv) After opening the casket, the prince finds a dead skull and a scroll. Explain what is written on the scroll.
Answer: On the scroll it is written that things which make the most brilliant show are not always the truest metal. For the sake of mere gold, hundreds have risked and sacrificed their lives. Costly gold-plated tombs may be erected, but they have no real value. Decay and death are all they contain. The message tells the Prince that if he had been as wise as his courage and if he had united youthfulness of body to the wisdom of riper years, the answer would have been a living woman, not a written scroll.
In simple words: The scroll reveals that outward brilliance often hides true worthlessness. It warns that those who choose by appearance, like him, find only decay, and advises that true wisdom combined with courage would have led him to a living woman, not a mere written message.

🎯 Exam Tip: The scroll's message is the explicit moral of the casket lottery, directly critiquing Morocco's superficial choice and reinforcing the play's themes.

(v) Explain how the theme of appearance and reality is shown in the choice made by the prince.
Answer: The theme of appearance and reality is shown in the choice made by the prince. In spite of his good qualities, the prince is materialistic. He only sees the outward appearance and value of the caskets. He thinks that in birth, in fortune and outward graces, hé deserves Portia. However, he says nothing about his inner worth, that is, of his good deeds, character and education. He chooses the gold casket for its bright and glittering appearance. The prince is motivated by pride and admiration, not true love. If he loved her, he would have been ready to risk everything for her.
In simple words: Morocco's choice of the glittering gold casket, based on outward appearance and materialistic values rather than true love or inner worth, clearly illustrates the theme of appearance versus reality.

🎯 Exam Tip: This question requires you to connect Morocco's specific actions to the overarching theme, demonstrating critical analysis.