Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
PORTIA: To these injunctions everyone doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARRAGON: And so have I address’d me. Fortune now
To my heart’s hope! – Gold, silver and base lead.
(i) Who had tried his luck in trying to choose the correct casket before the prince of
Arragon? Which casket had that suitor chosen? What did he find inside the casket?
(ii) What are the three things Arragon was obliged by oath to obey?
(iii) What was the inscription on the golden casket? How do the actions of the martlet illustrate this inscription?
(iv) Which casket does Arragon finally choose? Whose portrait does he find inside? Which casket actually contains Portia’s portrait?
(v) Who enters soon after? What does he say about the young Venetian who has just arrived? What gifts has the Venetian brought with him?
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(i)
- Prince of Morocco / Morocco
- The golden casket
- A carrion death (skull) / there was a roll of paper (scroll) in its hollow eye.
(ii)
- He must never tell anyone which casket he had chosen.
- If he failed in choosing the right casket, he would never woo a maiden in way of marriage / never get married.
- If he failed to make the right choice he would leave immediately /be gone.
(iii)
- Who chooses me shall gain what many men desire.
- The martlet is like the many men who choose by outward show [show, outward appearance, appearance]/ appearances are deceptive /many means the fool multitude/ they do not see the inner worth of things [pry not to the interior] / they are like the martlet that builds its nest on the outward wall / in the open air/ the nest faces dangers and storms.
(iv)
- Silver
- A blinking idiot / a fool
- The lead casket
(v)
- A servant / messenger / attendant
- The young Venetian (Gratiano) has come to announce that his lord (Bassanio) is going to arrive./ he is a suitable ambassador of love/ he is like a beautiful [sweet day] day in April/ that indicates a splendid [costly] summer was approaching./his appearance is pleasing (good looking; handsome)/ has brought gifts/ fore runner [spurrer, herald] comes before his lord.
- Greetings/ compliments/gifts of rich value from Bassanio./ regards/ courteous breath/ sensible regrets