Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
PORTIA:
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house
Until my lord’s return: for mine own part,
I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Nerissa here,
Until her husband and my lord’s return:
(i) Who does Portia refer to as ‘my lord’?
(ii) Where is her lord? Why had he left in such haste?
(iii) Explain in your own words, the ‘secret vow’ that Portia speaks of..
(iv) What does Portia ask Lorenzo to do? Why does she make this request? What instructions does Portia give to
her servant, a little later in the scene?
(v) What do we learn of Portia’s real intention from her conversation with Nerissa? Which Portia do you prefer
the modest Portia of the Casket scene or the - businesslike Portia we meet in this scene?
Give one reason for your response.
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(i) Portia refers to Bassanio as ‘my lord’.
(ii) Her lord, Bassanio, is in Venice. Bassanio had left in
such a haste because his friend Antonio had been
arrested and he had to return to Venice to rescue
him.
(iii) The ‘secret vow’ that Portia talks means that she
is going to live a life of prayer and contemplation
until her husband comes back from Venice and for
this purpose, she will stay in a monastery.
(iv) Portia asked Lorenzo to manage her household
until her husband returns. She makes this request
because she, accompanied by Nerissa, will stay in
a monastery, a life of prayer and contemplation till
their husbands return. A little later, Portia instructs
her servant Balthazar to take the letter which she
has given him and give it to her cousin, Doctor
Bellario. Balthazar should also bring the notes and
clothes that Doctor Bellario gives and take them to
Venice as soon as possible.
(v) From Portia’s conversation with Nerissa we learn
that they both will dress up as men. The reference
to notes and clothes indicate that Portia and Nerissa
will dress up as lawyers fight the legal battle for
Antonio against Shylock in the court.
I prefer the businesslike Portia that we meet in this
scene because this Portia is more confident and
independent enough to get things done when her
husband is not around.