Act II, Scene 6
Extract I
Gratiano: And
it is marvel he out-dwells……..are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.
1. Where
does this scene take place? Who has out-dwelt his hour? Normally what do the
lovers do as far as the appointed time is concerned?
This scene takes place in the
street outside Shylock’s house. Lorenzo has out-dwelt his hour to meet Gratiano
and Salarino for the masque. Lovers generally rush to the meeting
place long before the appointed
hour.
2. Who is Venus? How do the Venu’s pigeons behave
as far as love is concerned?
In Greek mythology, Venus is the
goddess of love. Salarino comments that the doves that draw the chriot of
Venus, the goddess of love, fly ten
times faster when they are journeying to
bind new love more firmly, than they do
when love is already pledged and certain.
3. How
does Gratiano explain in the extract the state of people in love?
According to Gratiano, people in
love are anxious to meet each other. They rush to their meeting places much
before the appointed time. Thus, people in love keep punctuality in their meetings and never delay.
4. Give
the meaning of:
a) He
out dwells his hour
He
overstays the time fixed by him to meet.
b) To
seal love’s bonds new-made
To
bind new love more firmly
5. Explain
the meaning of:
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the
unabated fire
The above lines mean that you will
not find even a house travel again over the same road on its return journey with the same
energy and animation with which it set out.
6. All
things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than
enjoyed
How far is this statement brought
out by giving the example of a ship?
It means that the pursuit of any
desired object is more enjoyable a task and gives more joy compared to the pleasure one gets on its attainment. The truth of the statement
is brought about by the example of a ship.
A ship with its sails spread and
flags flying, sails out from the harbour like a high-spirited spendthrift youth
in search of pleasure. But after being
tossed about and hugged by the rough wind, it comes back to the port with
broken planks and torn sails. It looks like the returning of the prodigal son, ruined by the faithless
gales.
Extract II
Lorenzo:
Sweet friends, your patience for my
long abode…..who’s within?
1. Where
is Lorenzo and who are his sweet friends?
Lorenzo
is in the street outside Shylock’s house. His sweet friends are Salarino and Gratiano.
2. What
did his friends say about the anxiety of
those in love?
His
friends said that lovers generally rush to meet
each other before the appointed time. Salarino commented that the doves
that draw the chariot of Goddess of
love, fly ten times faster, when they
are journeying to find new love than they do when love is once pledged and
certain.
3. What
were the affairs that kept the speaker away so long?
The
speaker was kept away so long due to his business affairs. Also he had to plan
for the masquerade, in which he would
elope with his lady-love, Jessica.
4. What
is meant by ‘to play the thieves for wives’? How apt are these remarks in the context?
‘To
play the thieves for wives’ means if ever any of them wishes to do what he is doing that night and steal away a fair lady to be his wife, he
will wait as long as they have done to help him on the occasion. These remarks are quite relevant because
Lorenzo wants to give the reason for his delay as well as thank his
friends, whom he has kept waiting for a long time.
5. What
does Lorenzo ask Jessica to do later in the scene? What is Jessica’s reaction
to his request?
Later
in the scene, Lorenzo tells Jessica to come down in the street quickly and that
she has to play the part of his torch-bearer in the masque that night. Jessica
is shocked and embarrassed at the suggestion. She asks Lorenzo whether she must
hold a light to show up her shameful acts-her elopement, theft and male dress.
6. Who
appears on the stage after the extract? In what condition does the person
appear?
After
this extract, Jessica appears on the stage. She appears on the stage dressed in
a boy’s clothes, as a page-boy.
Extract
III
Jessica:
Here,
catch this casket…..thus transformed to a boy.
1. What
do you think is sent down in the casket? How can you conclude that the contents
in the casket are valuable?
The
casket must have valuables like jewellery which Jessica has stolen from her
house. We can conclude that the contents in the casket are valuables since
Jessica hands over the casket only after making sure that the person to whom
she is giving the casket is her love, Lorenzo. Besides, she tells Lorenzo that
it is worth carrying the casket.
2. What
is meant by ‘I am much ashamed of my exchange.’? Why is the exchange needed?
The
above words mean that Jessica is much ashamed that she has to change her dress
to that of a page boy. This exchange was
needed for her to elope with Lorenzo.
3. In
what way is love blind in the context? Who is referred to as Cupid? Why would
he blush?
Love
is blind in the context since it makes Jessica dress like a page boy, steal
jewellery and money from her house and be ready to elope with Lorenzo, a
Christian. Cupid is the classical God of love who is always represented as a
blind boy with bows and arrows. Jessica says that Cupid, the little blind God
of love himself would be shocked and blush if he saw her dressed like a boy.
4. What
is meant by a torch bearer? In what way Jessica would hold a candle to her
shames, if she were a torch bearer?
Masquerades
were dramatic performances where players wore masks and costumes and took part
in a torch like procession playing drums and fife. Jessica was to carry the
torch light or candle. If she carries the candle, she will show up her shameful
acts- her male attire, the casket containing her theft and the fact of her
elopement.
5. Give
the meaning of:
Why
it’s an office of discovery, love;
And
I should be obscured
These
lines mean: ‘The duty of a torch bearer would expose me to all when I should be
concealed.’ Jessica means that her shameful disguise of a pageboy’s dress is
too frivolous and Lorenzo should not light them further by having her as a
torchbearer.
6. How
is Jessica’s feminine nature is highlighted in the extract?
Jessica’s
feminine nature is highlighted in the extract. Her shyness at her male clothes
shows her feminine modesty as in Elizabethan times women never wore men’s
clothes. Also she comes down from her house after making sure that the person
who has come to take her is Lorenzo, her lover.
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