EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10

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1 . Where does this scene takes place? Who are the opening characters of this scene?

Ans: The scene takes place in the street of Venice. The opening characters of this scene are Gratiano , Lorenzo, Salanio, Salarino. They were planning about the dinner party which was supposed to take place  in that evening.

2 . Lorenzo

“ Nay, we will slink away in supper time,

Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in hour.

Gratiano

We have not made good preparation.

Salarino

We have not spoke us yet of torch bearers.”

Why do Lorenzo and  his friends plan to disguise themselves at dinner time? How well are they prepared for the disguise?

Ans: Lorenzo and his friends were planning to disguise themselves at Bassanio’s party as Lorenzo planned to elope with Jessica just after the party.

They weren’t well prepared for the party as the first  half of their plan was ready but the rest wasn’t as they couldn’t communicate with the torch bearer who was supposed to be Jessica  . So , they were confused whether they could execute the plan successfully.

3 . Who is supposed to be the torch bearer? What is the importance of torch bearer in this scene?

Ans: Jessica is supposed to disguise herself as a boy and play the  role of the torch bearer in Bassanio’s party.

The actual importance of torch bearer is that this will help expedite and facilitate the elopement of Lorenzo and Jessica. It would be difficult for anyone to identify Jessica as a boy which would be a golden opportunity to execute their plan of elopement.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10

4 . What is the role of Launcelot in this scene? Whose letter does he bring?

Ans: In this scene Launcelot plays  the role of a messenger . He delivers Jessica’s letter to Lorenzo and vice versa. Thus he plays a significant role in the elopement  of  Jessica and Lorenzo. He also develops a bridge between the world of Shylock and Jessica with that of Bassanio and Lorenzo.

Launcelot delivers the letter of Jessica to Lorenzo which bears certain important information about their plan.

5 . How did Lorenzo recognize the letter? What compliment does he give to Jessica?

Ans: Lorenzo recognized the handwriting of Jessica at once. He at once identified that it was written by the lovely , fair , beautiful and familiar hands of Jessica.

Lorenzo compliments Jessica hand by saying , “ ’tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on” which means Jessica’s hand is fairer than the paper in which she wrote the letter.

6 . By whom the dinner party is organized? Whom does Launcelot invite for dinner?

Ans: The dinner is organized by Bassanio which plays a sub plot of the elopement of Jessica and Lorenzo.

Launcelot again plays the role of messenger. He takes the invitation letter of Bassanio and delivers it to his old master Shylock and on behalf of them Launcelot invites him to join the dinner party organized by Bassanio.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10

7 . How does the dinner party facilitates the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo?

Ans: Bassanio’s dinner party is a golden opportunity for Jessica and Lorenzo to elope. The reason behind this is that Shylock will be going at Bassanio’s party. She will get a chance to steal her father’s wealth and costly jewelries and move out of the house without anybody’s knowledge. Moreover, she will be disguised as the torch bearer which will make it difficult for anyone to identify her. In this way the dinner part facilities the elopement of Jessica and Lorenzo.

8 . What confidential information did Jessica provide in that letter?

Ans: In the letter Jessica have well described about the plan of their elopement. She also confirms that she had made all the arrangements. She have mentioned that what gold and jewels she would rob from her father before eloping and also said that she was completely ready to dress up like a boy and become the torch bearer. Moreover she have also provided all the directions about how Lorenzo shall take her from her father’s house. Jessica provided a detailed information about their elopement in that letter.

9 . What character does this scene portrays about Jessica?

Ans: In this scene Jessica is portrayed as a very clever woman. She is also shown as a woman of action who not only makes plans but puts all her efforts in executing those plans. She gives proper direction to Lorenzo about what to do and what not to do.  To elope with Lorenzo she decides to disguise as a boy and become the torch bearer at the masque. Moreover she is clever enough to take her father’s jewelry and earnings and not to leave empty handed. The scene although portrays her as a loyal lover but she could never become a loyal daughter. She is highlighted for her disloyalty and betrayal towards her father and break his trust.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10

10 . For whom according to Lorenzo  the Jew would go to heaven and what does he pray for Jessica?

Ans: According to Lorenzo , the Jew would go to heaven only because of her daughter Jessica. Her good deeds would let Shylock go to heaven. Lorenzo prays for Jessica that misfortune may never cross her foot just because she is the daughter of the Jew .

11 . Mention an example of racial discrimination in this scene.

Ans: Lorenzo being a Christian says Shylock a “faithless jew” It clearly portrays the discrimination between a Christian and a Jew. According to Lorenzo a Jew can never be faithful and trustworthy and so a Jew can never go to heaven . But in contrast Lorenzo himself fell in love with Jessica who herself is a jew and he describes her as a sweet , gentle and trustworthy lady and prays that misfortune may never cross her foot.

12 . Describe the sort of atmosphere prevailing in this scene.

Ans: The atmosphere of activity and pre-occupation is prevailing in this scene. Firstly, the activities include the  preparations of the masquerade and Jessica’s plan of elopement soon after the masquerade. Secondly, pre-occupation regarding the dinner party dominated  the scene. Launcelot acted as a messenger who invited the Jew that is Shylock in the dinner party who will help Jessica to elope with Lorenzo . He also brought the letter of Jessica to Lorenzo in the complete directions were given about the elopement.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10

13. What is the major point of contrast  ?

Ans: The major point of contrast in this scene is that Jessica being a jew falls in love with one of her father’s enemies who is  a Christian that is Lorenzo. Without considering her father’s feeling towards a Christian, she elopes from her home with a Christian, marries to him and gets converted to a Christian. She shows her disloyalty towards her father. On the other hand Portia remains loyal to the commands of her dead father and instead of loving someone she stakes her happiness and obeys his commands. This is the major point of contrast between the two daughters.

14 . What light does this scene throws on Lorenzo’s character?

Ans: In this scene, Lorenzo is portrayed as a carefree and careless youngman. He has no guilt in eloping with Shylock’s daughter. Instead he take it as a pride in eloping with her because he thinks he is doing a good deed by freeing Jessica from her hell-like house. Lorenzo is also greedy as he shows no hesitation in taking the stolen money and jewels from a Jew. But Lorenzo remains loyal to Jessica and also prays that misfortune may never cross her feet even after knowing the fact that she is a Jew.

15 . How does the masque provides a romantic background in this scene?

Ans: The masquerade provides a romantic background in this scene as it provides an opportunity of eloping for the  two lovers that is Lorenzo and Jessica. Though the planning of the masque is carried out yet it never actually takes place. It merely adds a romantic background to the elopement.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II: Scene 4 ICSE Class 9 & 10