Hath, not a Jew eyes…………………….

why revenge

Reference to context

These lines have been taken from the play The Merchant of Venice from Act III, written BY William
Shakespeare. Shylock is very eager to take revenge against Antonio. He wants to fulfil his bond in any
cause. A number of people dissuade him from completing his bond. He still remains stern and
pathetically made a speech about the similarity between Jews and Christians.

Explanation ;

In this context, Shylock pathetically said that Jews and Christians are similar in most ways. They
have eyes, hands, physical organs, bodily form, and senses as Christians. They are also nourished by
the same food as Christians. They were also hurt by the same weapon as Christians affected. They
also felt ill and recovered by the same medicine as Christian. They become warm and cool in the
same summer and winter. If somebody pierces their skin, blood comes out from their body. They
also laugh at tickles and die by poison. If somebody injures them, they will take revenge as
Christians. Most of the things are similar between them. So they have also the right to take revenge
for injustice as Christian does.

Critical comments:

Here Shylock pathetically expressed his feeling on equality. He represented the oppressed one. He
wants to take revenge against Antonio so he beautifully defends his attitude on revenge towards
Christian

Let music sound like…………………..summon him to marriage

Explanation:

Portia appeals to play music because he is going to choose a casket. She thought that if he lost, he
would slowly die with music as a swan. She considered that her tear-filled eyes would be the stream
on which Bassanio would give up his life. She also thought that he would win by choosing the right
casket. Then the music will be like the sound of a trumpet. It mostly played at the time when
subjects paid their homage to their newly crowned monarch. It will also be like the sweet notes
which awaken a bridegroom from sleep for marriage.

Critical Comments:

Here Portia appropriately evaluated the nature of music. It shows her wittiness and love for music. It
also shows the turmoil in her mind regarding the result.

Now he goes……………..the issue of the exploit

Explanation:

She considers that Bassanio approaches the casket with the same dignity as Hercules but has more
love than him. Just Hercules shows his love while saving the life of a virgin at the time of sacrifice.
She was offered as a sacrifice to the sea monster by the weeping people of Troy but Hercules saved
her. Portia considers her situation to be like the Trojan maid who is offered a sacrifice. She also
compared her waiting women with the Trojan women who come with tear-stained faces. All of them
were anxious about the result of the scene.

Critical Comments:

Here Portia shows the condition by comparing their situation with the mythical incident. It shows
her learning of mythology.

So may the outward shows……………..to render them redoubted

Reference to context

These lines have been taken from the play The Merchant of Venice from Act III, written by William
Shakespeare. Here Bassanio is going to choose the right casket to get the hand of Portia. but he
found three caskets which is lying. So he first evaluated the value of the casket.

Explanation :

In this context, Bassanio examines the outward appearance of the golden casket. He considered the
world is always deceived by glittering outward appearance. This is clearly seen in law where an
eloquent voice hides the corruption of the cases. Even in religion, the bad principles appear fairest
when delivered by a grave clergy and justified by some quotation from the text. Again vice looks fair
by putting outward the appearance of virtue. Similarly, there are many cowards whose hearts are as
weak as stairs of sand but wear beards like Hercules and angry looks like Mars, the god of war. But
searching the inner body, they find that cowards' livers look as white as milk. There are many people
who wear beards to appear ferocious. Many a woman also assumes such a deceptive appearance.

Look on beauty ………….to entrap the wisest.

Explanation:

Bassanio examines the deceptive quality of outward appearance. He also considered that such
deceptive appearance is also assumed by many a woman. Their beauties are obtained through
cosmetics purchased in the market. It brings pleasing changes in the natural appearance of people. It
makes them beautiful by applying these cosmetics. Equally deceptive is their curly hair which often
plays in the wind. But these curly hairs actually do not belong to them but it belong to the head of
another woman who is buried in the grave. So the beauty is often false as a deceptive sore of
dangerous sea. These outward beauties are like the beautiful scarf which hides the ugly face of a
dark Indian woman. So by these outward appearances, crafty men deceive even the wisest men.

Critical comments:

Here Bassanio shows the deceptive nature of outward appearance which is prevailed in the world.
The beauty of women, the beautiful scarf, deceptive shore, and curly hair are nothing but the means
to deceive people. Most people believe in such outward appearance and feel in trouble.

Act V
Look, how the floor of heaven……………doth glossly close it in, we can not hear it.

Explanation

Lorenzo and Jessica sit in the garden of a palace in the moonlight. Lorenzo becomes attracted
towards the beauty of the night. He describes how the sky is thickly covered with bright stars looking
like plates of gold. There are large numbers of stars moving in the sky but not produce a musical
sound. This music is enjoyed by the angels of heaven. The immortal souls of men are also singing up
in the gross human bodies but they fail to hear it.

Critical comments

Here Lorenzo has a sense of beauty. He appropriately describes the harmonious beauty of the night
and compares it with the immortal soul of the body.

The reason is your spirits are attentive…. Dull as night.

Explanation :

Lorenzo describes the various effects and power of music. On hearing the insensitiveness of Jessica
for music, he said she is so attentive to music. He gives an example is that a wild herd or group of
young horses jumping madly because it is natural in their youth but when they the music of trumpet
or any notes they are quiet and modest. Even Ovid imagines the effect of the music of Orpheus, a
great musician who had the power to move trees, stones and rivers by his music. So music has great
power which changes its nature for some time. Those men are not moved by music, then they can
do treachery and intrigue. Such a man is black as night so never believes in such a man.

A thing struck on wit that the world masters

Explanation :

A thing which Grationo wear on his finger with oaths, thus it should be with his flesh. She considered
that she had given her ring to her her husband as a token of love. He also took an oath not to part.
He confidently said that her husband never parts even he would get all the wealth of the world in a
exchange.

If you had known the virtue of the ring…. As a ceremony?

Reference to Context

These lines have been taken from the play The Merchant of Venice from the V Act, Ist scene is
written by William Shakespeare. Here Portia played trick with Bassanio. She and her maid pretend
about the missing of ring from their finger and blame them as unfaithful man.

Explanation :

Portia pretend that her husband is unfaithful. She said he has properly realised the sacred value of
the ring and the merit of his wife who gave it to him. He should know his duty to keep it as an
honourable man. Because honourable man never parted it in any cause. He should take care about
the preserving of ring as a valuable thing, he would never parted it. But he has parted it from him
which shows his impertinency.