Merchant of Venice. - Repositories

»CENE l.j NOTES 181
11. 340-393. What was the sentence against Shylock as Portia
first gave it ? How did it read as Portia and Antonio finally
allowed it to stand ? How much money had Shylock lost alto*^
gether ? Did he have the chance still left him to become again
as rich as ever ? Would he be tempted to become extravagant
and reckless because of the end to which his fortune was finally
to be put? Why did Antonio demand that the Jew should
become a Christian ?, What do you think Shylock did with
himself after this affair was over?
1. 399. gratify. Reward.
1. 404. Three thousand ducats. Was this a generous offer ?
Was the money Bassanio's to give ?
1. 405. cope. Set against.
I. 423. trifle. Why did not Bassanio tell the truth at once ?
L424. to give. The gerund. See L, i., 40 —note.
II. 1-450. Would Portia have been better pleased with Bassanio
if he had given her the ring more willingly ? Professor
Moulton thinks that Antonio and Bassanio both were punished
in this scene. If so, how ? and what for ? Is Antonio's character
changed at the end of the scene ? Has Portia acted the
character she imagined for herself in III., iv. ? Has she shown
herself more than ''an unlessoned girl," or has it been the
emergency that has brought her forth? Do you learn anything
from this scene concerning the character of Bassanio and
of his love for Portia ? Has Gratiano proved himself anything
more than a man that likes to hear himself talk ? Whom does
he copy in all things ?