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Question
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
| Shylock: | Shall I not have barely my principal'? |
| Portia: | Thou shalt have nothing but forfeiture. To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. |
- What is the 'principal' that Shylock asks for?
Why does Portia refuse to give it to him? [3] - What is the 'forfeiture' they are referring to?
What danger ('peril') would Shylock be in if he took the forfeiture? [3] - What further hold does the law of Venice have on Shylock? [3]
- What concession does Antonio offer to Shylock?
On what condition does he make this offer? [3] - Why is Shylock in a hurry to leave the courtroom after the trial?
How far can Shylock be blamed for the outcome of the trial?
Give one reason for your response. [4]
Solution
- In Act 4, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, Portia refuses to return the principal amount to Shylock. This decision is a consequence of Shylock's earlier insistence on taking a pound of flesh from Antonio, rejecting pleas for mercy. Portia carries out her plan, acknowledging Shylock's right to the pound of flesh but emphasizing that the legal bond forbids him from spilling any blood. As Shylock seeks the life of a Venetian citizen, he becomes subject to Venice's laws. When Shylock requests his principal amount, Portia denies him, serving as her retribution for his merciless intentions and affirming her commitment to justice.
- In Act 4, Scene 1, of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock faces the risk of being charged with murder should he proceed with the forfeiture, insisting on extracting a pound of flesh from Antonio's body. According to Venetian law, any unauthorised Christian bloodshed during this act would result in the confiscation of his assets and property by the state of Venice. Consequently, Shylock places himself in significant jeopardy by pursuing his demand for a pound of flesh, risking the loss of all his possessions.
- Portia consents to the agreed forfeiture for Shylock. However, he must undertake this act entirely at his peril, extracting a pound of flesh from Antonio's body without causing any bloodshed. Any instance of shedding even a single drop of Christian blood would implicate him in conspiring to take the life of a Venetian citizen. Additionally, failure to cut precisely one pound of flesh, without any deviation, would result in the confiscation of all his lands and capital by the state. The state would take possession of half of his property, and the person who the plot against would receive the other half.
- According to the court order, the state must receive half of Shylock's estate, with Antonio, the injured party, receiving the remaining half. Although the duke proposes a compromise, suggesting a monetary fine instead of the state seizing half of Shylock's land, Shylock remains resentful and displeased. In response, Antonio makes an offer to relinquish his portion of Shylock's confiscated property under Venetian law. However, this offer comes with the condition that Shylock undergo a conversion to Christianity. Additionally, Jessica and Lorenzo, his daughter, will inherit Shylock's property after his passing.
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In Act 4, Scene 1 of "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare, Shylock hastily leaves the courtroom, defeated and humiliated. His revenge plot against Antonio fails, resulting in his forced conversion to Christianity and the loss of half his wealth to Antonio. This devastating outcome deeply impacts Shylock's pride as a Jew. Faced with his vulnerable position in Venetian society, he quickly exits, possibly to escape further humiliation and contemplate rebuilding his life. Shylock's insistence on extracting a pound of flesh intensifies his disdain for him, eroding any potential sympathy due to his old age. He is unequivocally accountable for the consequences of the justice meted out.
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