The Merchant of Venice Act -2, Scene - 2 Questions Answers (2023)

AnswerHis conscience urges him to remain loyal since he was the son of an honest father and a virtuous mother. His conscience warns him that escape is a despicable act and he must be careful not to make that mistake.

(v) Finally, who does Lancelot obey: the devil or his conscience? How is the issue of racial discrimination articulated in Lanzarote's decision to flee?

AnswerEventually, Launcelot obeys the devil, who seems to advise him more kindly, so he decides to leave Shylock. The theme of racial discrimination is taken up by Launcelot's comments. His prejudice against the Jews is expressed when he does not refer to his teacher as "Shylock" but as "the Jew" and "the devil incarnate". He prefers to flee from a Jew and put himself at the service of a Christian.

(vi) How is the theme of the conflict between good and evil presented in this scene?

AnswerThe scene shows the conflict and the struggle between good and evil. Lanzarote is torn between the friendly advice of the "devil" and the rigid and inflexible conscience that advises him to remain loyal. Finally, after much deliberation, he takes the advice of the "devil", who advises him to leave the house of Shylock, who was a demon in human form.

(Aside) Oh dear, this is my real father! who is more than

blind to the sand, blind to the high gravel, he does not know me: I will try to confuse him.

Sir, young gentleman, I beg you, how can you control the Jew?

(i) Where are Lancelot and old Gobbo? What is meant by "true parent"? Why can't old Gobbo recognize his son?

Lancelot and his father, old Gobbo, are in a street in Venice. "True Begotten Father" means the actual man who begot or brought him into this world. Old Gobbo couldn't see him because he was half blind and his blindness was in an advanced stage.

(ii) Why is old Gobbo looking for the way to the Jewish Master's house? How does Lancelot confuse the old man by showing him the way to the Jew's house?

AnswerOld Gobbo was looking for his way to the Jewish Master's house because he wanted to meet his son Launcelot who worked there. He confuses his father by giving him complicated instructions.

(iii) How did Gobbo react to Launcelo's instructions?T?

AnswerStunned, Old Gobbo swore that it would be difficult for him to follow instructions.

(iv) What gift did Gobbo bring to the Jew? What does Lanzarote tell his father about this?

AnswerGobbo had brought a plate of boiled pigeons to the Jew, his son's master. He tells his father to give Shylock a rope so he can hang himself while he was mercilessly treated and starved to death.

(v) Lancelot plays a comic role in this scene. Give two examples of comedy that he provided..

AnswerThe comedy builds when Launcelot's father, Old Gobbo, arrives. He is blind to the arena and can only see a blurry image of a man. Launcelot takes advantage of this and jokingly confuses the old man with much antics and double tongues. He first disguises his identity and then gives confusing instructions. He torments his father over his own death and then it's funny when he kneels to receive his blessing.

Ergo, Master Lancelot. Speak not of Master Lancelot, father; For him

Young lord, after gates and fates and such strange sayings,

the Three Sisters and such branches of learning are dead;

or, as it would be said in simple language, he went to heaven.

hebilla

Get married, God forbid! the boy was just the baton of my age, my true support.

Lanzarote

[Aside] Do I look like a club or a hut post, a cane or an accessory?

Do you know me, father?

(i) Why does Launcelot use big words in his conversation with Gobbo? In this context, what is Shakespeare trying to convey to the audience about the habits of some of the people of his time?

AnswerLauncelot uses big words to confuse his father and disguise his own identity. He professes to possess great scholarship and classical knowledge, and displays such scholarship to impress common people like his father. Also, this is also done to provide comedy. Shakespeare wanted to convey that rich people used unnatural ways of speaking to distinguish themselves.

(ii) Why does Lanzarote call old Gobbo "father" in the first line of the excerpt? Enter the meaning of:
By fates and fates and sayings so strange, the three sisters and such branches of knowledge,

AnswerLauncelot addresses the old Gobbo as "father" just to show respect for his age. He also hints that he is Gobbo's son. The three sisters and Greek mythology were the personifications of fate. They were commonly known as fate or fate. You need to determine a child's resume. So Lancelot swears by them that he was the son of old Gobbo.

(iii) How does Gobbo react to the news of the apparent loss of his son?

AnswerGobbo is horrified and so tormented that he reacts very dejectedly. He says that his son was his only support in life.

(iv) How does Lancelot dramatically demonstrate that he is the son of Gobbo? Why does the former refer to his mother's name in context?

a After playing a cruel joke on old Gobbo by telling him that his son was dead, he finally confesses dramatically that he was his son. He later becomes frustrated when his father doesn't recognize him. He then mentions his mother's name "Margery" as evidence to convince his father.

(v) How does Gobbo show through words and actions that he likes his son?

Answer. Gobbo shows his affection by initially worrying about the health and whereabouts of his son. He grieves when he finds out about his death. When Launcelot reveals his identity, Gobbo touches his face to determine if he really was Launcelot.

(vi) Name two humorous situations in this scene.

AnswerLauncelot gives erratic and confusing instructions in a pseudo-academic way that comes off as a lot of fun. The scene where he kneels to ask for his father's blessing. Her father feels her head and mistakes it for her beard. His comment that he had more hair on his chin than on his ponytail is hilarious.

Extract #4

hebilla

Lord, how you have changed! How are you and your teacher?

accept? She brought you a present. How happy are you now?

Lanzarote

Well, well: but for my part, how have I arranged my rest

run away, so I won't rest until I've walked a bit.

my master is very jewish: give him gifts! give him one

Halter: I have starved to death in your service; You can tell any finger

I have with my ribs. Father, I'm glad you came: da

your gift to a Bassanio master who gives in fact

rare new liveries: if I don't serve it, I run to God

has a reason Oh rare happiness! here comes the man

the father; because I am a Jew if I serve the Jew more.

(i) What just happened that makes Gobbo say that Launcelot has changed? What gift did Gobbo bring? Who will he give it to?

AnswerOld Gobbo had met his son after a few years. Touching his beard, he realizes that he was a grown man, which made him exclaim that Lancelot had changed a lot. Gobbo had brought a plate of boiled pigeons to present to Shylock.

(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) My teacher is very Jewish:
(b) give him a halter:

Answer(a) It means that he was selfish, callous and greedy, just as all Jews were supposed to be.

(b) It means that Shylock, as a cruel teacher, deserved a rope to hang himself to death on.

(iii) How can you conclude from the exodus that Lancelot suffered in the service of the Jew?

AnswerLauncelot portrays Shylock as a cruel master who does not feed him well, so much so that he starves in his service. He says he's so skinny you can count his ribs. This shows that he had suffered in Jewish service.

(iv) What do you find strange in the expression: Can you say every finger I have with my ribs?

AnswerTo describe hunger, Launcelot had to say that you could feel his ribs with your fingers, but for comic effect he uses a confused expression, saying that you could use your ribs to feel any finger you gave him.

(v) What special privilege would Lancelot have to serve Bassanio? What if Lancelot served the Jew "longer"?

AnswerBassanio would give Launcelot rare new clothes, and if forced to serve Shylock, he would run as far as God would let him. he felt that if he continued to serve the Jew, he would consider himself a Jew.

(vi) What kind of attitude towards the Jews is shown in this scene?

a In this scene, the Jews are portrayed as stingy, insensitive and indifferent. Launcelot feels hungry in Shylock's service, as he is not fed enough for his bones and ribs to stick out and be easily counted.

(Aside) Oh dear, this is my real father! who is more than

blind to the sand, blind to the high gravel, he does not know me: I will try to confuse him.
hebilla

Sir, young gentleman, I beg you, how can you control the Jew?

Lanzarote
Turn right at the next junction, but at the next junction

everything to your left; get married, at the next bend, do not hold hands, descend indirectly to the house of the Jews.

(i) How did Lancelot prove that he could speak for himself in order to be employed by Bassanio?

AnswerFirst, Launcelot asks Old Gobbo to convince Bassanio to take him into his service. When Old Gobbo hesitates with his question, Launcelot interrupts him and himself asks Bassanio to take him into his service.

(ii) What effect is Launcelot's palmistry likely to have on the public?

AnswerIt offers humor and some comic relief. The way he claims to possess classical scholarship and knowledge of palmistry amuses the audience. It also predicts the fate that awaits Launcelot in the near future.

(iii) What does Lancelot predict about his wives and their flight from danger to his life?

AnswerLanzarote predicts that he would marry a large number of women, including eleven widows and nine maids. He would escape drowning three times as well as a nasty fall on a feather mattress.

(iv) After hiring Lancelot, what instructions did Bassanio give to the Gobbos and their servants?

AnswerAfter hiring Launcelot, Bassanio signals Gobbos to leave and say goodbye to Shylock. He also instructs his servants to prepare for Lanzarote a new uniform with more trim and stripes than the other servants' uniforms.

(v) Prior to this extract, Launcelot referred to a proverb applicable to both Shylock and Bassanio. What was the saying and how does it apply to both?

AnswerThe saying "The grace of God is wealth enough" was mentioned by Launcelot. While Shylock was "rich enough", Bassanio, a noble gentleman full of generosity, had "the grace of God".

So why, you should. But listen to three, Gratiano;

You are too wild, too rude and have a cheeky voice;

part that will make you happy enough;

And in eyes like ours there seems to be no guilt;

(i) Give the context in which Bassanio utters these words.

AnswerThose words were spoken when Gratiano asked Bassanio to take him to Belmont.

(ii) Give the meaning of:
To ease your mind jumping with a few cold drops of humility,

a This means that Gratiano had to weaken or weaken his high spirits and rebellious nature if he wanted to accompany Bassanio to Belmont.

(iii) Briefly summarize the advice given by Bassanio Gratiano in the excerpt.

AnswerBassanio urges Gratiano to control his wild temper and hold his tongue, and to observe chivalrous manners and courtesy. He didn't want his lack of sophistication to keep him from courting Portia.

(iv) Why does Bassanio ask Gratiano to behave appropriately in Belmont?

AnswerBassanio asks Gratiano to behave decently at Belmont, as his rude, bold, and loud behavior could be misconstrued and could ruin his chances of marrying Portia.

(v) What assurance does Gratiano Bassanio give regarding his advice?

AnswerGratiano promises to behave decently and appear to be a civil, humble, pious and well-groomed man. He asks Bassanio to trust him as he would keep his word.

(vi) What exception to Gratiano's behavior is accepted for that night? Because?