(i) What test had Portia’s father devised for her suitors ? What oath did the suitors have to take before making their choice?

Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 

Portia : 

But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word “choose”! I may neither choose whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none? 

(i) What test had Portia’s father devised for her suitors ? What oath did the suitors have to take before making their choice? 

(ii) Who is Nerissa? What does she say to cheer up Portia?

(iii) Why does Portia disapprove of the County Palatine ? Who would she rather marry?

(iv) How, according to Portia, can the Duke of Saxony’s nephew be made to choose the wrong casket? What do these suitors ultimately decide? Why? 

(v) Whom does Portia ultimately marry? Who were the two other suitors who took the test? Why, in your opinion, is the person whom she marries worthy of her?

Answer 1

(i) Portia’s father had devised a lottery of caskets for the suitors. There were three caskets namely gold, silver and lead. In one of them was the portrait of Portia. Whichever suitor chose the casket which contained Portia’s picture would win her as his wife. 

The suitors had to take the oath if he chose the wrong casket he will never speak to a lady in the subject of marriage, will not reveal to anyone which casket he chose and thirdly if he fails to immediately leave Belmont and go away from there. 

(ii) Nerissa is Portia’s lady-in-waiting and close confidant. She is a smart lady with an intelligent mind and true sense of humour. 

Nerissa says to cheer up Portia that her father was always a good man, and such men have good guidance inspirations from Heaven at the time of their death when making their wills. Therefore Nerissa assures Portia that none but the person who really loves her and not her money will choose the right casket. 

(iii) Portia disapproves County Palatine saying he is always frowning as much to say that if Portia will not marry him, she may choose someone else. He bears happy stones but does not smile. She is afraid that he will become a sad philosopher like Heraclitus when he grows old because he is so sad in his young age. She would rather be married to a grinning skeleton with a bone in his mouth than to these suitors. 

(iv) Portia in order to safeguard against the worst she tells Nerissa to place a tall glass of Rhenish wine on the wrong casket. Portia is sure that the German suitor will not be able to resist the temptation of the wine even if the picture of the Devil himself is inside the casket. She will do anything rather than be married to a drunkard. 

The suitors have informed Nerissa of their decision to back to their home not to trouble Portia with any more suit, unless her father’s decree concerning the caskets can be set aside and they may woo her in an ordinary way. 

(v) Portia ultimately marries Bassanio. Prince of Morocco and Prince of Arragon were the other two suitors who took the test. 

Bassanio is worthy of Portia because both of them love each other deeply. Bassanio like a noble man has sent greetings, polite salutations, gracious speeches and costly presents before his arraival.