Pg. 183 – 185

By Anirudh Iyer

Act 5, Scene 1

• Why does shylock believe that the duke has no choice but to enforce the terms of the bond?

• What are the new laws which Portia cites which lead to shylock getting trapped?

• What are the things Portia requests of Bassanio and Antonio and what is the argument Bassanio poses for this request?

Questions

Jessica: Having eloped with Lorenzo escaped to Belmont and is now overseeing Portia mansion with her husband.

Lorenzo: Is enjoying a romantic night out with his wife on the day before Portia returns.

Stephano: A messenger from Portia who gives news that Portia will return the following day. He tells them that she was praying.

Launcelot: The messenger of Bassanio arrives saying that his master will arrive in the morning with good news

Characters in Act 5, Scene 1

• The use of mythology mainly applies to the setting which Lorenzo describes as “the moon shines bright. In such a night as this when the sweet wind gently kiss the trees, and they did make no noise, in such a night”.

• After this many great feats are recalled as to be done on a night like this.

Use of Mythology

• At first Lorenzo mentions the story of Troilus which occurs in troy and is a story of forbidden lovers. Surprisingly this is also a play by Shakespeare.

• Jessica then mentions Thisbe, who was forbidden to marry Pyramus. In this story both the protagonists die.

Continued:

• Dido is a celebrated character in the Aeneid by Virgil this is because she helped with many of the conquests done by Aeneas.

• Jessica talks of Medea who is now considered a ruthless witch who killed her children because of a small feud. But then she was considered as a kind healer who brought her father in law back to life

• All of these stories pertain to lovers as that is what Jessica and Lorenzo are.

• In the first page the speech is alternating between Jessica and Lorenzo who first keep recalling different stories they have heard from the past.

• Then they start talking about things which each other did in the same format. This verse is very poetic

• There is also a lot of imagery.eg. When Lorenzo describes the night

Writing Style

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