Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 2 Scene 3
Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 2 Scene 3 Questions and Answers, Passage Based Questions.
Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3 Workbook Questions and Answers
Question 1.
‘Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness”. (Line : 2-3)
Why does Jessica describe her house as ‘hell’ ? Who is the ‘merry devil’ ?
Answer:
Jessica describes her house as ‘hell’ because it is the most unpleasant place to live in with her suspicious, unkind and cruel father. The ‘merry devil’ is Launcelot Gobbo, the servant with her father, who was able to relieve some monotony prevailing at her house.
Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 2 Scene 3 Passage Based Questions
PASSAGE 1.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
Jessica :
I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so:
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee:
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly;
And so farewell: I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.
Launcelot:
Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! if a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But, adieu : these foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit: adieu!
(i) Where are the speakers now ? How are they related ?
Answer: The speakers, Jessica and Launcelot, are in a room in Shylock’s house. Jessica is Shylock’s daughter, while Launcelot, a jester, is a servant in her father’s service.
(ii) Who is Jessica ? What does she think of her father and her home ? What does she ask Launcelot to do ?
Answer: Jessica is Shylock’s daughter. She thinks her house is a hell. She considers her father as a heartless person. She wants Launcelot to hand over her letter to Lorenzo (her lover) who would be present at his new master’s (Bassanio’s) home as a guest.
(iii) Who is Launcelot’s new master ? What does Launcelot desire ?
Answer: Launcelot’s new master is Bassanio. Launcelot wants Jessica to run away with Lorenzo and marry him, which is not otherwise possible.
(iv) What is Jessica’s plan ? Why does she decide to leave her father’s home ?
Answer: Jessica’s plan is to escape from her father’s home at the time of masque and run away with her lover, Lorenzo. She decides to leave her father’s home where she feels stifled.
(v) Later in the play, what happens to Jessica and her lover Lorenzo ?
Answer: The masque does not materialize, but Jessica and Lorenzo are able to get away. Jessica takes with her a lot of cash and jewellery. Both of them reach Portia’s place in Belmont.