Play: The merchant of Venice

By
Shakespeare

Questions and answers

Question no 1. Why did Shylock demand flesh of Antonio instead of money?

Ans. Shylock wanted flesh instead of money because he wanted to take revenge against Antonio.
Shylock was famous with his bad reputation due to which Antonio mistreated him. He believed
that only by harming Antonio he could seek justice.

Question no 2. Why did Antonio agree to Shylock terms for the loan?
Ans. Antonio agreed to the terms of the loan because he wanted to help his friend Bassanio. He
was sure that he would be able to repay his loan on time therefore he agreed to the strange
condition set by Shylock.

Question no 3. How did Bassanio win the right to marry Portia?

Ans. Bassanio won the right to marry Portia by choosing the right box from the boxes set by her
father. He chose the lead basket which symbolized that true worth lies within not in the outside
appearances. His right choice proved his sincerity
and won Portia’s hand in marriage.

Question no 4. Why can’t Antonio pay back his loan?

Ans. Antonio could not pay back his loan because his ship were drowned in the sea. His ships
were the only source of his wealth. This unfortunate event made difficult for him to fulfill his
obligation to Shylock.
Question no 5. Why did Portia’s father devise the metal box contest?
Ans. Portia’s father devised the metal box contest to ensure that Portia must marry someone who
truly deserved her. He wanted to make sure that the suitor who would win her hand in marriage
would be wise enough to choose the right box.
Question no 6. How did Portia save Antonio’s life?
Ans. Portia saved Antonio by disguising herself as his lawyer. She cleverly used the terms set by
Shylock in defense of Antonio by saying that he can take a pound of flesh but without spilling a
drop of blood. This condition prevented shylock from harming Antonio and thus saved his life.

Question no 7. Why did the other merchants detest (hate) Shylock?

Ans. The other merchants hated Shylock due to his bad reputation as moneylender. He gave
loans to people and charged high interest rates from them. He showed no mercy to those who
were unable to return his money on time. He appeared as greedy and untrustworthy which made
other merchants to not trust him.

Question no 8. How was Shylock punished at the end of the play?

Ans. At the end of the play, Shylock was punished by the court with heavy charges. Also his
wealth and possession were taken away and distributed between Antonio and the state.
Furthermore, he was humiliated and mocked by the other characters for his wrongdoings.