Why are they there? Answer : Portia and Nerissa were in a room in Portia's house in Belmont. They were present there to discuss the initial terms of Portia's dead father's will which had made Portia weary of the world around her.

Where is Portia and Nerissa this scene?

Portia and Nerissa are in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. They are discussing the lottery of caskets and about the suitors who have already come to try their luck. In this scene, Portia is in a mood of melancholy and anxiety.

Why are Portia and Nerissa looking for Shylock's house?

Portia sends Nerissa to look for Shylock's house so that the deed can be signed which gives Lorenzo and Jessica Shylock's property. ... Nerissa also demands for Gratiano's ring which he gives her thinking that the clerk deserves a gift as much as the lawyer (Portia). Now both the ladies have their husband's rings.

Are Portia and Nerissa friends?

Nerissa is Portia's servant, and of a lower social class, but she seems to act more as a sister and friend. ... Nerissa could have declared Portia a fraud, but she is a loyal friend for life. The two women are so connected, they also play a joke on their husbands together by retaining their wedding rings while in disguise.

What did Portia and Nerissa really do?

Portia and Nerissa relent, giving each of their husbands a ring and suggesting that they exercise more care in keeping these rings. Bassanio and Gratiano recognize these as the same rings they gave to the lawyer and his clerk, and Portia and Nerissa claim that they lay with the gentlemen in order to get back the rings.

The Merchant of Venice: Analysis of Portia + Key Quotes

27 related questions found

What does Portia reveal to Nerissa about her plan?

Answer: Portia discloses her plan to leave her house along with Nerissa. She has taken a vow to pass her time in prayer and meditation until the return of her husband. Nerissa will be with her, waiting in the same manner for her husband.

How does Nerissa appreciate Portia?

Hence, Nerissa assure Portia that whoever is the man (suitor) will choose the right casket, which means none but the person who truly loves Portia and not her money will choose the right casket. By this way we can Nerissa strikes us as a very smart woman, who knows well the nature and character of Portia.

Where does the above exchange between Portia and Nerissa take place?

Answer: The speakers, Portia and Nerissa, are in a room in Portia's house in Belmont. They are speaking as many suitors from different parts of the world have arrived to try their luck at the lottery of caskets.

How does Nerissa explain why Portia's body is aweary of this great world?

Answer: According to Nerissa, Portia's body is "awery of this world" because of the abundance of her good fortunes and she believes that people with too much suffer the same as people with nothing do. Nerissa thinks that happiness lies in having just enough wealth.

How does Portia and Nerissa relationship differ from Antonio and Bassanio's?

They are different because Bassanio is Antonio's friend, but Nerissa is Portia's servant that also plays the role of her friend. Bassanio and Antonio's relationship towards each other was dry and boring, and Nerissa and Portia's relationship towards each other is a little more joyful and exciting.

Where is Portia's house situated?

And it so happens that there was, and still is, a famous grand mansion on the bank of the River Brenta – the Villa Foscari-Malcontenta, the country residence of the illustrious Foscari family in Venice, exactly ten miles from Venice and precisely two miles from the monastery Ca' delle Monache, the Nun's House.

Where is Portia going this night?

Portia is going to Belmont that night. She should reach home before her husband so that he may not doubt her absence from Belmont. She was away from home under the pretext of going to a convent to do religious exercises and holy meditation all the arrival of their husbands.

Why was the Shylock deed welcome?

What brought about this deed? Shylock cannot cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's body without shedding a drop of blood hence, he has no choice but to let go of his bond and accept the decision of the court.

Why does Nerissa later in the scene tell Portia to put her fears to rest what was Portia's reaction to it?

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.

Where is this scene set Why was Portia there?

The scene is set in a venetian court . Portia, disguised as a lawyer, is there in order to help her husband Bassanio to save Antonio from the murderous bond of Shylock.

Where does this scene take place Why is Portia here why does Bassanio not Recognise her?

(i) The scene takes place in a 'court of justice', in Venice. Portia has come there to fight the case between Antonio and Shylock, with the aim to save Antonio from the clutches of Shylock, the cruel money lender. Bassanio is unable to recognise her because she has disguised herself as a male lawyer.

When according to Nerissa should Portia be tired explain what Nerissa mean by the given line 2 superfluity comes sooner by white hairs but competency?

Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.” In other words, it means ,”You'd be tired, madam, if you had bad luck rather than wealth and good luck. But as far as I can tell, people with too much suffer as much as people with nothing. The best way to be happy is to be in between.

What reason does Nerissa give to Portia to justify the will of a dead father?

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.

How does Nerissa describe Portia's father?

Nerissa believes Portia's father father was a good man who had a good plan, inspired by his impending death. rightly but one who shall rightly love." Nerissa's view is rather fatalistic and simplistic.

Who is Nerissa What is her relationship with Portia Where are Portia and Nerissa What is the special significance of that place?

What is the special significance of that place? Answer: Nerissa is a waiting woman to Portia. Her relationship with Portia is not that of a mistress and a servant but that of two friends who are free and frank in their speeches.

Where are Portia and Bassanio what has just taken place which makes Portia to speak these words what was the inscription given on the lead casket?

Answer: (i) Portia and Bassanio are at Portia's house in Belmont. Portia speaks these words as she is exhilarated at Bassanio's victory of choosing the right casket. The inscription in the lead casket says, “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”

What news has Nerissa just conveyed to Portia?

Answer: Nerissa conveyed to Portia that his love Bassanio's friend antonio got trapped in the bond of Shylock .

What is Nerissa to Portia?

Nerissa is Portia's lady-in-waiting, verbal sparring partner, and friend. ... She joins Portia in dressing up as men to save Antonio's life, playing the part of a law clerk.

What is Portia's reaction to Morocco?

How does Portia react to the prince of Morocco's failure as a suitor? She prays that no one with such dark skin ever wins her hand. She is relieved because the quick-tempered prince would not have made a stable husband. She is sad to lose such a wealthy suitor.

How does Nerissa divert Portia's attention from her sad Broodings?

Nerissa, Portia's confidante, tries to ease her friend Portia by saying that she is one among the few to be bestowed with combination of beauty, elegance and fortune, and that she doesn't need to worry about her condition.