The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene I - Summary

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The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene I

Shylock brings Antonio to the Duke’s court and demands justice. He says that he will not accept repayment but wants Antonio's flesh. The Duke’s suggestion, Bassanio’s request and offer of six thousand ducats do not change Shylock’s mind. The Duke allows Doctor Bellario to solve the case. Antonio is ready to give flesh to Shylock.

Portia enters dressed as a Doctor of law, Bellario. She tells Shylock that mercy is a quality of a king and God.  Shylock still refuses to accept money. Shylock refuses to allow a surgeon to stop bleeding. At the last minute, Portia tells Shylock that he may have the flesh, but he cannot draw even a drop of blood as it is not written into the bond.

Shylock realizes that he cannot take flesh and accepts money.But Portia tells him that he is liable to be punished. As he conspired to kill a Venitian citizen, he faces the death penalty and confiscation of his properties.Half of his wealth goes to the Duke and the other half to the victim. Duke spares Shylock's life and Antonio suggests that his half should be given to Shylock's daughter.

Portia doesn't accept Duke's invitation for dinner and Bessanio's offer of three thousand ducats.She takes Antonio's gloves and Bessanio's ring.

The Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri

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The Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri

The Interpreter of Maladies is written by Jhumpa Lahiri. The story tells us about a guided tour of Mr. Kapasi. He is a driver cum guide. He can speak several languages. One day he takes an Indian-American family who is on a vacation for a tour of Konark temple. The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Das and their three children, Ronny, Bobby, and Tina. Mr. Kapasi also works as an interpreter of maladies for a physician.

Mr. Kapasi observes that the family is typically American. Mrs. Das knows about Mr. Kapasi’s work as an interpreter with a doctor and takes an interest in him. Captivated by her interest, he begins to visualize a relationship with her. The story describes his fantasies at length. In order to spend more time with her, he takes the family to an ancient monastery. Mr. Das and the children leave the car to take some photos. Mrs. Das chooses to stay with Mr. Kapasi.

Mrs. Das reveals that their middle child is not her husband, Mr. Das’ son. She tells him how he is conceived with one of her husband’s friends. After disclosing the secret, she seeks his opinion and suggestion as he is an "Interpreter of Maladies." Initially, he evades giving an answer. Finally, he suggests that she should admit the fact to Mr. Das. She doesn't like his advice and gets angry. She gets down the car and joins her family.

Mr. Kapasi is suddenly shaken to reality. He saves Bobby from some aggressive monkeys. His daydreams involving Mrs. Das melt away.

The Open Window - Saki

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The Open Window

The Open Window is written by Saki (Hector Huge Munro). A young woman, Vera lives with her uncle Mr. Sappleton and his wife. Mr. Sappleton's two brothers-in-law and a pet dog are also in the country house. Mr. Nuttel arrives at the country house on the suggestion of his doctor.

Vera entertains the house-guest as the men are away and her aunt is in the kitchen. Mr. Nuttel knows nothing about the family. Mischievously, Vera characterizes her aunt as a mentally disturbed person. She tells Mr. Nuttel that her aunt keeps the French window open. Her aunt believes that the men and dog would come through the window. Vera weaves a story and tells Mr. Nuttel that the men are drowned in  a bog along with the dog three years ago.

To his horror, Mr. Nuttel finds three men and a dog coming towards the house. He is terrified. He thinks ghosts are coming. He runs away. Vera tells family members that Mr. Nuttel is afraid of dogs. He is attacked by stray dogs once and so he ran away fearing the family's pet dog.

The Lottery Ticket - Anton Chekhov

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The Lottery Ticket - Anton Chekhov

Ivan Dmitritch and his wife Masha belong to a middle-class family. He lives contentedly with an income of twelve hundred. One day he is reading a newspaper after supper and Masha is clearing the table. She asks him to look for winning lottery numbers. She tells him that the number is 9499 26.

Though he doesn’t believe in luck, Ivan looks up and finds the series number 9499. Overwhelmed, he drops the paper and thinks about the seventy-five thousand prize money. The couple is happy and starts daydreaming about spending the money. They dream about a new house, traveling and repaying some debts. Both of them plan to spend the money.

Ivan thinks that his wife would be stingy with the money while travelling with him. He is dejected by the idea of his wife having all that lottery money. Similarly, Masha thinks that her husband is after money. Ater all, it is her lottery ticket. She starts hating Ivan for wanting all her money. Even before checking the last two numbers, they have already spent the money and started hating each other.

At last, the husband  searches if the number is 26. It is not. It is 46. They do not win. Soon the husband and wife come back down to earth. This story tells us how money can spoil human relations and trust.

Not Just Oranges - Isai Tobolsk

Not Just Oranges

Not Just Oranges is written by a Russian writer Isai Tobolsk. It tells us about human relations, love , and respect.

A poor woman lives alone with her daughter. The daughter is about five years old. She loves her daughter very much. This woman works as a charwoman in a hospital. Discharged patients give her fruits as gifts. She often brings home for her little daughter such presents. Once the little girl sees a ball in a toy shop and asks her mother to get it for her.  

The mother saves money and buys the ball for the daughter. The daughter is very happy and enjoys playing with the ball. But, the happiness is short-lived. One day the ball bounces through a rich neighbor’s window. The ball knocks down and breaks an expensive crystal vase. The old lady of the house, Mrs. Malachov is furious and shouts on the little girl.

  

After returning from work, the mother takes the girl to the old lady and promises to pay for the loss. The old lady and her husband once again express their anger. Moreover, they ridicule them about their inability to pay back. The girl enquires whether the flowers are dead. Soon Malakhovs realize their mistake. Later the old lady goes to the mother and returns the ball. The mother gives the old lady two oranges, which are quite costly. But the old lady leaves them for the girl.

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The Man in Black - Oliver Goldsmith

The Man in Black

The essay ‘The Man in Black’ is written by Oliver Goldsmith. It is a mockery of the then contemporary society. He attacks the social and political situation that dominated during Anglo-Saxon period in England. Oliver gives us reason for his admiration. It is that Man in Black appearing as something that he in fact is not.

The writer describes the Man in Black as a kind, sympathetic, and genial person with a compassionate heart. Outwardly, he seems unkind, looking like a rude, curt, and stern person. This is in contrast with his inner personality. In those days the English society considered the male population to be aggressive, manly, stern and chauvinistic. The dominance of males by their ultra masculine nature in the family is encouraged and accepted socially and politically.

Goldsmith discourages these stereotype aspects of male dominance in this essay. He mocks the way the society and politics of that time regarded male authority as prestigious and dignified. He wants to suggest that the trend of being ‘what you are not’ should not be encouraged. 

An Astrologer's Day - R. K. Narayan

R. K. Narayan

R. K. Narayan begins his story, ‘an astrologer’s day’ with a description of the astrologer. The astrologer works under a tamarind tree, on a busy road, in a park along with several street vendors. Though he has no special powers, he looks like a holy man with his saffron turban. Many years of practice and experience have made him a keen observer and a good judge of character.

One day as he is about to return to his home he encounters an unusual customer. The customer challenges him to answer certain questions. He dares the astrologer to pay extra amount in case the answers are not correct. The astrologer reluctantly agrees. He recognizes the customer in the dim light.  Addressing the customer by name, Guru Nayak, he recounts the customer’s past. He tells that the customer had once been stabbed in a quarrel and left for dead.

Guru Naik agrees and tells him that he had been saved by a bystander. The astrologer advises him to forget revenge.  He should go home as the man who stabbed him is long dead in an accident. He is relieved of his long-standing burden of avenging his enemy. R.K. Narayan reveals the twist in the story that the astrologer is the man who stabbed Guru Nayak in a drunken brawl.

The astrologer goes home and tells his wife that he has been relieved of a great load. He admits that he is relieved to know that he has not killed a man.