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Jessica's Escape and Emotional Farewell

Dec 6, 2024

The Merchant of Venice - Act 2, Scene 3

Key Characters

  • Jessica: Daughter of Shylock
  • Lancelot Gobo: Servant leaving Shylock's service
  • Lorenzo: Christian whom Jessica loves

Scene Summary

  • Jessica's Goodbye to Lancelot:

    • Lancelot Gobo, a servant, is leaving the service of Shylock.
    • Jessica expresses that Lancelot has been a source of joy and fun in her otherwise serious household.
    • She gives Lancelot a letter to deliver to Lorenzo at Bassanio's dinner.
  • Jessica's Emotions and Intentions:

    • Lancelot predicts Jessica will marry a Christian.
    • Both Jessica and Lancelot are emotional and cry at their parting.
    • After Lancelot leaves, Jessica hopes Lorenzo will receive her message and come to marry her.

Character Analysis

  • Lancelot Gobo:

    • Primarily serves as comic relief in the play.
    • His prediction about Jessica’s marriage foreshadows future events.
  • Jessica's Judgment of Shylock:

    • Describes her home as 'hell', indicating unhappiness with Shylock.
    • Despite his Jewish identity, her issues with Shylock are personal and based on his behavior towards her.
    • Her plan to escape reflects negatively on Shylock’s character, providing evidence against him beyond stereotypes.

Themes

  • Conflict between Jewish and Christian characters:

    • Jessica’s desire to marry Lorenzo highlights the religious and cultural tensions.
  • Parent-Child Relationship:

    • Jessica’s desire to escape her father's house underscores the strained relationship with Shylock, driven by his actions and treatment of her.

Important Points

  • Jessica’s lack of prejudice against Shylock underscores that her judgments are based on personal experiences rather than religious or societal bias.
  • Her wish to leave signifies a deep-seated unhappiness and desire for change.

This scene emphasizes the strained family dynamics and foreshadows the consequences of cultural and religious divides in the play.