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.