The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare | Act 2, Scene 6

Course Hero

25 Oct 201902:45

Summary

TLDRIn Act 2 Scene 6 of 'The Merchant of Venice', Lorenzo, Gratiano, and Salanio discuss love while waiting for Lorenzo outside Shylock's house. Jessica, disguised as a boy, brings a chest of gold and jewels to aid their escape. Lorenzo reassures her of her loveliness, and they plan to flee together. Graziano comments on Jessica's gentle nature, indicating her potential conversion to Christianity. The scene explores themes of love, bravery, and the rejection of traditional femininity.

Takeaways

🎭 In Act 2 Scene 6 of 'The Merchant of Venice', Gratiano and Salerio meet Lorenzo outside Shylock's house.
💬 They discuss the wonders of love to pass the time while waiting for Lorenzo.
🕵️‍♂️ Lorenzo arrives and asks them to keep watch as Jessica, disguised as a boy, appears from Shylock's house.
💰 Jessica throws down a chest filled with gold and jewels, indicating her decision to leave her father.
😳 She is embarrassed by her boyish disguise but believes it's safer for her to travel.
💖 Lorenzo reassures Jessica of her loveliness, regardless of her appearance.
🏃‍♀️ Jessica returns to the house to collect more money, showing her resourcefulness.
🚢 Graziano comments on Jessica's gentle nature, indicating she is not like other Jews, and has quickly formed a positive opinion of her.
🌪️ Bassanio's ship is ready to depart as the winds have changed, and he is searching for Graziano.
🚀 Graziano enthusiastically joins Antonio on the voyage, showing his adventurous spirit.
🌐 Jessica's decision to leave her family, society, and culture to be with Lorenzo reflects her bravery and love.
👥 The Christians' acceptance of Jessica, who intends to convert, contrasts with their views on Shylock, highlighting religious and cultural differences.
👦 Jessica's choice of a boy's disguise for her escape symbolizes a rejection of traditional femininity and societal expectations.

Q & A

What are Gratiano and Salarino doing outside Shylock's house?
-Gratiano and Salarino are wearing masks and waiting outside Shylock's house to meet Lorenzo, discussing the wonders of love to pass the time because Lorenzo is late.
How does Jessica appear when she meets Lorenzo?
-Jessica appears above, disguised as a boy, and exchanges greetings with Lorenzo.
What does Jessica throw down from the window?
-Jessica throws down a chest filled with gold and jewels.
Why is Jessica dressed as a boy?
-Jessica is dressed as a boy because she believes it's safer for her to travel in disguise.
How does Lorenzo reassure Jessica about her appearance?
-Lorenzo reassures Jessica that she is lovely regardless of her appearance as a boy.
What does Lorenzo admire about Jessica?
-Lorenzo admires Jessica for her wisdom, fairness, and loyalty.
What does Jessica do when she goes back into the house?
-Jessica goes back into the house to collect a little more money.
What does Graziano say about Jessica when she leaves?
-Graziano says that Jessica is a gentle and no Jew, indicating he has just met her and reached this conclusion based on observing her for a short time.
Why is Bassanio looking for Graziano?
-Bassanio is looking for Graziano because the winds have changed, and Bassanio is ready to depart on a voyage.
How does Graziano react when Antonio arrives?
-Graziano enthusiastically joins Antonio on the voyage.
What does Jessica's choice of disguise symbolize?
-Jessica's choice of disguise as a page or servant boy symbolizes a rejection of traditional femininity and her willingness to take a risk to be with Lorenzo.
How does Jessica's act of bringing gold to their union reflect her sense of equality?
-Jessica's act of bringing gold indicates a sense of equality as she does not expect Lorenzo to provide their sole means of financial support.

Outlines

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🎭 'The Merchant of Venice': Love and Disguise

In Act 2 Scene 6 of 'The Merchant of Venice', Gratiano and Salarino, wearing masks, meet Lorenzo outside Shylock's house. They discuss the wonders of love to pass the time as Lorenzo is late. Lorenzo arrives and asks them to keep watch. Jessica, disguised as a boy, appears above and exchanges greetings with them. She throws down a chest filled with gold and jewels. Despite her embarrassment about her disguise, Lorenzo reassures her of her loveliness. Jessica returns to the house to collect more money. Graziano comments on her gentle nature, not typical of a Jew, and Lorenzo expresses his love for her wisdom, fairness, and loyalty. Jessica returns, and they leave, with Graziano remaining behind. Antonio arrives looking for Graziano, and Bassanio's departure is delayed due to changed winds. Graziano joins Antonio on the voyage, and the Christians accept Jessica more readily than Graziano. Graziano's quick assessment of Jessica as a 'gentle' or Gentile indicates his hasty judgment based on brief observation. Jessica's bravery is highlighted by her decision to leave her family, society, and culture to be with Lorenzo. She brings gold to their union, indicating a sense of equality and financial independence. Her choice of a boy's disguise symbolizes a rejection of traditional femininity and societal expectations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Act 2 Scene 6

Act 2 Scene 6 refers to a specific part of Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice.' This is where the key events of the video script take place. The scene sets the stage for the characters' interactions and the unfolding of the plot. It is a critical part of the narrative, providing insight into the characters' motivations and the development of their relationships.

💡Gratiano

Gratiano is a character in 'The Merchant of Venice.' In the script, he is depicted wearing a mask and meeting Lorenzo outside Shylock's house. His presence adds to the atmosphere of mystery and anticipation. Gratiano's role in the play is that of a friend and confidant to Lorenzo, and his interactions in this scene contribute to the development of the plot.

💡Lorenzo

Lorenzo is a central character in the play who is in love with Jessica, Shylock's daughter. His character is portrayed as romantic and loving. In the script, Lorenzo reassures Jessica of her beauty and worth, showing his affection and support. His actions and words are indicative of the theme of love and its transformative power in the play.

💡Jessica

Jessica is Shylock's daughter who disguises herself as a boy to escape with Lorenzo. Her bravery and resourcefulness are highlighted in the script as she takes a significant risk to be with the man she loves. Jessica's character represents the struggle between familial duty and personal desire, a common theme in Shakespeare's works.

💡Disguise

Disguise is a recurring theme in 'The Merchant of Venice,' used by characters to deceive or escape. Jessica's disguise as a boy is a pivotal moment in the script, symbolizing her rejection of her father's values and her society. It also serves a practical purpose, allowing her to move freely and escape with Lorenzo.

💡Love

Love is a central theme in the play and is discussed by Gratiano and Salarino as they wait for Lorenzo. Their conversation sets the tone for the romantic undertones of the scene. Love is portrayed as a powerful force that can overcome obstacles and change the course of lives, as seen in Lorenzo and Jessica's relationship.

💡Gentile

Gentile, used by Graziano to describe Jessica, is a term with religious connotations meaning 'non-Jew.' In the script, Graziano's use of the term reflects his immediate acceptance of Jessica and her conversion to Christianity. It also underscores the religious tensions and prejudices present in the play.

💡Gold and Jewels

The chest filled with gold and jewels that Jessica throws down is a symbol of wealth and the material aspects of life. It also represents her willingness to leave behind her privileged life for love. The act of giving these valuables to Lorenzo signifies a level of financial equality and independence in their relationship.

💡Equality

Equality is suggested in the script through Jessica's actions and Graziano's comments. Jessica's decision to bring gold to her union with Lorenzo implies a sense of partnership and shared responsibility. This contrasts with traditional gender roles of the time and reflects a progressive view of relationships.

💡Antonio

Antonio is a merchant and a friend to Bassanio. His arrival in the script looking for Graziano adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. Antonio's character is integral to the play's exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the consequences of love and loyalty.

💡Bassanio

Bassanio is a character who is preparing to depart on a voyage in the script. His search for Graziano and subsequent enthusiasm to join Antonio on the voyage highlight themes of adventure and the pursuit of fortune. Bassanio's actions also reflect the societal expectations placed on men during the time period.

Highlights

In Act 2 Scene 6 of 'The Merchant of Venice', Gratiano and Salarino meet Lorenzo outside Shylock's house.

They discuss the wonders of love to pass the time as Lorenzo is late.

Lorenzo arrives and asks Gratiano and Salarino to keep watch.

Jessica appears above, disguised as a boy, with a chest filled with gold and jewels.

Jessica is embarrassed by her appearance as a boy but believes it's safer for her to travel in disguise.

Lorenzo reassures Jessica she is lovely regardless of her disguise.

Jessica goes back into the house to collect more money.

Graziano comments that Jessica is a gentle and not a Jew.

Lorenzo describes his love for Jessica's wisdom, fairness, and loyalty.

Jessica returns and leaves with Lorenzo and Salarino, while Graziano remains behind.

Antonio arrives looking for Graziano.

Bassanio's ship has been delayed due to changed winds.

Graziano enthusiastically joins Antonio on the voyage.

The Christians are more readily accepting of Jessica than of Graziano's declaration of her as a Gentile.

Graziano's quick assessment of Jessica as a Gentile indicates he has just met her.

Jessica's bravery is shown by her willingness to leave her family, society, and culture for love.

Jessica brings gold to their union, indicating a sense of equality and financial independence.

Jessica's choice of disguise as a boy symbolizes a rejection of traditional femininity.