The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare | Act 2, Scene 3

Course Hero

25 Oct 201901:42

Summary

TLDRIn Act 2 Scene 3 of 'The Merchant of Venice,' Jessica, Shylock's daughter, bids farewell to Launcelot Gobbo, who has brought laughter to her otherwise gloomy home. She entrusts him with a letter for Lorenzo, expressing her wish to marry a Christian and escape her father's oppressive household. Jessica's actions and feelings towards Shylock reveal a deeper character flaw in Shylock, beyond the Jewish stereotypes, as her desire to flee indicates a strained and unhappy relationship with her father.

Takeaways

🎭 In Act 2 Scene 3 of 'The Merchant of Venice', Jessica bids farewell to Launcelot Gobbo as he leaves her father's service.
😄 Jessica finds Launcelot to be a source of fun in an otherwise serious household.
💌 Jessica sends a letter to Lorenzo through Launcelot, indicating her desire to leave her father's house.
🕊️ Launcelot predicts that Jessica will marry a Christian, hinting at her future conversion.
😢 Both Jessica and Launcelot cry, showing a deep emotional bond between them.
🏠 Jessica describes her house as hell, indicating her unhappiness and desire to escape.
🤔 Launcelot's role as comic relief contrasts with Jessica's serious judgment of her father.
👨‍👧 Jessica's lack of prejudice against her father suggests her negative feelings stem from his actions, not his religion.
💔 Jessica's desire to leave is the strongest evidence against Shylock's character presented in the play so far.
📚 The script challenges the Jewish stereotypes by showing Jessica's complex feelings towards her father.

Q & A

What is the significance of Act 2 Scene 3 in The Merchant of Venice?
-Act 2 Scene 3 is significant as it showcases Jessica's decision to leave her father Shylock's service, highlighting her desire for a life away from his oppressive influence.
Who is Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice?
-Launcelot Gobbo is a character in the play who serves as a clownish figure, providing comic relief. He is also a servant to Shylock and Jessica.
Why does Jessica bid Launcelot Gobbo goodbye?
-Jessica bids Launcelot goodbye as he is leaving her father's service to work for Bassanio, and she is sending him with a letter for Lorenzo.
What does Jessica reveal to Launcelot about her father's house?
-Jessica describes her father's house as a serious and unhappy place, suggesting it is akin to hell, and credits Launcelot with bringing some merriment into it.
What does Jessica's judgment of her father indicate about Shylock?
-Jessica's judgment indicates that Shylock's actions towards her have not been good, as she is predisposed to love him but instead seeks to escape his influence.
What does Jessica hope will happen after Launcelot leaves?
-Jessica hopes that Lorenzo will receive her message and come to take her away to marry her, indicating her desire to leave her father's house.
What is Launcelot's prediction about Jessica's future?
-Launcelot predicts that Jessica will marry a Christian, which is a significant change from her current Jewish identity.
How does Jessica's desire to escape reflect on Shylock's character?
-Jessica's desire to escape is presented as the clearest evidence against Shylock's character, suggesting that his negative qualities are not just based on Jewish stereotypes but also on his actual behavior.
What is the role of comic relief in The Merchant of Venice, as exemplified by Launcelot?
-The role of comic relief, as seen with Launcelot, is to provide moments of humor that contrast with the serious and often dramatic elements of the play.
Why does Jessica's lack of prejudice against her father matter?
-Jessica's lack of prejudice against her father is important because it shows that her negative feelings are based on his actions, not on his religious or ethnic identity.
What message does Jessica send to Lorenzo through Launcelot?
-Jessica sends a message to Lorenzo, likely expressing her love and desire to be with him, hoping that he will come to take her away.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Jessica's Farewell to Launcelot

In Act 2 Scene 3 of 'The Merchant of Venice,' Jessica, Shylock's daughter, bids farewell to Launcelot Gobbo as he leaves her father's service. Jessica expresses her appreciation for the joy Launcelot has brought to her life in a house she describes as 'hell.' She sends Launcelot to Bassanio with a letter for Lorenzo, hoping to escape her father's oppressive home and marry a Christian. Launcelot's departure is marked by mutual tears, indicating the depth of their bond. Jessica's judgment of her father is critical, suggesting his actions have been detrimental to her happiness. Her desire to leave is a stark contrast to the Christian characters' attitudes and serves as a significant indictment of Shylock's character, moving beyond mere Jewish stereotypes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Act 2 Scene 3

Act 2 Scene 3 refers to a specific part of the play 'The Merchant of Venice'. It is a structural element in drama that divides the play into manageable sections for the audience to follow. In the context of the video, this act and scene are pivotal as they depict Jessica's decision to leave her father's service and her house, which is a significant turning point in the narrative.

💡Jessica

Jessica is a character in 'The Merchant of Venice' and the daughter of Shylock. She is portrayed as someone who seeks to escape her father's oppressive household. Her actions and feelings are central to understanding the dynamics within her family and the broader themes of the play, such as the conflict between Jewish and Christian characters.

💡Launcelot Gobbo

Launcelot Gobbo is a character who serves as a comedic figure in the play. His interactions with Jessica in Act 2 Scene 3 are important as they provide insight into Jessica's decision to leave and also serve to lighten the mood of the play. His departure from Shylock's service is a precursor to Jessica's own plans.

💡Shylock

Shylock is a central character in 'The Merchant of Venice' and is known for his role as the play's antagonist. He is a Jewish moneylender and Jessica's father. The video script suggests that his character is defined by his negative actions towards Jessica, which contribute to her desire to leave him.

💡Bassanio

Bassanio is a character in the play to whom Jessica sends a letter via Launcelot. He is a friend of Antonio and is in love with Portia. Jessica's action of sending a letter to Bassanio indicates her intention to align herself with the Christian characters and her desire to escape her father's influence.

💡Lorenzo

Lorenzo is a character who is in love with Jessica and whom she hopes will rescue her from her father's house. His role in the play is significant as it represents Jessica's hope for a better life outside of her oppressive home.

💡Comic Relief

Comic Relief refers to the use of humor to provide a contrast to the serious or dramatic elements of a story. Launcelot serves this purpose in 'The Merchant of Venice'. His silly and light-hearted nature offers a break from the heavier themes and allows the audience to momentarily detach from the play's tension.

💡Hell

In the script, Jessica describes her house as 'hell', which is a strong metaphor indicating the unbearable and oppressive nature of her home life with Shylock. This description is crucial for understanding Jessica's motivation to escape and her feelings towards her father.

💡Merriment

Merriment is mentioned in relation to Launcelot's presence in Shylock's house. It signifies the joy and light-heartedness he brings, which is in stark contrast to the otherwise grim atmosphere. Jessica credits him with bringing some happiness into her life, highlighting the lack of it otherwise.

💡Christian Characters

The term 'Christian characters' refers to the non-Jewish figures in the play who often represent the prevailing societal norms and attitudes of the time. Jessica's lack of prejudice against her father and her desire to join the Christian characters, as indicated by her sending a letter to Bassanio, reflect her rejection of her father's ways.

💡Jewish Stereotype

The Jewish stereotype in the play refers to the negative and prejudiced portrayal of Shylock, which is based on his religion rather than his individual actions. The script suggests that Jessica's desire to leave her father is not due to prejudice but rather his treatment of her, challenging the audience to consider the character's actions separately from these stereotypes.

Highlights

Jessica bids farewell to Launcelot Gobbo as he leaves Shylock's service.

Jessica shares that Launcelot has been a source of fun in a serious household.

She sends Launcelot to Bassanio with a letter for Lorenzo.

Launcelot predicts Jessica will marry a Christian.

Both Jessica and Launcelot express sadness at parting.

Jessica hopes Lorenzo will receive her message and marry her.

Launcelot is portrayed as a silly character for comic relief.

Jessica views her house as hell and appreciates Launcelot's merriment.

The only other person in Jessica's house is Shylock, implying he is the source of her unhappiness.

Jessica has no prejudice against her father, suggesting her feelings are based on his actions.

Jessica's desire to escape her father's house is presented as evidence against Shylock's character.

Shylock's negative qualities have been based on Jewish stereotypes until this point in the play.

Jessica's judgment of her father is considered more reliable than the Christian characters' views.

The scene underscores the theme of prejudice and the impact of personal actions on relationships.

Jessica's plan to marry a Christian and leave her father reflects her dissatisfaction with her current life.

The emotional depth of the scene is highlighted by the characters' tears and hopes for the future.

The dialogue between Jessica and Launcelot serves as a turning point in the narrative, revealing deeper character motivations.