The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 2 in PDF Format - A Detailed Analysis of Shakespeare's Language a
- kegcatimary
- Aug 10, 2023
- 10 min read
Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 2: Summary, Analysis, and Themes
The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare that combines elements of comedy, romance, and tragedy. It tells the story of a merchant named Antonio who borrows money from a Jewish moneylender named Shylock to help his friend Bassanio woo a wealthy heiress named Portia. However, Shylock demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as a penalty if he fails to repay the loan on time. Meanwhile, Portia has to choose a husband from among three suitors who must pass a test involving three caskets. The play also features several subplots involving the characters of Shylock's daughter Jessica, who elopes with a Christian named Lorenzo, and Shylock's servant Launcelot Gobbo, who leaves his master to work for Bassanio.
In this article, we will focus on Act 2 Scene 2 of the play, which takes place in Venice and offers a humorous relief from the main plot. We will summarize the events of the scene, analyze its significance and style, and discuss some of the themes that it explores.
merchant of venice act 2 scene 2 pdf download
Summary
Launcelot's dilemma
The scene opens with Launcelot Gobbo, a clownish servant of Shylock, debating with himself whether he should run away from his master or not. He imagines that a "fiend" is urging him to leave, while his conscience tells him to stay. He feels conflicted because he thinks that serving a Jew is like serving a devil, but he also feels obliged to be loyal to his master. He finally decides to run away from Shylock for good.
Launcelot's prank on his father
As he is about to leave, he encounters his father, Old Gobbo, who is blind and has come to look for him. Launcelot decides to play a prank on him by giving him wrong directions to Shylock's house and pretending that he is someone else. He even tells his father that Launcelot is dead and makes him grieve for him. He then reveals his true identity and asks for his father's blessing.
Launcelot's new master
At this moment, Bassanio arrives with Lorenzo and some followers. Launcelot and Old Gobbo seize the opportunity and beg Bassanio to take Launcelot as his servant so that he can escape Shylock's service. Bassanio agrees to hire Launcelot and tells him to follow him. Launcelot assures Bassanio that he will leave Shylock without saying farewell.
Bassanio then meets Gratiano, another friend of Antonio's, who asks to accompany him to Belmont, where Portia lives. Bassanio agrees on the condition that Gratiano behaves himself and does not act too wild or rude. Gratiano promises to be on his best behavior and they plan to have a night of merriment before they depart.
Analysis
Prejudice and conscience
The scene shows how Launcelot is torn between his prejudice against Jews and his conscience as a servant. He views Shylock as a "kind of devil" and a "very devil incarnation" who corrupts him by association (2.2.19, 26). He also uses derogatory terms such as "the Jew" and "the Hebrew" to refer to him (2.2.104, 167). He thinks that running away from Shylock is the more "friendly counsel" given by the fiend ( 2.2.27), while staying with him is the more "honest counsel" given by his conscience (2.2.28). However, he also feels some guilt and remorse for betraying his master, whom he admits has been "a kind of father" to him (2.2.120). He says that he will "weep" for leaving Shylock and that he will "not run, I will not fly" (2.2.121, 123). He also hesitates to tell Shylock that he is leaving, saying that he will "try confusions with him" (2.2.168).
Appearance and reality
The scene also plays with the contrast between appearance and reality, a motif that runs throughout the play. Launcelot disguises himself as a stranger to his father and deceives him with lies and tricks. He tells him that Launcelot is dead, that Shylock's house is on the other side of the street, and that he is a Frenchman who does not understand English. He also makes fun of his father's blindness by saying that he has a "sand-blind" eye and a "rheumy" eye (2.2.38-39). He only reveals his true identity after he has had enough of his jest.
Similarly, Bassanio and Gratiano disguise their true intentions and characters by pretending to be more noble and courteous than they are. Bassanio hires Launcelot as his servant, but he does not really care about him or his father. He only wants to use him as a means to get to Portia and her wealth. He also tells Gratiano to behave himself in Belmont, but he does not really care about Portia's feelings or preferences. He only wants to win her hand by choosing the right casket.
Comic relief
The scene provides comic relief from the main plot, which involves serious issues such as love, money, justice, and mercy. The scene is full of jokes, puns, wordplay, and slapstick humor that make the audience laugh at the absurdity and folly of the characters. For example, Launcelot makes fun of his own name by saying that it is "a wise father that knows his own child" (2.2.71), implying that he is not a legitimate son of Old Gobbo. He also makes fun of Shylock's name by saying that it sounds like "shallow" (2.2.105). He also makes fun of Bassanio's name by saying that it sounds like "bass voice" (2.2.109).
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The scene also mocks the stereotypes and prejudices that the Christians have against the Jews in the play. Launcelot portrays Shylock as a devilish and cruel master who abuses him and makes him work hard. He says that Shylock is "the very devil incarnation" who gives him "a dry basting" (2.2.26-27). He also says that Shylock is "a kind of devil" who has "a prodigious nose" (2.2.19-20). He also says that Shylock is "the Jew" who has "the Hebrew nose" (2.2.104-105). These descriptions exaggerate and ridicule Shylock's physical features and religious identity.
Themes
Identity and belonging
The scene explores the theme of identity and belonging, which is central to the play. Launcelot struggles with his identity as a Christian servant of a Jewish master. He feels alienated from both groups and does not know where he belongs. He says that he is "a poor boy" who is "forsworn" (2.2.22-23). He also says that he is "a Jew's man" who is "a Christian's man" (2.2.174-175). He hopes to find a better place with Bassanio, but he does not realize that Bassanio does not value him as a person.
Similarly, Old Gobbo struggles with his identity as a father of a son who has left him and changed his appearance and behavior. He does not recognize Launcelot when he meets him and thinks that he is dead or lost. He says that he has "a dish of doves" for Launcelot, but he does not know where to find him (2.2 .2.6). He also says that he has "a son, a son" who is "a patch" (2.2.7, 69). He hopes to reunite with Launcelot, but he does not realize that Launcelot does not respect him as a father.
Parent-child relationships
The scene also explores the theme of parent-child relationships, which is another important aspect of the play. Launcelot and Old Gobbo have a dysfunctional relationship that is based on deception and mockery. Launcelot lies to his father and makes fun of his blindness and age. He says that his father has "sand-blind" eyes and "rheumy" eyes (2.2.38-39). He also says that his father is "old" and "doting" (2.2.41, 43). He only asks for his father's blessing after he has secured a new job with Bassanio.
Similarly, Shylock and Jessica have a strained relationship that is based on resentment and rebellion. Jessica hates her father and his religion and runs away with Lorenzo, a Christian. She says that she is "ashamed to be my father's child" (2.3.16). She also steals his money and jewels and trades his ring for a monkey (2.8.12-14). She only writes a letter to her father after she has eloped with Lorenzo.
Blindness and sight
The scene also explores the theme of blindness and sight, which is related to the motif of appearance and reality. Old Gobbo is literally blind and cannot see his son or the way to Shylock's house. He relies on Launcelot's words and directions, which are false and misleading. He says that he is "sand-blind" and "rheumy" (2.2.38-39). He also says that he cannot tell "a black house from a white dog" (2.2.40).
However, Launcelot and Bassanio are also metaphorically blind and cannot see the truth or the consequences of their actions. They do not see the value or the harm of their master or their servant, respectively. They only see what they want to see or what suits their interests. They say that they are "wise" and "honest" (2.2.73, 174), but they are actually foolish and dishonest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Act 2 Scene 2 of The Merchant of Venice is a comic scene that contrasts with the main plot of the play. It shows how Launcelot Gobbo leaves Shylock's service to work for Bassanio with the help of his father Old Gobbo. It also shows how Bassanio prepares to go to Belmont with Gratiano to woo Portia. The scene reveals some of the characters' personalities, motives, and conflicts, as well as some of the themes and motifs of the play, such as prejudice and conscience, appearance and reality, identity and belonging, parent-child relationships, and blindness and sight.
FAQs
What is the genre of The Merchant of Venice?
The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare that combines elements of comedy, romance, and tragedy. It is classified as one of Shakespeare's comedies because it has a happy ending for the main characters, but it also has some dark and serious aspects that make it more complex than a typical comedy.
Who are the main characters in The Merchant of Venice?
The main characters in The Merchant of Venice are Antonio, a merchant who borrows money from Shylock; Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as a penalty; Bassanio, Antonio's friend who wants to marry Portia; Portia, a wealthy heiress who has to choose a husband from three caskets; Jessica, Shylock's daughter who elopes with Lorenzo; Lorenzo, Jessica's lover who helps her escape; Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant who leaves him for Bassanio; Old Gobbo, Launcelot's father who looks for him; Gratiano, Bassanio's friend who accompanies him to Belmont; Nerissa, Portia's maid who marries Gratiano.
What is the main conflict in The Merchant of Venice?
The main conflict in The Merchant of Venice is between Antonio and Shylock over the loan that Antonio takes from Shylock to help Bassanio woo Portia. Shylock agrees to lend Antonio 3,000 ducats for three months without interest, but he asks for a pound of Antonio's flesh as a penalty if he fails to repay the loan on time. Antonio agrees to the bond, thinking that his ships will return with enough profit to pay back Shylock. However, Antonio's ships are reported to be lost at sea, and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. Antonio is arrested and brought to court, where Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and saves him by finding a flaw in Shylock's contract.
What is the significance of the three caskets in The Merchant of Venice?
The three caskets are a test that Portia's father devised to choose a suitable husband for her. The caskets are made of gold, silver, and lead, and each one has an inscription that hints at its contents. The suitors have to choose one of the caskets, and if they choose the right one, they win Portia's hand. The gold casket says "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire" (2.7.5), but it contains a skull and a scroll that says "All that glisters is not gold" (2.7.65). The silver casket says "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves" (2.7.7), but it contains a picture of a fool and a scroll that says "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool" (2.9.66-67). The lead casket says "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath" (2.7.9), and it contains a picture of Portia and a scroll that says "You that choose not by the view, chance as fair and choose as true" (3.2.131-132). The caskets represent the theme of appearance and reality, as well as the values of the suitors. The right casket is the one that does not appeal to the eye or the ego, but to the heart and the risk.
What is the message of The Merchant of Venice?
The Merchant of Venice is a complex play that does not have a single or clear message. It can be interpreted in different ways depending on the perspective and context of the reader or viewer. Some possible messages that the play conveys are: - The importance of mercy and forgiveness over justice and revenge. - The dangers of prejudice and discrimination based on religion, race, gender, or class. - The power of love and friendship over money and greed. - The ambiguity and uncertainty of human nature and morality. - The difficulty and necessity of choosing wisely and honestly.
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