The Merchant of Venice - Act 2
Belmont welcomes another outsider, the Prince of Morocco. Like Shylock later, Morocco claims validity in the face of the closed society of Venice by boldly affirming the redness of his blood. 'Strangers' (foreigners) are constantly having to state their case...
In Scene 2, Launcelot serves 'the Jew,' who is 'the very devil incarnation.' His speech is earthy prose, peppered with malapropisms.
What are we supposed to feel about this 'Jew' he rails against? Shakespeare wrote the play very shortly after the success of Christopher Marlowe's 'The Jew of Malta.'
1. ACTIVITY: If you don't know the play, take a look at a character summary of Marlowe's Jew, Barabas, by clicking on this image:
1. ACTIVITY: If you don't know the play, take a look at a character summary of Marlowe's Jew, Barabas, by clicking on this image:
Can you identify any similarities with Shylock? What do you think Shakespeare's intentions might have been, in penning a play along such similar lines?
Scene 3 confirms suspicions that Shylock is, indeed, a tyrant. His own daughter claims 'Our house is hell,' and speaks to Launcelot in secret. She refers to 'his blood' which they have in common, but her rejection of 'his manners' and her willingness to become a Christian through Lorenzo seem to redeem her in the eyes of the audience, reflected in Launcelot's own affection towards her as a 'most sweet Jew!' She is about to become a 'CONVERSA' - someone who will never be fully accepted again, either by the community she leaves, or by the community she joins.
2. QUESTION: What do you think about the two prospective couples so far: Portia - Bassanio and Jessica - Lorenzo? What do they know about each other, and what attracts them to their respective partners?
Scene 5 is an interesting insight into Shylock's household (set outside his house in the play). Click below and watch 32.00-36.14.
3. QUESTION: How does Al Pacino interpret the father-daughter relationship? What inferences has he made from the language in the passage?
'Lock up my doors,' Shylock orders Jessica. He is already anxious, as he has had a dream and senses some ill-will towards him. This anxiety is certainly rooted in the historical abuse suffered by Jews in Venice. His house may be a target, especially on a night of revels. Jews are not allowed to own property, but 'thrive' only by lending money, so his house is full of jewels and ducats.
Look at the onomatopoeic 'squealing' he expects from the fife, and the 'varnish'd faces' of young men wearing masks - very threatening for a Jew in the street, wearing his distinctive red hat. His is the dread and loathing of a religious outsider who is disgusted by the shallowness of the society he lives in.
4. QUESTION: What are the probable reasons for which Shylock goes to supper at Bassanio's house?
5. QUESTION: What do you think of the Venetian men who have invited him to a meal - flattered him - as a ruse to get him out the house? Would Shakespeare's audience have felt differently?
2. QUESTION: What do you think about the two prospective couples so far: Portia - Bassanio and Jessica - Lorenzo? What do they know about each other, and what attracts them to their respective partners?
Scene 5 is an interesting insight into Shylock's household (set outside his house in the play). Click below and watch 32.00-36.14.
3. QUESTION: How does Al Pacino interpret the father-daughter relationship? What inferences has he made from the language in the passage?
'Lock up my doors,' Shylock orders Jessica. He is already anxious, as he has had a dream and senses some ill-will towards him. This anxiety is certainly rooted in the historical abuse suffered by Jews in Venice. His house may be a target, especially on a night of revels. Jews are not allowed to own property, but 'thrive' only by lending money, so his house is full of jewels and ducats.
Look at the onomatopoeic 'squealing' he expects from the fife, and the 'varnish'd faces' of young men wearing masks - very threatening for a Jew in the street, wearing his distinctive red hat. His is the dread and loathing of a religious outsider who is disgusted by the shallowness of the society he lives in.
4. QUESTION: What are the probable reasons for which Shylock goes to supper at Bassanio's house?
5. QUESTION: What do you think of the Venetian men who have invited him to a meal - flattered him - as a ruse to get him out the house? Would Shakespeare's audience have felt differently?
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