The Merchant of
Summary
Act 2.6 - Jessica escapes from her father
- Leaves with Lorenzo
Act 2.7 - The 3 caskets are revealed
-
- Discovers a skull with a scroll
and leaves
Act 2.8 - Solerio and Solanio talking about Shylock
- “My daughter! O my ducats!”
- Antonio also mentioned, may have
lost his ship.
- Scene is humorous when talking
about Shylock
- Mood changes to anxiety when
talking about Antonio’s ships.
Motifs & Connotations
Caskets:
·
Repeated Casket Task
throughout the play > Appearance and Reality & Men’s Control over women Casket
task > Portia is controlled by the casket and her father), She is unable to
choose her own husband > her life is controlled by her father & the
casket
·
Casket also mentioned when
Jessica escapes from Shylock’s house > Money and wealth: “Here, catch this
casket” [Act 2.6, line 33]
Gods & Heavens:
·
·
Themes
Appearances as
deceiving:
·
Casket task reinforces that
what looks good on the outside may not be the same on the inside: the Gold
casket contains a skull and scroll that condemns his judgment on the casket he
picked. The message is that one should not judge based on exterior as the
interior may be different from what is expected.
·
Other examples reinforced
through the Silver and Lead caskets
·
Also when Jessica, Portia
and Nerissa dress up as men
Imagery
Gold, Silver and
Lead:
·
Materials, Outward
appearance.
·
Gold > beauty, angels, wealth and goodness
·
Silver > Not as valuable as gold
>
“Virgin Hue” associated with the colour silver
>
“Virgin Hue” also associated with the goddess of the moon, Diana > Purity
>
“Immured” - shut away, silver is not good enough
·
Lead > Ugly and unworthy
Characters
Prince of
·
His character judges based
on appearance, shown through the choosing of the Gold casket. He is very
arrogant and is the stereotype of a macho man. He compares himself to Phoebus,
the sun god [Act 2.1 line 5]. He is also humorous as
he is supposed to be wooing Portia but instead uses violent imagery [fire,
blood]. His character does not change or progress throughout the play. He makes
a big entrance in Act 2.1 and also makes a big fuss when he leaves at the end
of Act 2.7 “Cold indeed and labour lost; Then, farewell, heat, and welcome,
frost! Portia, adieu!...” [Act 2.7 lines 74 onwards].
Although violent imagery is more discreet in Act 2.7, his arrogance is shown
through his choice of the golden casket, as he states that he should deserve
more than what he deserves (in reference to the silver casket).
Portia:
·
Portia’s character is more
developed in Act 2.7. First impression of Portia is that she is under control
of men (her father), although her power over
Setting
Belmont, A room in Portia’s house.
·
Associated with Love and
fantasy > contrast with
·
Where the women live
·
The Women only have power
in
Narrative Style
Relation of Part to
Whole
The casket task is
introduced earlier in act 1 scene 2. In between Act 1 scene 2 and Act 2 scene
7, Bassanio travels to