In this scene, we meet Jessica, who is Shylock’s daughter and who is planning to flee her father’s house to elope with Lorenzo, a friend of Bassanio’s. She knows that Launcelot is also planning to leave her father to go to Bassanio and gives him a letter to give to Lorenzo. She tells Launcelot, “Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,/ didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.”
Launcelot leaves and Jessica gives a short soliloquy, where she reveals the regret she feels at what she is doing. ” What heinous sin is it in me/ To be ashamed to be my father’s child.” But she justifies her decision by telling us that she is nothing like her father and that if her plan goes correctly, she will, “end this strife/ Become a Christian and thy loving wife.” She is telling us that she is turning her back on her father and her religion and is intent on running away with Lorenzo.
You should consider how Shylock will feel about losing his servant to Bassanio and his daughter to Lorenzo. What will this do to his hatred of the Christians in the story? Dramatic Irony is also evident here as well as this is a secret plot that Shylock knows nothing about but we, the audience, are aware of what is happening.
Key Quotes.
“Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,/ didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.” Jessica
“end this strife/ Become a Christian and thy loving wife.” Jessica
“What heinous sin is it in me/ To be ashamed to be my father’s child.” Jessica