We go back to Venice, where Salerio and Salanio give an update on the happenings in the Italian city. They tell us how Shylock went to Bassanio’s ship to search for his daughter but that the ship had already set sail. He wakened the Duke to help him search for Jessica. But he was too Read More …
The focus of the play shifts back to Belmont, where the Prince of Morocco is about to make his decision on what casket to pick. This is the first time we have seen the lottery in action and the prince spends a lot of time deliberating on each of the caskets. The prince tells us Read More …
Gratiano and Salerio are outside Shylock’s house, waiting for Lorenzo who arrives, in the hope of taking Jessica from the house. He calls up to the upstairs window and Jessica, dressed in boy’s clothes responds. She tells Lorenzo to catch the casket, she is throwing from the upstairs window, which contains Shylock’s gold and jewels. Read More …
This is a very short scene (Note how short the scenes are at the minute, as Shakespeare picks up the pace and brings the plot along) where Lorenzo is making preparations for a masque at Bassanio’s feast. Launcelot enters and gives Lorenzo the letter from Jessica and Lorenzo sends a message with Launcelot to Jessica. Read More …
We meet Launcelot in this scene, who is a servant of Shylock’s, who is considering running away from him because he no longer wishes to be his servant. He is unsure whether or not he should go and is conflicted by this decision. The fact that Shylock is a Jew seems to play a big Read More …
The story moves back to Belmont, where the Prince of Morocco has arrived to try his luck with the lottery system to win Portia’s hand in marriage. He begins his talk with Portia by asking her not to judge him based on the colour of his skin. “Mislike me not for my complexion.” He says Read More …
Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 6 Act 2, Scene 7 Act 2, Scene 8 Act 2, Scene 9
In this scene, we are back in Venice and we meet Shylock, the Jewish moneylender for the first time. Bassanio is trying to get a loan from Shylock and Antonio will act as the guarantor. The terms of the loan are “three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio bound.” Shylock goes on to tell Read More …
The story now moves to Belmont and we are introduced to Portia, the lady, who Bassanio told us, is ‘richly left.’ She is attended by her servant Nerissa and tells her that she is tired of the world. Nerissa tells her that she would be miserable if her problems were as great as her vast Read More …