Act 2 Scene 5
Summary of the Act / Scene
Shylock leaves Jessica in charge of his house
Main Character
Shylock
Launcelot
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Calls for Jessica to take care of the house as he has been invited to a supper he does not want to go to
He feels that things will not go his way as he dreamt of money bags the previous night
After learning that a masquerade party may take place, Shylock warns Jessica to keep herself at home undisrupted by the party
Complains about Launcelot,
Jessica
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Follows Shylock for the last time, talking to him informally
Hints to Shylock that a masquerade party may take place since he has been receiving bad omens
He secretly reminds Jessica that she should look out for Lorenzo, who would come to fetch her
Conceals the secret about her plan well
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Shylock dislikes being with Christians, and wants to have no contact with them
“I am bid forth to supper, Jessica. There are my keys.—But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love. They flatter me. But yet I’ll go in hate to feed upon The prodigal Christian.”
“What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces. But stop my house’s ears—I mean my casements— Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house.”
Key incidents/moments in the scene
He has had a dream that there will be trouble tonight, and there actually is Launcelot slyly jokes that Shylock will in fact see a "masque" that night. Shylock brushes him off and repeats that Jessica should lock the doors and not look out onto the street. In an aside, Launcelot says that Jessica should look out the window—a Christian will come by who will be worth a Jew's eye. Launcelot, who is in on Jessica and Lorenzo's scheme to elope, can make jokes with her that her father is unable to understand. As Christians (or, in Jessica's case, soon-to-be Christians), they're insiders while the Jewish Shylock is an outsider.
Pick out the different literary techniques used
Shylock states that “There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream of money bags tonight.” There is irony in this as Shylock does really have something bad coming his way - Jesscia running away from him
“The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.—” There is juxtaposition here as Shylock is perceived to be an evil man while Bassanio is seen to be a good man
“I will not say you shall see a masque, but if you do then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black Monday last at six o'clock i' th' morning falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in th' afternoon.” There is allusion here. The references are all used for Launcelot to show off his knowledge and for him to play with Shylock’s superstitious nature. He mentions that these events happened at the same time, which in fact does not since they are 40 days apart, hence joking with Shylock.
“Fast bind, fast find.” Allusion is used here to show repetition, which emphasises the importance of Jesscia looking up the house in order to keep the things inside home safe”
“Fast bind, fast find. A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.” There is rhyme here, to emphasise that this quote that Shylock says is true.
Theme
Prejudice and Intolerance, Love and Friendship and revenge