If the suitor chooses the wrong casket, he may ”never in (his) life/To woo a maid in way of marriage.

Act III, Scene One Solanio and Salerio discuss the rumor that Antonio has lost yet a second ship. Shylock enters and complains that both Solanio and Salerio had something to do with his daughter’s flight. They do not deny it, but instead ask Shylock if he has heard about Antonio’s losses.

Greed vs. Generosity. The primary grievance that Antonio has against Shylock is that he is greedy—for charging interest to those who borrow money from him when they are in need. The Venetians implicitly contrast Shylock’s greed with the generosity that they show one another.

Summary: Act III, scene iii Assured that the duke will grant him justice, Shylock insists that he will have his bond and tells the jailer not to bother speaking to him of mercy. Solanio declares that Shylock is the worst of men, and Antonio reasons that the Jew hates him for bailing out many of Shylock’s debtors.

When Antonio arrives, Shylock, in an aside, confesses his hatred for the man. As he calculates the interest on Bassanio’s loan, Shylock remembers the many times that Antonio has cursed him, calling him a “misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / And spit upon [his] Jewish gaberdine” (I. iii. 107–108).

Shylock accepts the invitation to dinner out of hatred and to eat the food of the extravagant Christian, Bassanio. Bassanio is referred to as the prodigal Christian because he is a wasteful, who spends money extravagantly which he has borrowed from Shylock.

Bassanio

Answer : Shylock was having an intuition that something bad was about to happen, as on the previous night, he had a dream of money bags, which was considered a bad omen. He was filled with anxiety. Yes, his intuition turned out to be right as we see later that his daughter, Jessica eloped with her lover Lorenzo.

Here Jessica wishes to leave Shylock. She says that if my luck is favorable, she has lost her father and Shylock has lost her daughter. Explanation: She says that she will cease to be Shylock’s daughter if luck favours her.

In the Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo is fully in love with Jessica and not for just her money. He recites,”Beshrow me but I lover heartily; For she is wise, if I can judge her; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; And true she is, as she hath proved herself.

Jessica speaks to the audience after saying goodbye to Launcelot as she plans her escape. She reveals how she feels ashamed to be her father’s daughter because of his behavior. She also declares her love for Lorenzo and her desire to leave home and become a Christian to marry him.

Lorenzo

In the play, she is in love with Lorenzo, a penniless Christian, and a chest of her father’s money, eventually ending up in Portia and Bassanio’s household.

about 18 years old

Shylock remains in control of events in Venice, but Portia, his antagonist, is now moving against him. Indeed, the play has already shown Jessica dressed as a boy in her escape from Shylock’s house. Dressing as a man is necessary since Portia is about to play a man’s part, appearing as member of a male profession.

One of the caskets holds a portrait of Portia and whoever chooses this one will become her husband. Portia is frustrated by the way her father controls her even though he is no longer alive and she complains about her lack of choice. Nerissa reminds Portia about the nobleman Bassanio who once visited them.

Hover for more information. In The Merchant of Venice, Jessica runs away from her father Shylock in order to pursue a relationship with Lorenzo. Shylock and Jessica are Jewish and Lorenzo is Christian, so Shylock does not approve of their relationship. These religious descriptions also reinforce dark stereotypes.

Portia: A rich heiress, of Belmont. Jessica: The daughter of Shylock.

Jessica is ashamed to call Shylock, her father as she is fed up on the contrary, of his harsh ways. She is going to elope with a Christian even if she knows that it will be a terrible blow to her father. Launcelot has decided to leave Shylock’s house and has come now to bid farewell.

Shylock shows his daughter little affection or kindness—she is his flesh and blood and therefore an extension of himself, not a person in her own right. Days after she has run away, he exclaims in disbelief, “My own flesh and blood to rebel!” (3.1. 32). In her first scene, Jessica laments, “Our house is hell” (2.3.

Shylock, at the beginning of the play, very much loves his daughter Jessica. However, Jessica is unhappy with her father’s behavior, as well as with the restrictions that will fall upon her in terms of the men she will be allowed to marry while remaining within her father’s good graces.

silver casket

One main difference between both woman is that Jessica is Jewish, and Portia is Christian. Because Jessica is Jewish, she is required to live in the “ghetto”. Jessica lives in Belmont while Portia lives in Venice. Portia comes from a much better financial background than what Jessica does.

Nerissa is Portia’s lady-in-waiting and is portrayed as a loyal, trustworthy friend throughout the play. Nerissa reveals that she is a supportive, practical friend by advising Portia to be thankful for having a wise father and encouraging her to remember Bassanio, who was a handsome, promising suitor.

She also calls Launcelot a “merry devil,” which refers to his role as a court jester. Hence, Jessica is ultimately saying that Launcelot is the one person who brought merriment into Shylock’s household, putting an end to her weariness.

The Three Caskets From The Merchant of Venice According to her father’s will, Portia is not allowed to pick her own husband. Instead, the suitors must pick from three caskets, gold, silver, or lead. He picks the gold casket because the inscription reads: “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.