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The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

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Launcelot's Farewell to Jessica and Her View of Her Relationship with Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Summary:

In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Launcelot's farewell to Jessica highlights his concern for her well-being and his disdain for her father, Shylock. Jessica, in turn, views her relationship with Shylock as strained and oppressive, feeling trapped by his strict and miserly ways. She ultimately seeks freedom and happiness away from her father's control.

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How does Launcelot bid farewell to Jessica in Act 2, Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice? What is Jessica's view of her relationship with Shylock, and what does she mean by "heinous sin"?

LAUNCELOT "But, adieu: these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu.

JESSICA Farewell, good Launcelot. Slack, what heinous sin is it in me ........ and thy loving wife!

Act II Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice introduces a subplot to the main one of The Merchant of Venice; namely, the romance between Antonio and Bassanio's friend Lorenzo and Shylock's daughter Jessica. It also partially acts as a counterpoint to the antipathy between the Christian merchant Antonio and the Jew moneylender Shylock; for, Jessica desires to reject Judaism and become a Christian whereas Shylock is repulsed by the "pork eating" Christians.

Certainly, Launcelot wishes Jessica well, but his use of the French word Adieu which means "I commend you to God" or "Go with God," serves as his well-wishes for her conversion to Christianity. This conversion is further extended as Jessica perceives it as a chance to end strife in her life--the feelings of anti-Semitism in Venice--with her marriage to Lorenzo. This farewell of Lorenzo's is somewhat hypocritical as he has impregnated a non-believer, a Moor, and abandoned her.

Alack, what sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father's child!
But though I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife! (2.3.16-21)

Nevertheless, Jessica does feel some guilt about her make-up being unlike her father's "manners," or nature, as she asks "what sin" lies within herself that she would deny her cultural background--"a daughter to his blood"--and wish to become a Christian, Shylock's enemy.

This feeling is, of course, contrary to Shylock's feelings about his forced conversion to Christianity later in the play as Shylock hates Antonio and is forced to convert, Jessica loves his friend Lorenzo and willingly converts. And, yet, ironically, Jessica retains some of the more negative traits of the Jew Shylock, her father, as she steals his money and her mother's jewels in a gross act of disrespect and greed, feelings Shylock displays toward Antonio.

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How does Launcelot bid farewell to Jessica in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice? What are your feelings towards these characters?

In Act 2, Scene 3, Jessica is saying goodbye to Launcelot the clown, who is leaving his job as her father's servant to go and work for Bassanio.  She says she will miss him, because his jokes lightened the mood in their house, which is otherwise "hell."  

Launcelot, somewhat surprisingly, actually cries to say goodbye to Jessica.  In his trademark convoluted way, he explains, "Tears exhibit my tongue."  Then he adds, "Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew!"  Clearly he has developed some affection for Jessica during his tenure as her father's servant, and possibly even has a crush on her.

Then he adds, "If a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived."  Launcelot is speculating that perhaps Jessica is not Shylock's biological daughter, but rather that of a "Christian" who "played the knave" (seduced Shylock's wife) and "got" (begat) Jessica.  He means this as a compliment, but it is delivered in his typical ribald style.  We find this "compliment" coming from other characters in other places in the play.  It goes like this: "Jessica, you are such a wonderful person, you cannot possibly be a real Jew!"  Of course, it is hideously anti-Semitic. 

You will have to determine for yourself what your feelings for Launcelot, Jessica, and Shylock are in this scene.  Likely you will feel greater affection for both Jessica and Launcelot as they show their softer side.  As for Shylock, this scene is supposed to make him look horrible (makes his house hell for his daughter) and pathetic (people joke that he is a cuckold).  Perhaps, though, it will make you feel a bit sorry for him, or worried or defensive on his behalf. 

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