Reference to Context for Merchant of Venice Act 2 scene 3

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Merchant of Venice
Act 2 Scene

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Reference to context

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What does Jessica’s letter to
Lorenzo say?
• - describes plans to run away as
Lorenso’s torch bearer
• - dressed in jewels

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What does Jessica plan to take
with her when she leaves her
fathers house

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Act 2 Scene 5
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,

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3. Why is Jessica so ashamed
to be a Jew?

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1. Who is the speaker and why does
he speak these words?
• Shylock is the speaker. When Launcelot
speaks of the masque arranged by Lorenzo
and others, Shylock warns his daughter
before leaving the house to attend the feast
to be given by Bassanio. Shylock ask his
daughter Jessica to lock all the doors of his
house. He urges her not to climb upto the
window and look out into the street when
she hears the drum.

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2. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘wry-necked
fife’?. Also explain the meaning of “And the vile
squealing of the wry-necked fife”
• The phrase “wry-necked fife” means a wry-
necked musician for he always looks away
from his instruments. Shylock warns Jessica
not to climb up to the windows to see what is
going on in the street when she hears the
sound of the drum and the hateful noise of
the fife, which is a musical instrument having
a bent mouth

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3. What light does the above passage throw
on the character of Shylock?
• The above mentioned passage shows that
Shylock is a strictly religious Jew. He is
shocked to hear that there will be masques in
the street. He objects o such profane shows.
Moreover, he does not want his young
daughter to watch such shows of dance and
merriment. He does not wants his strictly
religious house to be profaned with any sound
of loose enjoyment.

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4. Explain the significance of the line “To gaze on
Christian fools with varnished faces”
• The above mentioned lines reveal
Shylock’s hatred for Christians. The
phrase “Christians fools” shows his
contempt (dislike) and hatred for the
people who persecute his race, and for
whose religion he has no respect.

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5. Is Shylock interested in attending the
feast to be given by Bassanio.
• Shylock has no desire to go out in order to
attend any feast. He even swears by
Jacob’s staff which is scared for the Jews,
that he has no wish to go to the feast.
However, he decides to go.