Scene I
The Prince of Morocco arrives in Belmont and asks Portia not to judge him by his dark complexion as he is a Moor. Portia tells him that while she does not care (she did in Act I however tell Nerissa she does) and the casket test will determine their future fate as a couple. The prince asks Portia to lead him to the caskets and reminds him of the penalty (if he chooses the wrong casket, he can never propose to or marry another girl) which he accepts.
Scene II
Lancelot Gobbo, the servant of the Jew, Shylock, is debating whether he should stay working or run away. He decides to play a trick on his blind father, Old Gobbo, telling him his son is dead. Lancelot eventually tells him that is was a joke. He tells his father that he is leaving Shylock to become the servant of Bassanio. Lancelot successfully tries to convince Bassanio to let him be his servant and he accepts. Bassanio meets Gratiano who wants to accompany him to Belmont however Bassanio makes him promise that he will be well-behaved.
Scene III
Jessica, Shylock's daughter, says good-bye to Lancelot as he leaves and tells him that he made her life more bearable. Jessica gives Lancelot a letter to give to Lorenzo and he leaves. Jessica is ashamed of her father however she believes she is only his daughter by blood. She wants to marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity.
Scene IV
Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio discuss the plan to rescue Jessica from Shylock. Lorenzo assures Gratiano that they are well prepared to rescue her. Lancelot reads Jessica's letter and describes her writing as "whiter than the paper it writ on." Lorenzo bids Lancelot to return to Shylock's house in order to assure Jessica that his plan will work. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will escape from Shylock's house by disguising herself as Lorenzo's torchbearer.
Scene V
Shylock warns Lancelot that Bassanio will not be as lenient as him, allowing him to oversleep and overeat. Shylock gets suspicious with Jessica and tells her to keep the doors locked as well as not look out the window. Lancelot tells Jessica she must disobey her father and look out the window. Shylock leaves the house.
Scene VI
Gratiano and Salarino meet in front of Shylock's house and are anxious because Lorenzo is late. Gratiano states that he tends to tire and lose interest meaning he is just in for the chase. Lorenzo arrives and calls up to Jessica who is dressed up as a page. She tosses a casket of gold and some jewels to him and they exit. Bassanio is about to leave for Belmont and Gratiano must leave to join him.
Scene VII
Portia lays the three casket test out to the Prince of Morocco where he is struggling on which casket to choose. The prince chooses the gold casket and a skull with a scroll in its eye socket is revealed. The prince leaves Belmont.
Scene VIII
Solanio and Salarino describe Shylock's rage when he found out that Jessica ran away and look gold and ducats. Solanio hopes Antonio can pay his debt but Salarino reminds him or rumors of ships that have been capsized in the English Channel. When Bassanio leaves, Antonio insists that his friend should not rush his journey.
Scene IX
The Prince of Arragon arrives in Belmont to win Portia's hand also. He selects the silver casket and is very confident in his choice. He finds a portrait of a blinking idiot and a poem that calls him a fool. A messenger tells Portia that a suitor from Venice is on his way and she hopes it's Bassanio.
New/Additional Characters
Jessica
We know that Jessica despises her father and wants to run away. She intends to marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity. Jessica, as a character, is very direct and is not afraid to hide her feelings. She does not like to hang onto the past and believes Christianity will save her soul.
Lancelot/Old Gobbo
Lancelot is a lower-class individual who is the servant to Shylock. He is the comic relief in this story and while he is dumb, he frequently tries to act smart, however, he misuses language in a way that is witty for the audience. Old Gobbo is his father.
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
- Greed-theme
- Race-theme
- Justice-theme
- The Casket Test-symbol
- Law-motif
- The Pound of Antonio's flesh-symbol
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