The Merchant of Venice
Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 6 question answers?
how does Jessica account for what she is doing?
is Jessica right to be ashamed?
how does Jessica account for what she is doing?
is Jessica right to be ashamed?
Lorenzo calls out to Jessica, who appears in the window of Shylock's house dressed as a man. She throws out a casket to Lorenzo filled with much of her father's gold and jewels. Jessica then goes back inside and steals even more ducats (golden coins) before joining the men on the street. Jessica's actions also leave unanswered the question of why she is locked up in her father's home. The answer to this comes from an understanding of the relationship between money and breeding. Whereas in the beginning Antonio is impotent in the sense that his money does not breed, Shylock is not. Shylock further has the advantage of having a daughter. Since the Jewish lineage is passed down via the maternal line, Jessica represents a way for Shylock's family line to continue. Thus, hoarding Jessica and his gold is Shylock's way of guaranteeing his successful breeding. Thus for Shylock the simultaneous loss of his daughter and his money is in a sense the loss of his fertility.