William Shakespeare's Works/Comedies/The Merchant of Venice/Act 2

Act 2 this is act two of the merchant of Venice, in the five act structure it is the "Rising Action", it is Builds tension by making problems for the characters.The form, structure and language of William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice - CCEA - GCSE English Literature Revision https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zg4gs82 2026-10-06 BBC Bitesize en-GB it is made up of 9 shorter scene's cutting between different places. scene 1 summery a Morocco prince comes to try the lottery for Portia's hand in marriage. she hates him and wishes him to loss because of his skin colour. Portia says that if he fails to pick the right one, he may never try to marry a woman again. they delay the picking until after dinner. scene 1: key quotes the prince of Morocco telling Portia not to be racist - "mislike me no for my complexion" Portia saying she has no controin over her husbain - "Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny Bars me the right of voluntary choosing. But if my father had not scanted me" Portia waring the prince of the cost of picking wrong - "You must take your chance And either not attempt to choose at all Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage. Therefore be advised." the delay until after dinner - "First, forward to the temple. After dinner Your hazard shall be made." scene 2 summery Launcelot has a discussion with himself about working for shylock, he wants to run but he says that his conscience is telling him to stay with shylock. his old dad, gobbo, who has very bad vision shows up to visit his son(Launcelot) and does not resonoisn his son. Launcelot decides to play a trick on his old dad, the first one of these is giving confusing directions to shylocks house. then his second trick was conving that Launcelot was a lord and dead, Gobbo fell for all the tricks of Launcelot. Launcelot then talks about how much he hates his master(shylock). then Launcelot and gobbo ask for Launcelot to become Bassanios servent. scene 2: key quotes Launcelot's indecoun on whender or not to leave shylocks service - "the fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me [...) my conscience says, "no, take heed, honest Launcelot" Launcelot's thoughts on shylocks demener - "the jew is the very devil incarnation" launcelot desides to play a trick - " O heavens, this is my true begotten father, who being more than sandblind, high gravelblind, knows me not. I will try confusions with him." launcleots confuning diretons - "Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house." Launcelots trick on his dad - "Talk you of young Master Lancelet?" Launcelot's says that master Lancelet is dead - "the young gentleman [...) is indeed deceased, or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven." gobbo's blindness - "i am sand-blind; i know you not." Launcelot's hate of shylock - "My master's a very jew - give him a present? Give him a halter! Launcelot asking to work for Bassanio - "Serve you, sir" scene 3 summery Jessica is saying goodbye to launcelot as he is no longer shylocks servent but bassanio servent now. she also confest in a soliloquy that she wants to become a christion to marry Lorenzo. scene 3: key quotes: Jessica descriping shylocks householed - "Our house is hell and thou, a merry devil" Jessica asking launcelot to give a letter to lorenzo - "Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest. Give him this letter, do it secretly," Jessica saying she hates shylock - "Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to be my father’s child?" jessiac want to become christion to marry lorenzo - "If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, Become a Christian and thy loving wife."