Skip to main content

What are Bassanio's motives for inviting Shylock to dinner in Act II, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

First of all, in Act 1, Scene 3, Bassanio meets with Shylock in order to secure 3,000 ducats on Antonio's credit so he can court and marry Portia. The contract is drawn up at that time, but Bassanio needs to meet with Shylock again to obtain the money. Before leaving to meet up with Bassanio, Shylock tells his daughter, Jessica, to lock up for the night after he leaves. During this discourse, Shylock speaks aloud...

First of all, in Act 1, Scene 3, Bassanio meets with Shylock in order to secure 3,000 ducats on Antonio's credit so he can court and marry Portia. The contract is drawn up at that time, but Bassanio needs to meet with Shylock again to obtain the money. Before leaving to meet up with Bassanio, Shylock tells his daughter, Jessica, to lock up for the night after he leaves. During this discourse, Shylock speaks aloud his concerns aloud about lending money to Christians who despise him. He wonders why he is even going to the dinner with Bassanio because he could just as well hand the money to Bassanio without socializing with him at dinner. Shylock concludes that the only reason that Bassanio has invited him to dinner is the mere fact that Bassanio flatters him. Shylock sees the invitation as one backed by an ulterior motive—probably to soften his heart so he won't demand a pound of Antonio's flesh if he can't pay the debt in three months. As a result, Shylock says that he will go to the dinner "in hate, to feed upon / The prodigal Christian" (II.v.14-15).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more