The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -- Act 2, Scene 2 -- Summary and Analysis

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Summary

Lancelot debates with himself whether to leave his master Shylock or not. He decides to run. Lancelot's father, Gobbo, enters and doesn't recognize Lancelot. Gobbo seeks Lancelot, and Lancelot lies to him and tells him he's died. Lancelot mocks him further but eventually reveals his identity. 

Lancelot reveals his desire to run away and serve Bassanio instead. Lancelot urges his father to give a gift he has brought to Shylock to Bassanio to gain his favor. They fall over one another trying to ask Bassanio to serve him. Bassanio accepts, and says it is Shylock's desire as well.  Bassanio orders to dress him better than his other servants. Lancelot and Gobbo exit.

Gratiano enters and demands to accompany Bassanio to Belmont. Bassanio agrees but warns Gratiano not to behave wildly as is his habit and risk the loss of Portia. He promises to behave well.


Main events

  • Lancelot debates with the devil and his conscious whether to run away from Bassanio
  • Lancelot makes his father think he's dead
  • Bassanio accepts Lancelot as a servant

Participating Characters

  • Lancelot Gobbo (the clown)
  • Gobbo, Lancelot's father
  • Bassanio
  • Gratiano

Response/ discussion

LAUNCELOT

Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from
this Jew my master.

Free will. He is bound to his conscience, not destiny

LAUNCELOT

Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from
this Jew my master… My
conscience says 'No; take heed,' honest Launcelot;
take heed, honest Gobbo, or, as aforesaid, 'honest
Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy
heels.'

Contradiction: conscience says one thing and then another?

  • Repetition of "conscience"
  • Punning "dwell", others

BASSANIO

One speak for both. What would you?

LAUNCELOT

Serve you, sir.

GOBBO

That is the very defect of the matter, sir.


Gobbo makes a mistake- he meant to say "effect" but actually, it makes sense- he does want to defect (leave Shylock)

LAUNCELOT

… Well, if Fortune be a
woman, she's a good wench for this gear.

Fortune

BASSANIO

Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice;
Parts that become thee happily enough
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why, there they show
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior
I be misconstrued in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.


Anthropology and politics. Also shows the relationship between Bassanio and Gratiano- Bassanio is the clear superior and Gratiano is either testy or just rude


Table of Contents: The Merchant of Venice -- Summary and Analysis


The Merchant of Venice. Image source

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