Jake L.
November, 28 1999
English 1
Jessica: The Merchant Of Venice
"But love is blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit..." This is one
of the most famous lines in Shakespeare's he Merchant Of Venice. This phrase is interesting and the person who said it is
interesting as well. This person is known as Jessica. Jessica is an unique character because she has two personalities.
She can be very cruel and sinister-like at times, but she can also be sweet, nice, and loving at others.
Jessica is very cruel to her father because he won't let Jessica out of the house when she wants to.
Jessica and her father are both Jewish, but Jessica wants to elope with a man named Lorenzo, who is Christian. Jessica
plans to run away with Lorenzo, take all of her Dad's money, and become a Christian so she can marry Lorenzo. Confronted
by the clown, Lancelet, Jessica talks about her father in a cruel way. "That were a kind of bastard hope indeed; so
the sins of my mother should be visited upon me" This quote can mean different things. One of the things is that
the sins of Jessica's mother has been passed down to her. Jessica also hates her mother for marrying such an evil man.
Jessica goes onto say to Lancelet about what a wonderful time she'll have with Lorenzo. "I shall be saved by my husband.
He hath made me a Christian." This quote explains itself. It means that Jessica will no longer be a Jew, but she'll be
a Christian in order to marry who she loves, Lorenzo.
Jessica can be very thoughtful and understanding about others.
When Lancelet exits after talking to Jessica about her father, Lorenzo comes in. They start talking nicely about
their friend Bassanio and his new wife, Portia. "The Lord Bassanio lives an upright life, for having such a blessing
in his lady he finds the joys of heaven here on earth,..." What Jessica means by this is that Bassanio has found
the most perfect wife he would ever find. It was like heaven for Bassanio when he married Portia. This phrase gives
evidence that Jessica can be warm and thoughtful about others.
Jessica can be nice and loving directly to others.
In fact five Jessica and Lorenzo talk lovingly together under the moonlight. Jessica and Lorenzo talk to each other
in the third person making up something that resembles their own lives together. "In such a night did young Lorenzo
swear he loved her well, stealing her soul with many vows of faith, and ne'er a true one." Jessica is talking about
how this Lorenzo swore that he loved a lady (who is supposed to be Jessica) and stealing her away with himself so they
can live a happy life. Jessica says this to show her love to Lorenzo and that she knows he loves her and she loves him
also.
Jessica has many personalitities throughout this book. She can be cruel to her father, understanding about others, as well as directly nice to somebody.
