The Merchant of Venice

Roles

• Launcelot
• Old Gobbo

About this piece

Launcelot plays a prank on his blind father when he doesn't recognize him

Summary

Bassanio, a gentleman from Venice, asks his kinsman and friend Antonio, a Venitian merchant, for a loan so that he can court Portia, a woman from Belmont he has fallen in love with. Having all his money locked in investments, Antonio suggests to visit Shylock, a Jewish moneylender he is not in best terms with. Antonio hates Jews and always criticizes them for their usury. As a revenge, Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio some money with the condition that if he fails to pay him back then he will be entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. In the meanwhile Portia has to deal with several suitors she is not interested in. Her father has decided to give his daughter's hand in marriage to the first suitor that manages to pick a chest containing her portrait out of three chests. In this scene, in ACT II, Scene 2, we find Lancelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant who is considering leaving his cruel and inhuman master. After due consideration, he decides to leave him. His father then enters the scene, looking for him. His father is blind and doesn't recognize him. Launcelot decides then to play a prank on his blind father, giving him confusing information...

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