Merchant of Venice. - Repositories

150 NOTES [ACT II
I. 30, wry-neck'd. Having a crooked and distorted neck
1. 38. sirrah. To people of what rank is this word usually
addressed ? (See I., ii.)
1. 43. Jewess\ Commentators think that as this was originally
written (perhaps Jewes)^ it was the possessive of Jeio
At any rate, the latter word was formerly used both of men
and of women. What proof of this fact in II., iii. ?
1. 43. eye. Knight says: "That worth was the price the
persecuted Jews paid for immunity from mutilation and death.
When our rapacious King John extorted an enormous sum
from the Jew of Bristol by drawing his teeth, the threat of
putting out an eye would have the like effect upon other Jews."
L 44. Hagar. See Gen. xxi. 9-21. Hagar and Sarah
were the two wives of Abraham. Hagar was a bondswoman,
and, because of the jealousy of Sarah, Abraham cast out from
his home Hagar and her child Ishmael, and sent them to wander
in the desert. Ishmael is considered by the Mohammedans
as their ancestor. Shylock regards Launcelot as the offspring
of Hagar, in view of the fact that Launcelot is a servant, '^s
Hagar was.
1. 46. patch. So named from the motley garb that s# fool
usually wore.
I. 66. crost, thwarted.
II. 1-57. What feelings has Shylock shown toward Jessica in
this scene ? What other feelings than those exhibited ^n II., iii.
has Jessica shown toward her father? Is she justified in leaving
him ? What is the' difference between the protection that
Portia's father has secured for her and that which Shvlock de-