In the merchant of venic compare and contrast the character of portia and jessica
Answers
She is beautiful, intelligent, witty, generous, humerous and sympathetic. Besides these qualities, she is heiress to fabulous wealth her father has left her. She is not proud or arrogant with her wealth. Portia is a dutiful daughter and honours her father's will. But according to her father will she has no right to choose husbands for herself.
Jessica:
Jessica is the only daughter of Shylock the Jew. She is pretty no doubt. That is why Lorenzo is infatuated by he charms. Her character is not easy to evaluate. Jessica had a lonely childhood. Her mother had died when she was young. She has been brought up under strict care of her miserly father. But the atmosphere in her father's house was dull and devoid of mirth. so little amusement was provided by their clownish servant, Launcelot.
Answer:
Jessica was not a good daughter. She broke her father’s trust. She ran with a Christian (Lorenzo) knowing that his father, Shylock hated the Christians. She also stole her father’s ducats and jewellery.
On the contrary, Portia is a true daughter. Even though his father is dead, she does not break her father’s will. She is ready to sacrifice her life by marrying to any person who chooses the right casket. She loved Bassanio but yet she did not tell Bassanio which was the right casket although she gave him some hints.
Jessica shows herself as a shrewd and prudent lady, by betraying her father Shylock. Shylock was a Jew, but Jessica eloped with a Christian (Lorenzo) in spite of knowing that her father hated the Christians. She didn’t even think about her father’s emotions. He loved her daughter and cared about her, but she regarded Shylock as a devil.
On the other hand, Portia was a kind and gentle girl. She highly respected her father, though he was dead. Her father set up a will where a person who chose the right casket (which contained a portrait of Portia) would marry her. Portia was so devoted to her father that she decided to sacrifice her life by marrying the person who chose the right casket even if she didn’t like him.
Here lies the main difference between Portia and Jessica.
Explanation: