Who was Jessica? mov
Answers
Answer:
Born: 5 January 1965, India
Died: 30 April 1999, New Delhi
Parents: May Lal, Ajit Lal
Siblings: Sabrina Lal, Valsa Lall, Ranjith Kumar Lal
Answer:
Jessica is the daughter of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. In the play, she elopes with Lorenzo, a penniless Christian, and a chest of her father's money, eventually ending up in Portia and Bassanio's household. Jessica abandons her father, Shylock, and her Jewish identity in order to marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity. She makes it clear that she is unhappy living with Shylock, saying things like “our house is hell” and “though I am daughter to his blood / I am not to his manners” (II.iii). Lorenzo describes Jessica as “wise, fair, and true” (II.vi.56). She reveals her intelligence and independence when she escapes her father’s house by disguising herself in male clothing and taking money and other valuables with her. Jessica is aware that she is violating traditional expectations of showing loyalty to her father, but she ultimately chooses Lorenzo in hopes of becoming a loving wife. At the end, the play suggests that Jessica makes the right decision, as she enjoys a happy marriage and is rewarded with an income and inheritance that Antonio secured for her after Shylock lost the court case.