Merchant of Venice
Act 2, Scene 8
Shylock's reaction to his daughter's elopement is probably a comical scene for the Elizabethans. How does he behave?
Shylock's reaction to his daughter's elopement is probably a comical scene for the Elizabethans. How does he behave?
Solanio informs Salerio that Shylock was seen in the streets crying,
"My daughter! O, my ducats! O, my daughter!
Fled with a Christian! O, my Christian ducats!
Elizabethan audiences were not empathetic to Jews and their burdens. At the time, Shylock's outburst would seem comical in the sense that they felt, "he had it coming." They would have thought this to be comic instead of painful.