Lancelet and Gobbo leave. Gratiano arrives and asks Bassanio if he may accompany him to Belmont. Bassanio agrees, but insists that Gratiano must be more modest in his behavior.

ACT 2 SCENE 3

Jessica regrets that Lancelet is leaving, as he has made life in Shylock’s house less tedious. She gives him money, and a letter to deliver to Lorenzo, a guest at Bassanio’s house. Alone, Jessica reveals her “heinous sin”: she is ashamed to be her “father’s child.” She declares that, although she is of Shylock’s blood, she is not of “his manners,” creating an important distinction between faith and character, explored throughout the play. She reveals her intention to “Become a Christian” and marry Lorenzo.

ACT 2 SCENE 4

Lorenzo and his friends prepare to disguise themselves as masquers and help Jessica escape from Shylock’s house that evening. Lancelet delivers her letter to Lorenzo and tells them that he is going to Shylock’s with an invitation to supper at Bassanio’s. Lorenzo gives him money and a message to Jessica that he will not fail her, and sends Salerio and Solanio to prepare. He tells Gratiano that Jessica will be waiting to elope with “gold and jewels” and will disguise herself as Lorenzo’s torchbearer and escape as part of the masque.

ACT 2 SCENE 5

Shylock warns Lancelet that his “eyes shall be thy judge” of the differences between himself and Bassanio, raising a motif of sight/ perception. He calls for Jessica and tells her that he is going out, although he is suspicious of Bassanio’s motives in inviting him, and fears some “ill a-brewing.” Lancelet tells him that there are to be masques that night, and Shylock warns Jessica to “Lock up” the house, and not to let the “sound of shallow fopp’ry enter / [His] sober house,” emphasizing his separation from the prevailing Venetian culture. As Lancelet goes, he whispers to Jessica to look out for “a Christian” (Lorenzo) during the masque. Shylock leaves, reminding Jessica to lock the doors, and she secretly bids him goodbye.

ACT 2 SCENE 6

Gratiano and Salerio wait for Lorenzo. They are worried that he is late, particularly as “lovers ever run before the clock,” but he joins them and calls for Jessica. She appears, above, disguised in boy’s clothes, and throws Lorenzo a casket of money and jewels. She is embarrassed by her disguise, but Lorenzo urges her to “come at once.” As they wait for her, Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica is “wise, fair and true.” She arrives and they go to join the masque, leaving Gratiano behind. Antonio arrives to tell Gratiano that “the wind is come about” and he must join Bassanio to sail for Belmont.

ACT 2 SCENE 7

Portia shows the Prince of Morocco the three caskets. He reads the inscription on each: he has a choice between gaining “what many men desire” (the gold casket), getting “as much as he deserves” (silver), or to “give and hazard all he hath” (lead). Portia tells him that the correct casket contains her portrait. The prince makes a long speech explaining his reasoning, but also, unwittingly, revealing his self-importance. He chooses the gold casket, which contains a skull “within whose empty eye / There is a written scroll” telling him that “All that glisters is not gold”: he has judged by appearances, ironically given his request to Portia in Act 2 Scene 1. In contrast to his earlier verbosity, he tells Portia that he is “too grieved” to “take a tedious leave,” and departs. Portia is pleased and expresses the wish that all of his “complexion” make a similar choice.

ACT 2 SCENE 8

Shylock has discovered the disappearance of Jessica and his money. We learn about his response through the biased, unsympathetic report of Salerio and Solanio. Shylock and the Duke of Venice went to search Bassanio’s ship, which had already sailed. Antonio assured them that Lorenzo and Jessica were not on it. Solanio jeeringly reports Shylock’s confused rage and shouts of “My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!,” suggesting that he values them equally. Solanio observes that unless Antonio can “keep his day” for repaying Shylock financially, he will pay for these events. Salerio has heard that one of Antonio’s ships may have been lost. They speak of Antonio’s kind and generous nature, in direct contrast with the characterization of Shylock.

ACT 2 SCENE 9

The Prince of Aragon has come to take the test for Portia’s hand. The process is repeated: the prince selects the silver casket and finds “The portrait of a blinking idiot,” holding another scroll.