The Merchant of Venice
LAUNCELOT: Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me, 'Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot,' or 'good Gobbo,' or 'good Launcelot Gobbo -- use your legs, take the start, run away.' My conscience says, 'No. Take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo,' or as aforesaid, 'honest Launcelot Gobbo -- do not run; scorn running with thy heels.' Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack. 'Fia!' says the fiend; 'away!' says the fiend. 'For the heavens, rouse up a brave mind,' says the fiend, 'and run.' Well, my conscience hanging about the neck of my heart says very wisely to me, 'My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son' -- or rather 'an honest woman's son,' for indeed my father did something smack, something grow to; he had a kind of taste -- Well, my conscience says, 'Launcelot, budge not.' 'Budge,' says the fiend. 'Budge not,' says my conscience. 'Conscience,' say I, 'you counsel well.' 'Fiend,' say I, 'you counsel well.' To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master who, God bless the mark, is a kind of devil; and to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation; And in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel. I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment; I will run.
PROMPT: Lancelot Gobbo experiences a moment of psychomachia (allagorically the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other) in an attempt to decide his own fate concerning service. Read and view the above interior monologue (2.2) and identify both feudal and proto-capitalist aspects of Gobbo's thought process.
The proto-capitalist aspects of his thought process involve his belief that he has a choice. He may choose to listen to the bidding of his conscience or the "devil." In feudal society service to God must come first before all. In choosing to do the "devil's" bidding he snubs his nose at the feudal system. The conscience serves as the feudal sensibilities that advise him that he must serve God and master by stay with his master. However, at the end he apparently chooses to go with the devil's advice and run from his master. The choice to snub the feudal system and brave hazzard for freedom is seen as the devil's work. That he believes that he has this choice at all exemplifies proto-capitalist sympathies. Proto-captilaism, in short, is synonymous with sympathy for the devil.
ReplyDeleteLancelot Gobbo engages in this in-depth debate with his "conscience and his fiend". Torn in between running from his master and staying with his master, it is feudalistic for him to think that he even has the option to run away. He believes he has the power to run away but he actually doesn't. The stagnation of Lancelot is feudal. However, even though his conscience almost had him, the fiend solely convinced him that he should walk away from his master. Proto-capitalistically, he is walking towards a better life of freedom.
ReplyDeleteLancelot Gobbo is debating with his conscience and his fiend, because on one side he wants to be loyal to Shylock, yet on the other side he wants to leave and work for Bassanio. His conscience calls him "honest" where as the fiend calls him "good." If he leaves working for one businessman, to go work for another business man, he's looking out for the interest of his capital that he will receive by working for Bassanio. But in all honesty, Lancelot doesn't have a choice at all, which kind of means he's just property.
ReplyDeleteThe proto-capitalistic aspect of this debate is the fiend's point of view. If he leaves Shylock, he will be free, and it would have been his choice, his doing.
The feudal aspect of this debate is the conscience's point of view. If he stays with Shylock, he will be exemplifying the bond between master and servant, his loyalty to his master.
Lancelot Gobbo is battling with his thoughts. He is debating on whether or not he wants to stay with or leave his master. The proto-capitalist aspect of the situation is that he wants to leave his master to gain freedom and independence. Though he is having these thoughts, the feudal aspects are involved as well. The godly side of Gobbo wants him to stay with his master because he knows that it is the right thing to do. He knows that he is able to leave but he doesn't want to disobey what he knows is right with God. This process is causing Gobbo to battle between good and evil within himself.
ReplyDeleteLancelot Gobo is experiencing an interior monologue. The feudal process of his thoughts revolve around the fact that his conscience is fixed. He believes that if he chooses to remain with his master Shylock it will show his undying devotion to him as a servant. However the fluid change represents proto capitol because he is making his own decisions and beating his conscience. He believes that if he leaves Shylock he will obtain freedom and it is all because of a decision he made; choosing his own fate.
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ReplyDeleteIn L. Gabbo's monologue, Gabbo appears to experience psychomachia, which means to be torn between the decision of leaning toward the devil (fiend) or the angel (conscience)on his shoulder. However, he has already decided on the fiend's proto-capitalist point of view to leave his master and gain his freedom. The conscience's view, which represents the fixed, is feudal in that it is viewed from the master/servant dynamic which seemingly causes a tugging at Gabbo's heart string. Gabbo minimally considers staying with his devil of a master, but ultimately leaves to work for Bassanio.
ReplyDeleteLancelot Gobbo's debate of psychomachia, the fiend (devil) versus his conscience (angel), exemplifies a prominent theme in the play, the feudal system versus proto-capitalism.
ReplyDeleteThe fiend represents proto-capitalism. The idea that he has a choice in switching masters indicates a more capitalistic ideology. This is also indicated in his reason for switching. Gobbo wishes to exchange his rags for the inproved uniform of Bassanio's estate and the slight raise in status accompanied with it. He also seeks the freedom of his words, which he presently lacked at Shylock's estate. This is essential to him as a clown character.
Gobbo's conscience represents the feudal system. Its constant urging for him to remain with Shylock demonstrates the feudal bond between master and servant. Though he wishes to do better for himself, he recognizes the sacredness of the master/servant relationship.
Lancelot Gobbo is experiencing phychomachiato via his conscience and subconscious self. He is well aware of his duties with Shylock and his bond as a servant to him. However, he seemingly toys with the idea of becoming proto-capitalistic. He internally debates advancing financially in life by freeing himself from Shylock and gaining capital. He greatly desires to become a part of a union in order to rid himself of life as an abject. Although he does realize that his feudal bond with Shylock is stagnate. Lancelot's debate can be viewed as futile because it seems that his mind has been made up regarding his decision to become proto-capitalistic or not.
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