"My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats" (2.8.15)
Salarino and Salanio are recounting Shylock's shocking discovery of Jessica's departure and there is no surprise at their deliberate insult at Shylock. However since it's a second-hand account of the event, there are also issues with the reliability of their statement and they could be exaggerating on how he was more worried about his ducats and jewels than the disappearance of Jessica. Perhaps Shylock is genuinely shocked at how how not only does Jessica elope with Lorenzo, but she also brought along all of his precious ducats.
The dialogue between Salarino and Salanio in Act 2.8 was similar to the Act 1.1 where the Venetian brotherhood all came to visit Antonio and comfort his worries. They used similar poetic language and intertwined commercial diction with dramatic emotions. In particular I found these lines regarding Bassanio departing from Antonia very emotional and dramatic.
"And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous sensible
He wrung Bassanio's hand-and so they parted."
When I read the above lines it almost felt like they were Romeo and Juliet forcibly pulled away from each other as they depart with heartbreak and tears running down their face.The words "tears", "face", "hand", "affection", "sensible" also seem more feminine words because they seem to revolve around the theme of love. What was interesting is that the parting between Antonio and Bassanio was more dramatic than Jessica running away with Lorenzo. It makes me question whether love really is genuine. Maybe Antonio and Bassanio have closer Christian brotherly ties with each other.....maybe because Bassanio has been borrowing money on Antonio's credit.....and Antonio's business is now experiencing troubles.....and Antonio soon will be in huge trouble.
I also felt that that scene was very romantic. Before this scene, I did not realize that Antonio and Bassanio's homosocial bond was that strong. Bassanio is not leaving for that long, yet they are crying when they part. They are also very touchy, caressing each others faces and hands. This shows the strength of their attachment. I would say it seems abnormal for guys to act this way, but perhaps that was how it was back then? Still, it is quite strange. Or maybe it is just showing how overtly caring Christians are.
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