It
should seem, then, that Dobbin’s tail grows backward; I am sure he had more
hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.
-Launcelot Gobo
The Merchant of Venice Act II, scene ii, line 142
This is an odd
little scene. It begins with Launcelot deciding whether or not to leave the
service of Shylock. It ends with him making the decision to leave and entering
into the service of Bassanio. In between, Launcelot’s father shows up and,
being half blind, doesn’t realize initially that he’s talking to his son. But
he finally realizes it and remarks that his son has more hair on his chin than
his horse Dobbin has on its tail. I’m not 100% sure what Launcelot means with
his response in Today’s Totally Random Line. I guess he’s just remarking on the
shortness of his own beard.
I’m also not
exactly sure what the old man Gobo scene adds, other than the opportunity for a
little bit of comic interlude, but I guess that’s important. This is a comedy, after
all. Let’s not forget that.
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