Merchant of Venice Quotations Flashcards
“In Belmont is a lady richly left and she is fair and fairer than that word”
Bassanio - talking about Portia’s wealth over her beauty - contextually links to the objectification of women in this time
“In sooth I know not why I am so sad”
Antonio - the first line of the play - this could be linking to his repression of his own sexuality - in some adaptations of the play, there is a suggestion of a deeper romantic connection between himself and Bassanio
“Many Jasons come in quest of her”
Bassanio - talking about Portia - links to the Greek Allusion of Jason and the Argonauts where they went in search of mythical objects and items
“Her sunny locks hang on her temples like a Golden Fleece”
Bassanio describing Portia - connecting her hair to the Greek allusion of Jason and the Argonauts who went in search of the Golden Fleece which had healing qualities - contextually links to objectification of women
“So is the will of a living daughter curb’d by the will of a dead father”
Portia - Juxtaposition between her independence and control as a women - she expresses her frustration at not being able to choose her own husband as a consequence of a patriarchal society
“I hate him for he is a Christian”
Shylock - he says this as an aside directly to the audience. This blunt declarative sentence presents him as a villain, expressing that his reason for the bond is to get revenge against Christians
“You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog”
Shylock - direct address towards Antonio and explaining the fact that Antonio has been anti-Semitic towards Shylock, establishing their feud
“For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe”
Shylock - explaining that many Jews are treated poorly and have to wear their suffering - Jews were expected to wear badges and hats to identify as Jewish so there is a play on words here
“Spit upon my Jewish Gaberdine”
Shylock - explaining his anti-Semitic treatment. A gaberdine is a Jewish cloak and therefore this quote is symbolic for the way that Antonio spits upon his religion
“Since I am a dog, beware my fangs”
Shylock - anaphorically referencing the times the Christians called him a dog. He shifts into the role of the villain with the imperative verb “beware” being presented in a threatening way
“The villainy you teach me I will execute and it shall go hard”
Shylock - outlines his reasons for the way he acts is as a consequence of the lessons he has learnt from the Christian’s
“Our house is hell”
Jessica - explains to Lancelot that she hates the way that Shylock is at home - connects to the way Jonathan Price depicted Shylock - as a domestic tyrant
“I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife”
Jessica - says this as an aside to the audience - rhyming couplet stating that she is going to leave her father and become a Christian - contextually, conversion was normal in this time but they would never be considered fully Christian
“That in the course of justice, none of us shall see salvation”
Portia - stares this in the court to Shylock - this acts as foreshadowing for his eventual fate but also the concept of salvation is more of a Christian concept - shows separation between the two religions
“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as gentle rain from heaven”
Portia - attempts to convince Shylock into being merciful - a concept that audiences at the time would feel humorous as they would feel Jews are incapable of mercy
