MOV quotes Flashcards
(8 cards)
“I’ll have my bond; speak not against my bond.”
Theme: Justice vs Revenge
Skill: Repetition / Assertive tone
obsessive repetition of “my bond” highlights Shylock’s fixation on legal justice, which replaces moral or emotional reasoning.
“I hate him for he is a Christian.”
Theme: Prejudice, Revenge, Religion
Skill: Direct tone / Emotive language
Analysis (Grade 9):
religious conflict fuels personal vengeance
blunt phrase “I hate” reveals deep-rooted social division
solely on Antonio’s religion mirrors the anti-Semitism Shylock himself experiences.
“You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog…”
Theme: Prejudice, Dehumanisation
Skill: Listing / Emotive language
using animalistic language (“dog”), Christians dehumanise him, fuelling his resentment.
“All that glisters is not gold.”
Theme: Appearance vs Reality, Value, Materialism
Skill: Proverb / Symbolism
Analysis:
warns that external beauty or wealth is often deceptive, reinforcing Shakespeare’s recurring message that true worth lies beneath the surface
gold casket reflects society’s obsession with riches
“One half of me is yours, the other half yours…”
Theme: Love, Power, Gender Roles
Skill: Repetition / Symbolism
Analysis:
strategically phrased
repetition of “yours” suggests total surrender, yet she remains composed and articulate, subtly controlling the moment.
“Let all of his complexion choose me so.”
Theme: Racism, Appearance vs Reality
Skill: Aside / Irony
analysis:
even noble characters hold deeply ingrained bias
exposing the hypocrisy of Venetian society
“The villainy you teach me I will execute…”
Theme: Revenge, Hypocrisy, Society’s Corruption
Skill: Irony / Repetition
Analysis:
blames Christian cruelty for his desire for vengeance
use of “teach me” implies that society has educated him in violence, flipping the blame
