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Flashcards by David Miles-Skov, updated more than 1 year ago
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| Question | Answer |
| "Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued... Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth" - Bassanio (Act I, Scene I) | Bassanio tends to speak about her "worth," as if her "value" comes from her money. He seems to see his quest for Portia as a quest for fortune rather than love. Bassanio later states that Antonio was more important than his wife. Portia is reduced to an object because of wealth and gender. An illustration of the interplay of class and gender. A demonstration of the apparent purity of love tainting by selfish economic concerns. |
| "I hate him for he is a Christian... He lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance... I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our sacred nation." - Shylock (Act I, Scene III) | Shylock insists that he hates Antonio because he's a "Christian" and because he undermines his money-lending business. Antonio also hates Shylock's "sacred nation." A revelation of mutual xenophobia amongst Jews and Christians. Judaism/Spiritual beliefs/Disapproving, condescending, racist |
| "I pray you, good Bassanio... Within the eye of honour, be assur'd My purse, my person, my extremest means, Lie all unlock'd to your occasions." - Antonio (Act I, Scene I) | Antonio is willing to do anything to help his friend, including loaning him the money to woo Portia. Antonio says that it's not just his wallet that's "unlock'd" for Bassanio's use; he is also making his entire "person" available to his friend. A demonstration of strong male bonds in the Elizabethan era. Friendship/Considerate |
| "If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends... But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who if he break thou mayst with better face Exact the penalty." - Antonio (Act I, Scene III) | He says that because he's not coming to ask for money out of friendship, and this is just business, Shylock has the right to exact a penalty should Antonio fail his bond. While Shylock's seeking a pound of flesh seems rather extreme, it can be linked back to Antonio's extravagant and unapologetic manner of asking for the money in the first place. The importance and value placed on justice in Venetian society. |
| "If you deny it, let danger light Upon your charter and your city's freedom... More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio." - Shylock (Act IV, Scene I) | Revenge goes outside the justice system. But revenge is a "wild justice" when the revenger takes law into his own hands and responding with what he sees as higher law. While they oppose each other, revenge and justice overlap. Shylock exposes the connection between law and justice. The equation of justice & revenge./Revenge is the reinforcing of justice. |
| "If your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are... they are sick that surfeit with too much as they stave with nothing" - Nerissa (Act I, Scene II) | Nerissa claims that those who are rich are just as burdened by their situation as those of the poor. A criticization of a class system that encourages extreme wealth and poverty and status. Challenges value placed on material goods and the idea that the upper class live a carefree life Wealth/Material wealth/Materislistic |
| "Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Double six thousand, and then treble that, Before a friend of this description" - Portia (Act III, Scene II) | Portia is the smartest and wittiest character in the play. She is very active in helping Bassanio's friend Antonio instead of being subservient. An acknowledgement of female potential in a patriarchal society. |
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