A Christmas Carol Characters

Question 1

Justice quotes

Answer 1

• “The villany you teach me, I will execute” - Shylock
• “Is that the law?” - Shylock - probing question - surprise / shows the law isn’t an effective means of justice for everyone.

Question 2

Mercy quotes

Answer 2

• Being merciful makes you the “mightiest in the mightiest” - Portia - repitition - suggests that the most powerful weapon you can have is mercy.
• “the quality of mercy is not strain’d” - Portia - Mercy cannot be forced, an attribute given only to the best? Coercing and manipulating Shylock into being merciful through the use of complementary terms?
• Shylock has accusations as he think it is hypocrytical as Christians buy slaves calling them “dogs” and “asses”.
• These accusations were proved right as at the end Gratiano wants vengance saying Shylock “must be hanged” even though he was the one criticising Shylock’s vengeful attitude.
• Antonio receives no repurcussions even though he abused Shylock, “spat on” him and treated him like a “stranger cur”.

Question 3

Love quotes

Answer 3

• Bassanio firstly mentions that Portia is “a lady richly left” suggesting his means for marrying Portia could be for wealth, his main priority and what he sees in Portia - fake love?
• “so the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.” - Portia
• “Beshrew me but I love her heartily” - Lorenzo - “beshrew” –> Archaic transitive verb

Question 4

Appearance and Reality quotes

Question 5

Wealth quotes

Answer 5

• Bassanio refuses to believe his engagement to Portia until it’s “signed” and “ratified” almost like a business transaction.
• “Three thousand ducats; ‘tis a round good sum.