Character personalities Flashcards
What are the character traits of Portia?
- Sharp eye for character
- Filial
- Honourable
- Selfless and giving
- Intelligent/witty
- Shrewd
- Strict
- Strong-willed
- Perceptive
What are some quotes that support Portia having a sharp eye for character?
Portia: God made him and therefpre let him pass for a man. in truth, i know it is a sin to be a mocker, be he!- why, he hath a horse better than the Neapoliton’s, a better bad habit of frowning that the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. (A1S2)
- Portia gives Nerissa her opinion of potential suitors
- Reveals she has an astute eye for characters
- Draws critical comparisons
- Her views highlighted that wealth or status means little to portia
- Seems more focused on Personality and appearence
What is a quote that support Portia being a filial person?
Portia: In terms of choice I am not sole;y led by nice direction of a maiden’s eyes. Besides the lottery of my destiny bars me the right of voluntary choosing. But if my fahter had not scanted me and hedged me by his wit to yeild myself his wife who wins me by that means i told you. Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair as any cornerI have looked on yet for my affection. (A2S1)
Portia responds to POM pleas to give him a chance even with his dark complexion. Despite the father’s will taking away her choice, she still follows it strictly
What is a quote that support Portia being Honourable
Portia: Before you venture for me, i could teach you how to choose right, but i am them forsworn. So i willl never be. But if i do, you’ll make me wish a sin, that I had been forsworn (A3S2)
- After Bassanio arrives to choose a box, Portia speaks to him regarding the process and coming decision
- Request he waits to choose, revealing genuine desire to be with him longer
- Wants to advise him, but as it would violate her promise to the father, she shows her honourable character by not backing out of the oath
What is a quote that supports Portia’s character of being Selfless and giving
Portia: Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond. Double six thousand, and then treble that, before a friend of this description shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault. First go to a church and call me wifr, and then away to Venice to your friend, for never shall you lie by Portia’s side with an unquiet soul. You shall have gold to pay the pretty debt twenty times over (A3S2)
- Denmonstrates her selfless nature by urging Bassanio quickly marry her and leavfe to venice
- Also offers whatever gold is needed to pay off the debt and save Antonio’s life
- As a wise and genorous woman, she recognises Bassnio would never live at peace knowing his friend died because of his debts
What is a quote that supports Portia being Intelligent?
Mercy Speech, Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from the heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; it blesseth him take gives and him that takes. ‘Tis mightiest; It becomes the throned monarch better then his crown: His sceptre shows the face of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty, wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings: But mercy is above this sceptured sway. It is enthroned in the heart of kings, it is an attribute to god himself: And earthly power doth then show likest god’s, when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, that in the course of justice none of us should seek salvation: we do pray for mercy: and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. (A4S1)
- Portia to Shylock to seek his mercy
- Reveals her skillis by appealing to his methodical mind (persuation, lagos), and focuses on careful process of reasoning, not emotion
- Mercy would benefit Shylock
- Would elevate him to a godlike status
- Wrns that Shylock seeking justice without mercy may result in his domination.
Portia: This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; the words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’. Take then thy bonod, if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are by laws of Venice confiscate unto the state of Venice (cont.)
Shylock: I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go
Portia: The jew shall have all justice. Soft, not haste, he shall have nothing but the penalty (A4S1)
-Shows that mercy speech, while seeming like an appeal, was actually an ultimatum, a final chance for Shylock to save himself before Portia crushes his legal arguments
What are the character traits of Bassanio?
- Honest (2 scenes)
- Manipulative
- Genuine and wise
How is Bassanio honest in A1S1?
- Bassanio tells Antonio about his financial debt.
‘Tis not unknown to you antonio, how much i have disabled mine estate, by something showing a more swelling port than my faint means would grant continuance. Nor do i now make moan to be abridged from such a noble rate. But my chief care is to come fairly off from the great debts wherein my time something too prodigal hath left me gaged. (A1S1, Bassanio)
He soent his entire life living the high life, spending money frivolously, but now wants to pay the debts off honestly.
Genuinly wants to find a solution.
How is Bassanio Manipulative?
Using the quote from A1S1 talking about his debt and the point of honesty, continued with:
To you, Antonio, I owe the most in money and love, and from your love i have a warranty to unburden all my plots and purposes a=how to get clear of all the debts i owe. (A1S1, Bassanio)
“That which i owe is lost; but if you please to shoot another arrow that self way, which you did shoot the first, i do not doubt or to find both or bring your latter hazard back again, and thankfully rest debter far the first.”
Seems to manipulate the friendship with promises in order to get money from Antonio again
How is Bassanio Genuine and wise?
Bassanio: “The seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest. Therefore thou gaudy gold, hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge ‘tween man and man. But thou, thou meagre lead which rather threaten’st than dost promise aught, thy paleness moves me more than eloquence, and have choose I. Joy he the consequence!” (A3S2, Bassanio)
- Bassanio thinks aloud as he chooses among the caskets, revealing why he chooses the lead.
- Explains by focusing on how decoration can trick the viewer, and sees past appearances on relies on instinct and intellect
- Interest in portia changed from her wealth to her qualities.
Bassanio is also honest in A3S2. Give and example
” When i did impact my love to you, i freely told you, all the wealth i had ran in my veins. I was a gentleman, and then i told you true. And yet, dear lady, rating myself at nothing, you shall see how much i was a braggart. When i told you my state was nothing, i should then have told you that i was worse than nothing, for indeed i have engaged myself to a dear friend, engaged my friend to his mere enemy to feed my means” (A3S2, Bassanio)
- With these words, bassanio admits his faults
- Tells portia the truth about the lack of money
What are some character traits of Jessica?
- Courageous
- Humorous
- Selfish
How is Jessica courageous?
” Alack what heinous sin is it in me to be ashamed to be my father’s child! But although I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife” (A2S3, Jessica)
- Jessica speaks to audieence after saying goodbye to Launcelot (Aside)
- Reveals how she feels ashamed to be her fahter’s daughter because of his behaviour
- Declares her love for Lorenzo and her desire to leave home and become Christian to marry him.\
- Her bold moves denmonstrates her courage and strength to choose love over family and religion.
How is Jessica humourous
” I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, didn’t rob it of some taste of tediousness” (A2S3, Jessica)
Paradox of merry devil shows her play on words and therefore her trying to make the situation lighter
How is Jessica selfish
- Selfish desire to be free of her father, and be with Lorenzo
- Appears to be innocent in A2S5
- Shylock: “ What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha?”
- Jessica: “ His words were ‘‘farewell mistress’- nothing else” (A2S5)
A2S6, A lack of guilt when she steals from her father.
Jessica: “I will make fast the doors and gild myself with some more ducats, and be with you straight.”
What are character traits for Lorenzo?
- Wise
- Playful
Quotes for Lorenzo being wise
” How every fool can play upon the word! I think the best grace of wit will shortly tuen into silence, and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots; go in, sirrah, bid them prepare for dinner” (Lorenzo, A3S5)
Traits of Arragon
- Arrogant
- Self-deluded
Quotes that show Arragon’s arrogant behavior
’ What many men desire! That ‘many’ may be meant by the fool multitude, that choose by show, not learning more that the fond eye doth teach’ (A2S9, Arragon)
“ I will not choose what many men desire, beacause i will not jump with the common spirits and rank me with the babarous multitudes.” (A2S9, Arragon)
“ Give me a key for this, and instantly unlock my fortunes here” (A2S9, Arragon)
Quotes that show Arragon’s self-deluded behavior
” Did i deserve no more than a fool’s head? Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?” (A2S9, Arragon)
Character traits of Antonio
- Critical and unkind
- Prideful
- Naive
- Crafty
How is Antonio Critical and unkind?
In A1S3, he uses a mocking and scornful tone.
’ Was this inserted to make interest good?’
‘ Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams’
He trys to undermine Shylock’s profession by claiming how unatural the act of money lending is, with the comparison of his gold and silver being ewes and rams, showing critisism
How is Antonio prideful?
Antonio’s response to Shylock’s sarcastic and mocking speech shows a complete lack of remorse for what he has done, and that he would do it again.
Shylock: ‘ what should i say to you? should i not say, does a dog have moneys? Can a cur lend three thousand ducats?’……….” Fair sir, you spat on me wednesday last, you call me a dog, and for these courtesies i’ll lend you thus much moneys?”
Antonio: “I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee again too”
How is Antonio naive?
Shylock says ‘ Why look how you storm1 I would be friends with you and have your love, forget the shames you have stained me with, supply your present wants, and take no doit of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me. This is kind i offer.’ to placate Antoniointo a false sense of security.
Antonio shows his naivety in letting his guard down so easily and readily agrees, esp. after telling Bassanio about the ‘ villian with a smiling cheek’ and ‘goodly apple rotten at the heart’ . Ironically, he fails to listen to his own words and falls into Shylock’s trap.
He replies to shylock : “ there is much kindness in a jew”, sounding convinced that Shylock was being fully open about his intentions.
