mᥱrᥴhᥲᥒt of vᥱᥒιᥴᥱ Flashcards
What is the analysis for the quote “I may neither choose who I would, nor refuse who I dislike”? (Act 1 Scene 2)
- sense of being trapped reflected in rhythm and rhyme of ‘choose’ and ‘refuse’
- sense of being trapped reflected in rhythm and rhyme of ‘choose’ and ‘refuse’
“I may neither choose who I would, nor refuse who I dislike” (Act 1 Scene 2)
What is the analysis for the quote “the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father”? (Act 1 Scene 2)
- verb ‘curbed’ suggests feelings of imprisonment
- pun ‘will’ can refer either to his legal will or the curtailment of her own wishes
- verb ‘curbed’ suggests feelings of imprisonment
- pun ‘will’ can refer either to his legal will or the curtailment of her own wishes
“the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father” (Act 1 Scene 2)
What is the analysis for the quote “three thousand ducats; well”? (Act 1 Scene 3)
- ‘well’ is emphasised through semi-colon and repetition
- Shylock wishes to prolong Antonio and Bassanio’s agony through extending the time he takes to agree to the lending of money
- ‘well’ is emphasised through semi-colon and repetition
- Shylock wishes to prolong Antonio and Bassanio’s agony through extending the time he takes to agree to the lending of money
“three thousand ducats; well” (Act 1 Scene 3)
What is the analysis for the quote “I am debating of my present store”?
- Shylock, despite being a Jew, is arguably of higher intelligence and a higher skilled orator than Antonio as he is more cautious (unlike the impulsive Antonio) and has more knowledge on Antonio’s own ships than Antonio himself
“I am debating of my present store”
What is the analysis for the quotes “dog”, “cur”, “the Jew” and “but, since I am a dog, beware my fangs”?
- objectified through derogatory terms that connect his role to a predator
- emphasised through the repetition and the article ‘the’ to refer to him
- Shylock extends this metaphor to his advantage and plays into his role and stereotype near the end of the play
- objectified through derogatory terms that connect his role to a predator
- emphasised through the repetition and the article ‘the’ to refer to him
- Shylock extends this metaphor to his advantage and plays into his role and stereotype near the end of the play
“dog”, “cur”, “the Jew” and “but, since I am a dog, beware my fangs”
What is the analysis for the quote “of your fair flesh to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me”? (Act 1 Scene 3)
- the adjective ‘fair’ feminises Antonio and arguably has homoerotic undertones
- suggestion of castration would be comedic for the contemporary, Elizabethan audience
- aligns with the contemporary view of Jews as bloodthirsty and cruel
- the adjective ‘fair’ feminises Antonio and arguably has homoerotic undertones
- suggestion of castration would be comedic for the contemporary, Elizabethan audience
- aligns with the contemporary view of Jews as bloodthirsty and cruel
“of your fair flesh to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me” (Act 1 Scene 3)
What is the analysis for the quotes “purse”, “ducats”, “unthrifty” which links to “I did dream of money bags tonight”?
- Shylock uses financial terms throughout his dialogue in Act 1 Scene 3 to highlight stereotypical Jewish greed
- Elizabethan audience would find humour within the consistent stereotype and references to money
“purse”, “ducats”, “unthrifty” which links to “I did dream of money bags tonight”
What is the analysis for the quote “O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife”? (Act 2 Scene 3)
- iambic pentameter and rhyming couplet imply superficiality
- comedy for contemporary audience as Shylock’s daughter wishes to become a Christian
- interjection ‘O’ which is open to interpretation but can be argued as insincere
- iambic pentameter and rhyming couplet imply superficiality
- comedy for contemporary audience as Shylock’s daughter wishes to become a Christian
- interjection ‘O’ which is open to interpretation but can be argued as insincere
“O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife” (Act 2 Scene 3)
What is the analysis for the quote “Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica”? (Act 2 Scene 8)
- adjective ‘amorous’ portrays Jessica as seductive
- the personal possessive pronoun highlights female prejudice and likens Jessica to a commodity
- contradicts how Shylock is described (“dog Jew”, “villain Jew”) whereas Jessica is “amorous” and “gentle”
- Jessica is not subject to the same prejudice as Shylock due to her relationship with Lorenzo
“Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica” (Act 2 Scene 8)
What is the analysis for the quote “O my ducats! O my daughter!”? (Act 2 Scene 8)
- Salerio and Solanio imply that Shylock is more concerned with his ducats than his daughter due to the rhythm of the sentence
- Repeated, short sentences ridicule Shylock (reinforced by the use of ‘O’ and the exclamation marks)
“O my ducats! O my daughter!” (Act 2 Scene 8)
What is the analysis for the quote “he wrung Bassanio’s hand”? (Act 2 Scene 8)
- verb ‘wrung’ has homoerotic undertones
- verb ‘wrung’ has homoerotic undertones
“he wrung Bassanio’s hand” (Act 2 Scene 8)
What is analysis for the quote “there is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory”? (Act 3 Scene 1)
- links to Jessica in Act 2 Scene 3 “I am not to his manners”
- dichotomy: Salerio implies Shylock is jet (dark, death, evil) and Jessica is ivory (pure, innocent, good) because Jessica made a choice to be Christian, presenting the religions as explicitly good and evil
- links to Jessica in Act 2 Scene 3 “I am not to his manners”
- dichotomy: Salerio implies Shylock is jet (dark, death, evil) and Jessica is ivory (pure, innocent, good) because Jessica made a choice to be Christian, presenting the religions as explicitly good and evil
“there is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory” (Act 3 Scene 1)
What is the analysis for the quote “until confirmed, signed, ratified by you”? (Act 3 Scene 2)
- triplet of legal verbs aimed to give Portia choice (which is ironic as it contradicts the reality of her marriage)
- arguably, Bassanio wishes for equality, but this can be perceived as deceptive as all the money would go to him when they marry
- triplet of legal verbs aimed to give Portia choice (which is ironic as it contradicts the reality of her marriage)
- arguably, Bassanio wishes for equality, but this can be perceived as deceptive as all the money would go to him when they marry
“until confirmed, signed, ratified by you” (Act 3 Scene 2)
What is the analysis for the quote “myself and what is mine to you and yours is now converted”? (Act 3 Scene 2)
- the transactional relationship between Bassanio and Portia is reflected within the structure of the sentence and the pronouns
- the transactional relationship between Bassanio and Portia is reflected within the structure of the sentence and the pronouns
“myself and what is mine to you and yours is now converted” (Act 3 Scene 2)
What is the analysis for the quote “I am married to a wife, which is as dear to me as life itself, but…”? (Act 4 Scene 1)
- the impersonal noun ‘a wife’ likens Portia to a commodity and this is reinforced as ‘which’ was used instead of ‘who’
- the conjunction ‘but’ negates the value of Portia and separates Bassanio’s affections
- the impersonal noun ‘a wife’ likens Portia to a commodity and this is reinforced as ‘which’ was used instead of ‘who’
- the conjunction ‘but’ negates the value of Portia and separates Bassanio’s affections
“I am married to a wife, which is as dear to me as life itself, but…” (Act 4 Scene 1)
What is the analysis for the quotes “richly left”, “fair”, “of wondrous virtues” which links to “ten thousand times more rich”, “a thousand times more fair”, “unlessoned, unschooled, unpractised”?
- triplet of virtues for a conventionally attractive upper-class female which are given before Portia’s name, suggesting her value lies not within her identity but her appeal to men
- Portia uses these virtues to appeal to Bassanio (the triplet of verbs with negative prefixes emphasise her innocence)
- triplet of virtues for a conventionally attractive upper-class female which are given before Portia’s name, suggesting her value lies not within her identity but her appeal to men
- Portia uses these virtues to appeal to Bassanio (the triplet of verbs with negative prefixes emphasise her innocence)
“richly left”, “fair”, “of wondrous virtues” which links to “ten thousand times more rich”, “a thousand times more fair”, “unlessoned, unschooled, unpractised”
What is the analysis for the quotes “you saw the mistress, I beheld the maid” and “this fair one here”?
- Nerissa and Gratiano’s relationship serves to isolate Shylock further
- Nerissa is also described as ‘fair’, so reinforces stereotypes
- contrast between verbs ‘saw’ and ‘beheld’ arguably give credence to Bassanio’s insincerity as the verb describing his relationship is less sophisticated
- Nerissa and Gratiano’s relationship serves to isolate Shylock further
- Nerissa is also described as ‘fair’, so reinforces stereotypes
- contrast between verbs ‘saw’ and ‘beheld’ arguably give credence to Bassanio’s insincerity as the verb describing his relationship is less sophisticated
“you saw the mistress, I beheld the maid” and “this fair one here”?
What is the analysis for the quote “I am not well”? (Act 4 Scene 1)
- Shylock’s downfall is represented through the short, monosyllabic sentence, a great contrast to his previous, sophisticated speeches
- Shylock’s downfall is represented through the short, monosyllabic sentence, a great contrast to his previous, sophisticated speeches
What is the analysis for the quote “I am not well”? (Act 4 Scene 1)
What is the analysis for the quote “bid her be judge whether Bassanio had not once a love”? (Act 4 Scene 1)
- Antonio makes his feelings clear at his time of death and arguably creates competition between himself and Portia
- his selfishness and jealousy is reinforced through using Bassanio’s name
- Antonio makes his feelings clear at his time of death and arguably creates competition between himself and Portia
- his selfishness and jealousy is reinforced through using Bassanio’s name
“bid her be judge whether Bassanio had not once a love” (Act 4 Scene 1)
What is the analysis for the quote “the gentleman that lately stole his daughter”? (Act 4 Scene 1)
- emphasises Shylock’s downfall and grants Lorenzo power for taking something dear to Shylock
- forces Jessica into the role of commodity
- presented alongside Shylock having to give half of his money to Antonio, administering his spite for the two men as the same value
- emphasises Shylock’s downfall and grants Lorenzo power for taking something dear to Shylock
- forces Jessica into the role of commodity
- presented alongside Shylock having to give half of his money to Antonio, administering his spite for the two men as the same value
“the gentleman that lately stole his daughter” (Act 4 Scene 1)
What does the order the characters are introduced say?
It goes from Christian men to women to Shylock (a Jew). It represents a hierarchy within the play.
