| In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,I shot his fellow of the self-same flightThe self-same way with more advised watch,To find the other forth, and by adventuring bothI oft found both: I urge this childhood proof,Because what follows is pure innocence.I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth,That which I owe is lost; but if you pleaseTo shoot another arrow that self wayWhich you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,As I will watch the aim, or to find bothOr bring your latter hazard back againAnd thankfully rest debtor for the first. | In this quote Bassanio talks to Antonio about his debt he owes to Antonio. This quote occurs in Act 1, Scene 1 before Antonio, Lorezno, and Gratiano have dinner and after Antonio tells Salarino and Solanio that he’s sad but he does not know why. This scene occurs in Venice, Italy in Antonio’s house. Bassanio asks Antonio for more money so he can pay Antonio back for the money he owes. This quote shows Bassanio’s situation with Antonio, and it shows the audience how Bassanio owes Antonio a lot of money. This quote shows an example of an analogy. Bassanio tells Antonio once he was young, he would shoot a second arrow to find the first arrow he lost as he follows the second arrow more carefully and he compares his arrow story with his debt as he asks Antonio for more money and if Antonio would “shoot” his money the same way he “shot” the first amount of money. Bassanio will be able to get back all the money he owes or he will get the money from this time and slowly pay Antonio back. Bassanio wants more money to pay Antionio but this time he will will be more careful to gain everything back. This shows the audience Antonio and Bassanio’s friendship. |
| His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search. | In this quote Bassanio talks to Antonio about Gratiano and his talkative behavior. This quote occurs in Act 1, Scene 1 before Lorenzo, Gratiano, and Antonio have dinner and after Gratiano cuts off everyone as they speak. This scene occurs in Venice, Italy, in Antonio’s house. This quote shows an example of a simile/analogy as Bassanio compares Gratiano’s point of talking like a needle in a haystack. Bassanio tells Antonio that Gratiano speaks nonsense some of the time and his points and reasons are very hidden as 2 grains of wheat are hidden. Bassanio tells Antonio he will look all day to understand but when he finds it, he realizes it wasn’t worth the trouble to find them. This quote shows the audience Gratiano’s personality and how Bassanio and the others feel about his behavior. |
| But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word ‘choose!’ I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? | In this quote Portia talks to Nerissa about her inability to choose who she likes or who she dislikes to be her suitor/husband because of her dead father’s past wishes. This quote occurs in Act 1, Scene 2 after Bassanio tells Antonio that he seeks to be Portia’s suitor. This scene occurs in Belmont during the day. Portia struggles to choose who will be her husband as she tells Nerissa that the word “choose” comes out as strange to her because she can’t choose who she likes nor who she dislikes. She says that she continues to be controlled by her dead father’s will and she asks Nerissa if she agrees that not being able to choose nor refuse is a pain/struggle. This quote shows the audience how Portia cannot choose her own suitor as the suitors will choose her because of her father. The audience learns about Portia’s situation and Bassanio’s desires for Portia. |
| Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your single bond; and, in a merry sport , if you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me. | In this quote Shylocks talks to Antonio about their bond and to make if official as Shylock wants Antonio dead. This quote occurs in Act 1, Scene 3 after Shylock reveals why he hates Antonio; because Antonio is a Christian but also because he lends money without interest, which takes customers away from him. This scene occurs in Venice, Italy, on the streets of Venice. Shylock tells Antonio to come with him to a notary to make their bond official. To make the bond more fun, if Antonio does not pay Shylock on the day they agreed in 3 months, than as a punishment, he will be able to cut off a pound of Antonio’s flesh wherever he pleases as Shylock doesn’t want any more competition in his business. This quote shows an example of a foreshadow as Shylock foreshadows the danger Antonio could face if he does not pay Shylock back in 3 months. This quote foreshadows Antonio/s death/injuries as Antonio risks his life on the money he owes. It shows the audience the extent of Shylocks’ hatred for Antonio and Antonio’s risky situation. |
| Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice; Parts that become thee happily enough And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; But where thou art not known, why, there they show Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain To allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior I be misconstrued in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. | In this quote Bassanio talks to Gratiano about his drunk behavior. This quote occurs in Act 2, Scene 2 after Gratiano asks Bassanio if he can go with him to Belmont after Bassanio reveals that he will go to Belmont to meet Portia and after Lancelet asks Bassanio to become his servant. This scene occurs before night time in Venice, Italy. Bassanio tells Gratiano that if he wishes to go, then Gratiano can go but sometimes he becomes too wile and his voice becomes too rude and loud when he becomes drunk. Although it is fine for people like them, his behavior can seem too wild to people and places unknown to him. Bassanio asks Gratiano that if he comes, to try to be sober and act more seriously or his behavior will make people in Belmont think of Bassanio badly and his behavior might ruin his chance with Portia. This quote shows the audience that Gratiano holds a bad behavior and his bad addiction to drinking, and it also shows the audience Bassanio’s intentions to go to Belmont. |
| I must needs tell thee all. She hath directedHow I shall take her from her father’s house,What gold and jewels she is furnished with,What page’s suit she hath in readiness. If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake: And never dare misfortune cross her foot, Unless she do it under this excuse, That she is issue to a faithless Jew. | In this quote Lorenzo talks to Gratiano about Jessica and the letter she gave to Lorenzo. This quote occurs in Act 2, Scene 4 after Gratiano, Salarino, Solanio, and Lorenzo talk about their plans for the masque that night. This scene occurs before the ,masquerade ball, during the evening in Venice, Italy. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica has told him how to get out of Shylock’s house, what golds and jewels she has, and the costume she is wearing to the masque that night in her letter she sent to Lorenzo. Lorezno believes if Shylock went to heaven, it will be because of Jessica’s goodness as she will never be punished with anything bad unless it is because of Shylock’s punishments. This quote shows the audience that Lorenzo is well informed about Jessica and he will continue his plan that night. |
| I have a father, you a daughter lost | In this quote, Jessica talks to the audience about Shylock and about her plan to run away and leave him. This quote occurs in Act 2, Scene 5 after Shylock tells Jessica he is going to dinner but he doesn’t want to and after Lorenzo and the men have made plans at the masquerade ball before Jessica runs away with Lorenzo. This scene occurs before the masquerade ball in Venice, Italy, in Shylock’s house. As Shylock exists his house, Jessica says farewell as she will lose a father and Shylock will lose a daughter. This quote shows the audience that Jessica plans to run away with Lorenzo that night and it also shows the extent of Jessica’s hatred towards Shylock. |
| “Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house.” | In this quote Shylock talks to Jessica about locking up the house and to not allow anyone to get in the house. This quote occurs in Act 2, Scene 5, after Shylock learns that there will be a masquerade ball that nigh from Lancelet. This quote occurs in Venice, Italy. Shylock tells Jessica to not let the voices of and noises of shallow fools to enter his serious house. This quote shows the audience that Shylock is clueless about the masquerade ball and that Shylock is also clueless about Jessica’s plan to run away. This quote also shows how serious he is when he does not want anyone to enter his home. |
| He seeks my life; his reasons well I know: I oft deliver’d from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me; Therefore he hates me. | In this quote Antonio talks to Solanio about Shylock’s grudge against him. This quote occurs in Act 3, Scene 3 and after Antonio is put in jail and Shylock goes to speak with Antonio in jail and after Bassanio reviews Antonio’s letters. This quote also occurs after Portia offers to pay Bassanio’s debt. This scene occurs in Venice, Italy, in a prison. Antonio tells Solanio that Shylock wants his life and wants him dead and he knows the reason why. Antonio gives money to people who are unable to pay back their loans to Shylock and that is why Shylock hates Antonio because he takes away his business. This quote informs the audience on why Shylock cannot give Antonio mercy and why he is so determined to get a pound of flesh from Antonio. The audience learns about Shylock and Antonio’s background and how Antonio has accepted the truth that he will not get mercy and will die because he has failed to paid his debt. |
| As I have ever found thee honest- true, so let me find thee still. Take this same letter, And use thou all the endeavor of a man In speed to Padua: see thou render this Into my cousin’s hand, Doctor Bellario; And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed Unto the tranect, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, but get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. | … |
| “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick is, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? | … |
| “Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee, thou pale and common drudge ‘Tween man and man: but thou, thou meager lead, Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught, Thy paleness moves me more that eloquence; And here choose I; joy be the consequence! | … |
| The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ”Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptered sway. It is enthroned in the hearts 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 see salvation. We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke this much to mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Mist needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there | … |
| How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? | … |
| Tarry, Jew: The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party ‘gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender’s life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, ‘gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand’st; for it appears, by manifest proceeding, that indirectly and directly too thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr’d The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke. | … |
| So please my lord the duke and all the courtTo quit the fine for one half of his goods,I am content; so he will let me haveThe other half in use, to render it,Upon his death, unto the gentlemanThat lately stole his daughter:Two things provided more, that, for this favour,He presently become a Christian;The other, that he do record a gift,Here in the court, of all he dies possess’d,Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. | … |
| Let not that doctor e’er come near my house: since he hath got the jewel that I loved, And that which you did swear to keep for me, I will become as liberal as you; I’ll not deny him any thing I have, No, not my body nor my husband’s bed: know him I shall, I am well sure of it: lie not a night from home; watch me like Argus: If you do not, if I be left alone, now, by mine honour, Which is yet mine own, I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow. | … |
| What talk you of the posy or the value? You swore to me, when I did give it to you, that you would wear it till your honor of death And that it should lie with you in your grave: though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, you should have been respective and have kept it. Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge, The clerk will ne’er wear hair in’s face that had it. | … |
Merchant of Venice Quotes
July 1, 2019