the Merchant of Venice key quotes analysed

“You shall not seal to such a bond for me; I’ll rather dwell in my necessity.”

Act 1, Scene 3 (Bassanio)

• Bassanio is showiing his loyalty to Antonio by saying that he refuses to put Antonio's life at stake for something that Bassanio wants and would rather forget about the things he wants and just focus on the things he needs

"O my daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!"

                                                                            -Act 2, Scene 8 

• Salanio is mocking Shylock after his daughter betrayed him by leaving him when he went out, after he told her not to.
• The quote presents Shylock to be one who doesn't know his priorities, as he seems to be worried equally of his daughter and his money which she stole
• Elizabethans would have mocked Shylock in this scene as his daughter had just betrayed him and fled with a Christian, his enemies, and he didn't focus purely on the fact that his daughter just left.

“If it be proved against an alien that by direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen.”  

- Act 4, scene 1 (Portia)

• Portia (dressed a Balthazar) is not showing Mercy to Shylock and discriminating him for being Jewish (shown where it says 'alien')
• Balthazar is saying that no 'alien' may seek punishment against any Christian and can not seek their death, not because it is wrong, but becuase he is an outcast for not following the main relligeon, Christianity.

“ I’llhavemybond, and therefore speaknomore. I’llnotbe made a dull-eyed fool, to shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield to christian intercessor. Follownot; I’llhave nospeaking; I’ll havemybond."

Act 3- Scene 3

• Shylock is persistent on getting his bond (3000 ducats or 1 pound of Antonio's flesh) and refuses to show him any mercy due to the way he had previously been treated by him and other Christians
• Shylock seeks vengance and will not back down

"If you ***** us, 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?"

                                                          Shylock, Act 3 Scene 1

• Shylock had constantly been mistreated and he was a victim of society and he had been mistreated due to societies own beliefs, so Shylock is saying that he should be treated equally as he is still a human.
• By getting revenge on Antonio, he is getting revenge on all Christian who ever wronged him.