The Merchant of Venice: Character Quotations (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
GCSE English Literature exam questions usually focus on a theme, a character or a relationship between two or more characters. Examiners reward responses that track the development of characters or themes through the play.
When revising, try to consider quotes in terms of their narrative effects — how characters are presented, what attitudes or relationships are presented and why these ideas have been shown to the reader.
Shylock
Portia
Bassanio
Antonio
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Something to bear in mind when you are revising ‘The Merchant of Venice’ quotations is that the dialogue conveys the characters’ attitudes and often shows how they conduct their relationships. Examiners suggest that you consider the ideas represented by the characters, and how this is illustrated in their interactions.
Examiners like you to use references or quotations as support for your ideas. That’s why we’ve included a “key word or phrase” from our longer quotations to help you remember important references from across the play.
Shylock
“Antonio shall become bound; well” — Shylock, Act 1, Scene 3
Key word or phrase to memorise: “bound” and “well” | What the quotation means: Shylock is quick to repeat that Antonio is indeed “bound” to him when he enters into a deal with Bassanio that means that Antonio owes him money | Theme: Wealth and Power | |
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“I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear!” — Shylock, Act 3, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “jewels in her ear” | What the quotation means: Shylock is furious that his daughter has disappeared and asks Tubal if he has found her, adding that he would rather she were dead so that the jewels she wears are returned to him | Theme: Love and Friendship | |
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“Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that” — Shylock, Act 4, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “take my life” | What the quotation means: When Shylock’s judgement comes, he is offered a pardon if he gives half his wealth to Antonio and half to the state, but Shylock refuses, asking instead for them to take his life | Theme: Prejudice and Intolerance | |
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Portia
“if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me” — Portia, Act 1, Scene 2
Key word or phrase to memorise: “condition of a saint” and “complexion of a devil” | What the quotation means: Portia is frustrated at her father’s wish that she find a suitable man to marry through a series of tests, joking that she cares less about their nature and more about their skin colour or race, and that she would prefer a foreign man to be her priest than her husband | Theme: Prejudice and Intolerance | |
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“There’s something tells me, but it is not love, I would not lose you; and you know yourself,
Hate counsels not in such a quality” — Portia, Act 3 Scene 2
Key word or phrase to memorise: “it is not love” and “lose you” | What the quotation means: Portia tells Bassanio that she wants him to stay longer, but not because of love (she does not want to admit her feelings just yet, or push him away), but that it is definitely not “hate” as they get along so well | Theme: Love and Friendship | |
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“If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring” — Portia, Act 5, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “half her worthiness that gave the ring” | What the quotation means: Portia mirrors Bassanio’s words and contradicts him, saying that he would not have given away the ring if he had known the significance of it, the worth of the person who gave it, or was honourable enough to take care of it | Theme: Wealth and Power | |
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Bassanio
“Brutus’ Portia: Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth” — Bassanio, Act 1, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “wide world” and “worth” | What the quotation means: Bassanio tells Antonio of Portia’s reputation around the world as a beautiful and wealthy woman | Theme: Wealth and Power | |
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“I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind” — Bassanio, Act 1, Scene 3
Key word or phrase to memorise: “fair terms” and “villain’s mind” | What the quotation means: After Antonio has made a deal with Shylock, Bassanio expresses his suspicious and distrustful attitude towards Shylock, suggesting that even if the deal is “fair” Shylock may cheat him as he probably has evil plans | Theme: Prejudice and Intolerance | |
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“Sweet doctor, you shall be my bed-fellow: When I am absent, then lie with my wife” — Bassanio, Act 5 Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “Sweet doctor” and “lie with my wife” | What the quotation means: Bassanio makes a joke when he finds out that Portia was, in fact, the doctor, and he says that he wants the doctor to sleep with him, and when he is not there, the doctor can sleep with his wife (herself, in other words!) | Theme: Love and Friendship | |
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Antonio
“Neither have I money nor commodity
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth;
Try what my credit can in Venice do” - Antonio, Act 1, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “money nor commodity” and “my credit” | What the quotation means: Antonio tells his friend, Bassanio, that he cannot help him as he has no money or wealth, but that his reputation in Venice may be of some worth | Theme: Wealth and Power | |
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“Repent but you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt” — Antonio, Act 4, Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “lose your friend” and “pays your debt” | What the quotation means: Antonio tells Bassanio to regret only that he will lose their friendship and that he does not regret sacrificing himself to settle his debt | Theme: Love and Friendship | |
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“My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly” - Antonio, Act 5 Scene 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: “soul upon the forfeit” and “break faith” | What the quotation means: In the resolution, Antonio tells Portia that he is sure that his friend will not break a deal again, and that he would bet his “soul” on his faith in his friend | Theme: Justice and Mercy | |
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Source
William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, OUP (2008)
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