LORENZO
“Madam, although I speak it in your presence,”
Explanation: Lorenzo is saying, “Even though I’m saying this in front of you…”
Analysis: He is about to compliment Portia and wants to sound modest.
Language device: Polite and formal tone.
“You have a noble and a true conceit
Of godlike amity,”
Explanation: You have a noble and sincere understanding of friendship that is almost divine (godlike).
Analysis: Lorenzo praises Portia for her generosity and deep sense of friendship.
Theme: Friendship, Nobility of character
Language device: Hyperbole – calling friendship “godlike” shows how highly he thinks of it.
“which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord.”
Explanation: This is shown most clearly in how well you are handling your husband Bassanio’s absence.
Analysis: Portia is seen as strong and mature, not complaining or sad about her husband leaving.
Theme: Loyalty, Love, Strength of women
PORTIA
“I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now;”
Explanation: I’ve never regretted doing good deeds, and I won’t start now.
Analysis: Portia’s values are clear—she believes in helping others and stands by her decisions.
Theme: Generosity, Virtue
Language device: Parallelism (repeating structure: “never did… nor shall not…”). This emphasizes her firm moral code.
“for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,”
Explanation: When people spend time talking and hanging out together,
Analysis: She’s talking about close friendships—like between Bassanio and Antonio.
Theme: Friendship
“Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,”
Explanation: Whose souls are equally bound by love (deep friendship).
Analysis: She’s comparing deep friendship to a marriage or sacred bond.
Language device: Metaphor – “equal yoke of love” is like two oxen pulling together, suggesting deep unity.
Theme: Connection, Brotherhood
“There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;”
Explanation: Then they must also be alike in appearance, behavior, and character.
Analysis: She believes close friends are often similar in personality and values.
Language device: Tricolon – listing three qualities to emphasize balance: looks, manners, and spirit.
Theme: Friendship as reflection, Loyalty
“Which makes me think that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,”
Explanation: So it makes me think that Antonio, who is my husband’s dearest friend,
Language note: “bosom lover” means very close friend—not romantic, but deeply bonded.
Theme: Male friendship, Love in various forms
“Must needs be like my lord.”
Explanation: Must be similar to Bassanio in character.
Analysis: Because she respects Bassanio, she automatically respects Antonio too.
“If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestowed
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!”
Explanation (simplified): If Antonio is like Bassanio, then the money I spent to help him was a small price to pay to save someone so good from a terrible situation.
Analysis: Portia feels that by helping Antonio, she’s helping someone like herself or her husband—a “mirror soul.”
Language device: Metaphor – “purchasing the semblance of my soul” compares Antonio to a reflection of herself or her husband. “Hellish cruelty” represents Shylock’s punishment and the danger Antonio is in.
Theme: Mercy, Selflessness, Value of human life, Love and sacrifice
PORTIA:
“This comes too near the praising of myself;
Therefore no more of it. Hear other things:”
Explanation: I’m starting to sound like I’m praising myself too much, so let’s stop that and talk about something else.
Analysis: Portia is humble and self-aware. She doesn’t want to seem arrogant.
Theme: Modesty
Language device: Self-deprecating tone
“Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house
Until my lord’s return.”
Explanation: Lorenzo, I’m putting you in charge of my estate and household until Bassanio comes back.
Analysis: Shows how much she trusts Lorenzo, and also reflects how women had to assign men to manage property.
Theme: Trust, Gender roles
“For mine own part,
I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow
To live in prayer and contemplation,”
Explanation: As for me, I’ve made a private promise to God to live quietly in prayer and reflection.
Analysis: She’s lying here—this is part of her clever trick so no one knows she’s heading to Venice.
Theme: Deception for good, Intelligence of women
Language device: Dramatic irony — the audience knows she’s not really going to a monastery.
“Only attended by Nerissa here,
Until her husband and my lord’s return.”
Explanation: Only Nerissa will be with me, until her husband Gratiano and my husband Bassanio return.
Analysis: Portia includes Nerissa in her plan, showing their close bond.
“There is a monastery two miles off,
And there we will abide.”
Explanation: There’s a monastery two miles away, and that’s where we’ll stay.
Analysis: Again, part of the cover story.
Theme: Appearance vs reality
“I do desire you
Not to deny this imposition,
The which my love and some necessity
Now lays upon you.”
Explanation: Please don’t refuse this responsibility. I ask it of you out of love and a bit of necessity.
Analysis: She uses emotional appeal and politeness to ensure Lorenzo agrees.
Theme: Duty, Loyalty
LORENZO:
“Madam, with all my heart.
I shall obey you in all fair commands.”
Explanation: Of course, madam. I will follow your instructions fully and respectfully.
Theme: Respect, Obedience
PORTIA:
“My people do already know my mind
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.”
Explanation: My servants already know that you and Jessica are in charge while we’re away.
Analysis: Portia planned this carefully and has the foresight to ensure everything is handled.
Theme: Leadership, Responsibility
“So fare you well till we shall meet again.”
Explanation: Goodbye until we see each other again.
Tone: Formal, courteous.
LORENZO:
“Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!”
Explanation: May you be blessed with good thoughts and happy times.
Theme: Kindness, Well-wishing
JESSICA:
“I wish your Ladyship all heart’s content.”
Explanation: I hope you are fully content and at peace.
Tone: Respectful, gentle.
PORTIA:
“I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased
To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.”
Explanation: Thank you, and I gladly wish the same for you. Goodbye, Jessica.
Theme: Mutual respect, Politeness
Now the shift happens: the real plan begins.
“Lorenzo and Jessica exit.
Now, Balthazar,”
Explanation: They leave, and Portia now turns to her servant Balthazar.
Tone shift: From polite hostess to secret planner.
“As I have ever found thee honest true,
So let me find thee still:”
Explanation: You’ve always been loyal and trustworthy, so please continue to be so.
Theme: Trust, Loyalty
Tone: Serious and urgent.
“Take this same letter,
And use thou all th’ endeavor of a man
In speed to Padua.”
Explanation: Take this letter and do your absolute best to get to Padua quickly.
Language device: Emphatic language – “all th’ endeavor of a man” encourages strength, energy, and urgency.
Theme: Action, Urgency, Secrecy
“See thou render this
Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario.”
Explanation: Make sure you personally give this letter to my cousin, Doctor Bellario.
Analysis: This is the start of her secret plan — she’s writing to Bellario (a lawyer) to help her disguise herself and step into the court.
Theme: Deception, Justice, Cleverness of women
“She gives him a paper.”
Explanation: This is the written letter that sets everything in motion.
Theme: Women taking control, Hidden identities
🔹**”And look what notes and garments he doth give thee,”**
Explanation: And make sure you take the documents and clothes that he gives you.
Analysis: Portia is preparing for her disguise. The “garments” are male clothing — part of her transformation.
Theme: Disguise, Transformation
Language device: Foreshadowing — hinting at the plan that’s about to unfold.
🔹**”Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed**
Unto the traject, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice.”
Explanation: Please hurry and bring them to the ferry that goes to Venice.
Analysis: Portia is emphasizing urgency — she’s ready to act fast to save Antonio.
Language device: “Imagined speed” – metaphorical, suggesting he should run as if speed is only limited by imagination.
Theme: Loyalty, Quick-thinking
🔹**”Waste no time in words,
But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.”**
Explanation: Don’t talk — just go! I’ll get there before you.
Analysis: Shows her leadership — commanding, decisive, and already a step ahead.
Theme: Female agency, Urgency
Tone: Assertive
🔹BALTHAZAR:
“Madam, I go with all convenient speed.” (He exits.)
Explanation: I’m leaving immediately, madam.
Theme: Loyalty, Servitude
🔹PORTIA:
“Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand
That you yet know not of.”
Explanation: Let’s go, Nerissa. I’ve got a job to do that you don’t know about yet.
Analysis: She’s teasing her — setting up the surprise.
Theme: Secrecy, Cunning intelligence
🔹**”We’ll see our husbands
Before they think of us.”**
Explanation: We’ll arrive in Venice and see our husbands before they even expect us.
Analysis: Shows how clever and fast-acting Portia is.
Theme: Disguise, Unexpected twists
🔹NERISSA:
“Shall they see us?”
Explanation: Will they really see us?
Tone: Curious, surprised.
🔹PORTIA:
“They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit
That they shall think we are accomplishèd
With that we lack.”
Explanation: Yes, they’ll see us — but we’ll be in such a disguise (habit = outfit) that they’ll think we’re men.
Analysis: Portia is challenging gender expectations — pretending to “have what they lack” (male anatomy).
Language device: Euphemism and wordplay — “accomplished with what we lack” is a cheeky way of saying they’ll appear male.
Theme: Gender roles, Appearance vs reality, Empowerment
🔹**”I’ll hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutered like young men,
I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two,”**
Explanation: I’ll bet you anything that once we’re both dressed like young men, I’ll look more handsome than you!
Analysis: Portia is confident, playful, and not afraid to tease Nerissa.
Theme: Role reversal, Friendship, Humor
Language device: Banter, hyperbole
🔹**”And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
And speak between the change of man and boy
With a reed voice,”**
Explanation: I’ll wear my sword more stylishly, and speak in a voice that sounds between a man and a boy (a high-pitched, youthful male voice).
Analysis: She’s planning to mimic not just clothing, but speech and mannerisms — a full transformation.
Language device: Imagery (“reed voice” = thin, reedy voice)
Theme: Performance, Cleverness
🔹**”And turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride,”**
Explanation: I’ll change my delicate, ladylike steps into a strong, masculine walk.
Analysis: She’s aware of how gender is performed through behavior.
Theme: Gender performance
Language device: Contrast — “mincing” vs “manly stride”
🔹**”And speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth,”**
Explanation: I’ll talk about fights like a typical boastful young man.
Theme: Masculinity, Stereotypes
🔹**”And tell quaint lies
How honorable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died—
I could not do withal!”**
Explanation: I’ll make up charming lies about ladies falling in love with me and dying when I rejected them — it wasn’t my fault!
Analysis: Portia’s mocking how young men often boast about women chasing them.
Tone: Sarcastic, playful
Language device: Irony, exaggeration
Theme: Lies, Flirtation, Social satire
🔹**”—then I’ll repent,
And wish, for all that, that I had not killed them.”**
Explanation: Then I’ll pretend to feel bad and say I wish I hadn’t broken their hearts.
Theme: Mocking male behavior
Language device: Dark humor
🔹**”And twenty of these puny lies I’ll tell,
That men shall swear I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth.”**
Explanation: I’ll tell so many silly lies that people will think I’ve been out of school for more than a year — just like those bragging boys.
Analysis: She’s mocking the immaturity of young men.
Theme: Wit, Gender parody
🔹**”I have within my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks
Which I will practice.”**
Explanation: I know hundreds of these cocky little tricks that bragging boys use — and I’ll try them all.
Theme: Performance, Mimicry, Humor
Language device: Alliteration (“bragging jacks”); Metaphor (“raw tricks” = immature behaviors)
🔹NERISSA:
“Why, shall we turn to men?”
Explanation: Wait, are we seriously going to become men?
Tone: Shocked, amused
Theme: Disguise, Curiosity
🔹PORTIA:
“Fie, what a question’s that,
If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!”
Explanation: Shame on you for that question — if someone inappropriate overheard, they might take it the wrong way!
Analysis: She jokes that the question could be misinterpreted as something indecent.
Language device: Innuendo, wit
Theme: Social norms, Reputation
🔹**”But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device
When I am in my coach, which stays for us
At the park gate;”**
Explanation: Come on — I’ll explain the entire plan once we’re in the coach waiting at the park gate.
Analysis: Shows how quickly and thoroughly she’s planned this.
Theme: Strategic thinking, Adventure begins
🔹**”And therefore haste away,
For we must measure twenty miles today.”
(They exit.)**
Explanation: Let’s hurry — we’ve got to travel twenty miles today.
Theme: Action, Determination
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