Techniques On Merchant of Venice

Resource Description

Merchant of Venice

Act 1

Scene 2

• Allusion:“If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will…” (lines 101-103)

Portia alludes to Sibylla and Diana, a prophetess in ancient times, famous for her extreme old age, and the Roman goddess of feminine virtue and purity, respectively. Portia is saying that she will remain unmarried for the rest of her life, until a man chooses the right casket and gains the right to marry her.

Scene 3

• Simile: “Mark you this, Bassanio, the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart: O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! (lines 93-98)