As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living? Beatrice: Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the tension in a romantic relationship, specifically the interplay of disdain and love.
In this exchange, Beatrice sarcastically questions whether her disdain can truly fade while she still finds a worthy target for it in Benedick. This reflects the complexity of their relationship, suggesting that the emotions of love and disdain can coexist, especially in a context where playful banter and wit are part of a deeper connection.
Themes
DisdainLoveRelationshipsRomanceConflict
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a discussion about romantic relationships in literature classes.
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