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
Discuss unto me: art thou officer, Or art thou base, common, and popular?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions one's status and value in society, distinguishing between the nobility of an officer and the commonness of the populace.
In this quote by Shakespeare, the speaker probes the identity and societal role of the addressed person, juxtaposing the esteemed position of an officer against the more ordinary nature of common folk. This reflection speaks to broader themes of class, identity, and the intrinsic value of individuals in society.
Themes
StatusIdentitySocietyArtNobilityCommonness
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on class in a literature class, one could use this quote to highlight Shakespeare's exploration of social status.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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