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Quote Analysis in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Quote Analysis Examples in The Two Gentlemen of Verona:

Act I - Act I, Scene 1

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"But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee That art a votary to fond desire?..."   (Act I - Act I, Scene 1)

Valentine and Proteus, the titular gentlemen of Verona, are having a conversation before Valentine leaves for Milan. Proteus has decided to stay because he is madly in love with Julia. In this passage, Valentine makes fun of Proteus, teasing him that his love has made him weak and lightheaded—with "votary" referring to Proteus as a devoted worshipper and "fond" meaning foolish. Ironically, Valentine himself shortly falls prey to a similar kind of passion in Milan.

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"I have no other but a woman's reason..."   (Act I - Act I, Scene 2)

This is Lucetta’s answer to Julia’s question about which suitor Lucetta prefers. Lucetta responds that she prefers Proteus, but she also says that she has no reason for this preference beyond “a woman’s reason,” which is similar to saying that she trusts her intuition or feelings regarding Proteus.

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"O! how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day, Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by an by a cloud takes all away!..."   (Act I - Act I, Scene 3)

These beautiful lines of poetry reveal much about Proteus's feelings for Julia and his despair at being sent away. Young nobles were commonly sent abroad to gain life experience at the time, and their parents had complete authority over their actions. Proteus must go if his father insists on it, and he gives this farewell speech to demonstrate his youthful love and despair he feels at being separated from his beloved.

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"That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man, If with his tongue he cannot win a woman..."   (Act III - Act III, Scene 1)

Proteus betrayed his friend Valentine and reported Valentine’s intention to run away with the Duke’s daughter Silvia because he is in love with Silvia himself. The Duke of Milan has asked Valentine for advice on how to woo women in an effort to trick Valentine into divulging his own plans for stealing the Duke’s daughter. Valentine falls for the trap here, revealing how one should woo a woman and his plans in the process.

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