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
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend So horrid as in woman.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the true nature of evil is often less evident in women than in their deviating character traits.
William Shakespeare's quote reflects on the concept of deformity, implying that physical or emotional flaws in women can be less offensive compared to their moral and ethical failings. In this context, the 'fiend' symbolizes a deeper evil, which can manifest in character flaws, suggesting that one's true nature is revealed through actions rather than appearances.
Themes
DeformityCharacterWomenMoralityNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on literature, this quote can be used to illustrate how Shakespeare delves into the complexities of character versus appearance.
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