How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
CORNELIUS
The queen, sir, very oft importuned me
To temper poisons for her, still pretending
The satisfaction of her knowledge only
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs,
Of no esteem. I, dreading that her purpose
Was of more danger, did compound for her
A certain stuff which, being ta'en, would cease
The present power of life, but in short time
All offices of nature should again
Do their due functions. (5.5.296-305)
Cornelius is no fool. He knows if he tells everyone that he made a secret death potion, he'd end up dead, too—and there'd be no potion to revive him. He finally lays out the specs about his magic potion here, showing us that even a doctor can be obsessed with death. In this case, he prevented it—just not in the way we would have expected.
Quote #8
POSTHUMUS
By th' sure physician, Death, who is the key
To unbar these locks. My conscience, thou art fettered
More than my shanks and wrists. You good gods,
give me
The penitent instrument to pick that bolt,
Then, free forever. (5.4.8-13)
Morbid much? Posthumus is down in the dumps while in jail. He doesn't want to keep living in a world that doesn't have any Imogen in it. Aww, it's kinda sweet…. in a weird he-was-the-one-who-ordered-her-death-and-now-he's-all-morbid kind of way.
Quote #9
POSTHUMUS
I am merrier to die than thou art to live.
JAILER
Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the
toothache. But a man that were to sleep your
sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think
he would change places with his officer; (5.7.175-179)
Posthumus may talk and talk of death, but he doesn't ever do anything about it: he's all doom and gloom. But no matter how glass-half-empty he gets, he can still provide witty comebacks to the jailers. Here, he readily admits he's ready to die. He has nothing left to live for, and wants to reunite with his love in death.