Shakespeare in Love Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Shakespeare in Love.

Quote #4

SIR ROBERT DE LESSEPS: She will breed. If she do not, send her back. […] If you are the man to ride her, there are rubies in the saddlebag.

Upper class doesn't mean classy, does it? Here we see Viola's father describing his own daughter as if she's livestock. And to him, she might as well be. It's a way for him to forge an alliance with Lord Wessex, who is influential with the Queen.

Quote #5

WILL: To be the wife of a poor player?—can I wish that for Lady Viola, except in my dreams?

Will realizes that his and Viola's love is doomed for a variety of reasons, one of the main ones being their difference in class. Shakespeare may be a world-renowned name now, but then, he was basically a tradesman, unsuitable to marry a lady.

Quote #6

PURITAN: Licentiousness is made a show, vice is made a show, vanity and pride likewise made a show! This is the very business of show!

This quote is basically a repeat of the earlier quote, and doesn't really have any impact on the plot. However, were there to be a sequel—Shakespeare 2: Shake Harder—we imagine the conflict between the religious conservatives and the playhouses might heat up a bit as plays become more popular. There's nothing a Puritan hates more than fun.