Changes of Habit: Suits and Conversions in Merchant of Venice
I. “For the four winds blow in from every coast / Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks / Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, / . . . / And many Jasons come in quest of her.” (1.1.168-72).
II. Portia and Nerissa on the “princely suitors that are already come”: they are “oddly suited” (1.2.72; 102).
He is a proper man's picture, but, alas, who can
converse with a dumb-show? How oddly he is suited!
I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round
hose in France, his bonnet in Germany and his
behavior every where. (1.2.67-71)
You need not fear, lady, the having any of these
lords: they have acquainted me with their
determinations; which is, indeed, to return to their
home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless
you may be won by some other sort than your father's
imposition depending on the caskets. (1.2.95-100)
III. Shylock to Antonio: “Moneys is your suit” (1.3.117)
IV. Launcelot Gobbo’s suit begins as a petition to Bassanio (just as Old Gobbo’s
dish of doves) at 2.2.135 but is converted to a debased “livery more guarded than his fellows’” (153-54).
Gobbo: I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon
your worship, and my suit is—
Launcelot: In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as
your worship shall know by this honest old man; and,
though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father.
(2.2.126-31)
V. Bassanio (to Launcelot)
I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit:
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.
VI. The suit makes the man, or “Christian fools with varnished faces” (2.5.33)
1. Notice how Gratiano follows hard on Launcelot’s suit to Bassanio with one of his own: “I have a suit to you” (2.2.174), which by a linguistic trick becomes the
“sober habit” that Gratiano will “put on” in Belmont as though religion were
merely a matter of “Wear[ing] prayer books in my pocket” (187).
But for now, Bassanio encourages Grataino’s “boldest suit of mirth” in
preparation for the night’s festivities, the masque mentioned at 2.4.22.
3. Lorenzo on Jessica: “What gold and jewels she is furnished with, / What page’s suit she hath in readiness” (2.4.31-32).
VII. The cold suit contained in Morocco’s hot blood (2.1) as he chooses the golden casket:
“Fare you well, your suit is cold” (2.7.73)
VIII. “So may the outward shows be least themselves; / The world is still deceived
with ornament” (3.2.73)
- Bassanio’s choice reflects his consciousness of “treason” in courting Portia
2. Once she has given all, “Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours / Is
now converted” (2.2.266-67) Portia will find it necessary to change her habit,
not “To live in prayer and contemplation” in a “monast’ry” (3.4.28), but to use “what notes and garments” (51) she can to recover the “semblance of [her] soul” (20). She’ll also “seem accomplished with what [she] lacks.”
IX. Conversions of value and meaning: Lorenzo (of Launcelot): “O dear discretion, how his words are suited!” (3.5.64)
- Shylock’s ring is exchanged for a monkey (3.1.110)
- Jessica on Lorenzo: “I shall be saved by my husband. He hath made me a Christian” (3.5.19)
X. Shylock’s “losing suit” (4.1.62) and Portia’s assessment of Shylock’s case:
“Of a strange nature is the suit you follow / Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.” (4.1.176-8).
- Shylock’s “losing suit” culminates in his forced conversion (4.1.386).
Instances of Suit:
| act 1, scene 2: ... their home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless you may be won by some other |
| act 1, scene 3: ... stranger cur Over your threshold: moneys is your suit. What should I say to you? Should |
| act 2, scene 2: ... that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is-- Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall ... I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit: Shylock thy master spoke with me this ... Gratiano! Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. You have ... entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends That |
| act 2, scene 4: ... she is furnish'd with, What page's suit she hath in readiness. If e'er |
| act 2, scene 7: ... been inscroll'd: Fare you well; your suit is cold. Cold, indeed; and labor lost |
| act 4, scene 1: ... bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? ... Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule that |
Senses of Suit:
1) attendance
2) a prosecution at law, an action brought against a person: that I follow thus a losing suit against him,” Merch. IV, 1, 62. “of a strange nature is the suit you follow”
3) petition, address of entreaty : “moneys is your suit.” Merch. I, 3, 120.
I have a suit to you,” Merch. II, 2, 186
“I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit” (2.2.135)
OED II: Pursuit; prosecution, legal process.
a. Pursuit, chase; also, a pursuit. Phr. to follow, make suit. fresh suit (see fresh adj.1 2c), pursuit made without delay. Obs.
b) amorous solicitation, courtship; sometimes proposal of marriage:
For the four winds blow in from every coast /Renowned suitors (1.1)
“But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?” (1.2
4) dress, apparel “a page’s suit” (Jessica), 2.4.33
Metaphorically: “to put on your boldest suit of mirth,” Merch. II, 2, 211
1)vb. To clothe, to dress: 1.2.69: “How oddly he is suited”
b) to fit, to adapt: “O dear discretion, how his words are suited,” Merch. 3.0