Antithesis Quote by William Shakespeare
“Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear As morning roses newly wash'd with dew. Say she be mute and will not speak a word; Then I'll commend her volubility, and say she uttereth piercing eloquence.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Comedy of Errors, Act 2, Scene 1, 1594
The speaker uses sarcasm to praise a woman's silence by claiming it is more eloquent than speech, highlighting the irony of praising the opposite of what is said.
In simple terms: Sarcasm praises silence as eloquence.
Key Takeaway
Recognize irony in praise.
Themes
irony
language
communication
gender
sarcasm
Mood
playful
critical
Type
literary
humorous
When to use this quote
- theatre performance
- literary analysis
- writing workshops
- social critique
- education
Key Concepts
rhetoric
literary devices
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sarcasm affect perception?
- When is irony an effective tool?
A Different Perspective
It may be misinterpreted as genuine praise.
![“I wrote a comedy, which hopefully [Rick director] Curtiss Clayton will bring to the screen, that I thought was the antithesis of all my work. I thought it was light and sunshiny, and Mr. Clayton reminded me that it is the story of a woman kidnapped and forced to do things against her will, which…” quote by Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eda/daniel-handler-1043_antithesis_i-wrote-a-comedy-which-hopefully-rick-di_130261.jpg)
