Thou Quote by William Shakespeare
““Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. Kent: Fellow, I know thee. Oswald: What dost thou know me for? Kent: A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy; worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou denyest the least syllable of thy addition.””
About This Quote
Source Play: King Lear, Act 4 Scene 6, 1605
Kent insults Oswald with a torrent of insults, revealing contempt and social hierarchy.
In simple terms: Kent calls Oswald a lowly, despicable person.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when language is used to degrade others.
Themes
insult
power
hierarchy
Mood
angry
dramatic
Type
literary
dramatic
When to use this quote
- court politics
- personal vendettas
- class tension
Key Concepts
Shakespearean drama
character conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about Kent’s motives?
- How does language shape power dynamics?
A Different Perspective
The speech may be exaggerated for theatrical effect.
