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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 1
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"A woman is the weaker vessel"
Proverb
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 14-17

An example of using a proverb to mean something vulgar in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1.

Sampson

True, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,
are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push
Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids
to the wall.

Samson picks up on Gregory’s proverb and references one of his own in making a vulgar boast about what he’s going to do to the Montague women.