In every Shakespeare play the playwright introduces the clash between reason and emotion. Love is an emotion that has nothing to do with reason. Shallow understands this, but Slender seems incapable of comprehending the notion.
Slender’s inability to feel emotion is compounded by his inability to use language correctly. He tells Shallow, “But if there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance” (206-08). Slender meant to say increase, not decrease. The line is humorous not only because Slender used the opposite word. Given his lack of emotion toward Anne, the lack of love in their marriage will most likely “decrease” into hate. That possibility is echoed when Slender adds, “I hope upon familiarity will grow more contempt” (209-10). Slender meant to say content instead of contempt. He means that he hopes that he and Anne will become happy after they get to know each other. But in all likelihood a marriage without love will end in the contempt or hatred of one another.
Anne Page comes outside to invite the men in to dinner. Shallow and Evans go in first, and Slender is left alone on stage with Anne. An odd and not very successful courtship then follows.
Anne urges Slender to come inside and eat dinner, but Slender asserts that he is not hungry. Slender then attempts to brag about his family’s status, but he is not very successful. Slender’s inability to understand double entendres also makes him an unsuccessful wooer. Slender attempts to brag about his fencing (sword-fighting) ability: