| “Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia.” | Speaker: EgeusListener: TheseusMeaning: He does not want his daughter to marry LysanderImportance: Shows how women are treated badly and cannot make their own decisions. |
| “Either to die dead, or to abjure forever the society of men.” | Speaker: TheseusListener: HermiaMeaning: She has the choice of dying, marrying, or becoming a nunImportance: Theseus is listening to Egeus, and it also shows gender biases |
| “Relent, sweet Hermia, and Lysander, yield thy crazed title to my certain right.” | Speaker: DemetriusListener: Lysander and HermiaMeaning: Hermia should give up and Lysander should stayImportance: Gender bias and Demetrius finally has a say |
| “The course of true love never did run smooth.” | Speaker: Lysander Listener: HermiaMeaning: The road to true love has many obstaclesImportance: True love always prevails |
| “Take comfort he no more shall see my face.” | Speaker: HermiaListener: HelenaMeaning: Hermia and Lysander are running awayImportance: Helena now knows there plan and she uses it to get attention from Demetrius |
| “Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” | Speaker: HelenaListener: AudienceMeaning: Love just happensImportance: Shows the different kinds of love in the book (this is showing true love) |
| “Here is the scroll of every man’s name who is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our interlude before the Duke and Duchess on his wedding day at night.” | Speaker: QuinceListener: The actorsMeaning: Quince is giving Bottom the list of the reliable people to perform in the playImportance: The list is only men (gender bias) |
| “That will ask some tears in the true performing of it”. | Speaker: BottomListener: QuinceMeaning: He will need to get people to cryImportance: It shows the large ego of Bottom |
| “The king doth keep his revels here tonight. Take heed the queen come not within his sight.” | Speaker: RobinListener: FairyMeaning: Keep Oberon away from TitaniaImportance: It shows the tough love between Titania and Oberon |
| “These are the forgeries of jealousy.” | Speaker: TitaniaListener: OberonMeaning: Their actions are causing jealousy to come between themImportance: Shows the tough love between Oberon and Titania |
| “I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.” | Speaker: DemetriusListener: HelenaMeaning: Demetrius does not love Helena, and wants her to stop following him aroundImportance: Shows the unrequited love between Helena and Demetrius |
| “We cannot fight for love as men may do. We should be wooed and were not made to woo.” | Speaker: HelenaListener: DemetriusMeaning: He has treated her with disrespect. Men should be courting the girls and not the other way around.Importance: Emphasises the unrequited love between Helena and Demetrius and shows the gender roles in the society |
| “And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes and make her full of hateful fantasies.” | Speaker: OberonListener: RobinMeaning: Oberon is explaining how Robin will put the potion on Titania’s eyesImportance: This shows the hard love between Oberon and Titania |
| “Through the forest have I gone, but Athenian found I none on whose eyes I might approve this flower’s force in stirring love.” | Speaker: RobinListener: The audienceMeaning: He is putting the potion on the eyes of LysanderImportance: Lysander will fall deeply in love with Helena |
| “And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.” | Speaker: LysanderListener: HelenaMeaning: Lysander is saying how beautiful Helena isImportance: They now both love each other |
| “Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?” | Speaker: HelenaListener: LysanderMeaning: She is mad for Lysander mocking herImportance: She does not believe that Lysander loves her |
| “Help me, Lysander, help me! Do thy best to pluck this crawling serpent from my breast.” | Speaker: HermiaListener: The audienceMeaning: Hermia has a dream about a snake attacking her and Lysander not helping herImportance: Foreshadows Lysander not loving Hermia anymore |
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act I And II Quotes
July 31, 2019