Shakespeare Important Quotes -A Midsummer Night's Dream

Front 1

Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;
Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities

Back 1

Hippolyta (to Theseus)- She is telling him to relax- or basically telling him to calm down because he got what he wanted- it was not her that initiated the marriage

Front 2

Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The rest I'd give to be you translated.
O, teach me how you look, and with what art.
You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

Back 2

Helena to Hermia-
This is an example of how the young lovers speak in rhyming couplets. Expresses how they are in tune with each other. It is an example of "stichomythia"
-finishing sentences, completing rhymes. Shows sense of intimacy between characters

Front 3

And in the wood where often you and I
Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie....
Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray though for us,
ANd good luck frant thee thy Demetrius,
Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight
From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.

Back 3

Hermia to Helena
-Two men are equal at the beginning of the play

Front 4

Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Back 4

Helena-I
s the love authentic, comes from within, or is "visted" upon us from elsewhere. Does not mean it is bad if that is the case.

Front 5

For Oberon is passing fell and wrath
Because that she, as her attendant, hath
A lovely boy stol'n from an Indian king.
She never had so sweet a changeling

Back 5

Puck (Robin) is introducing the "Changeling boy"
This boy represents a self sufficient female community
-boy represents change and mortality (for which fairies feel wistful)
-described as being "stolen" from the king
-father jealous of mother's relationship with child

Front 6

These are the forgeries of jealousy,
And never since the middle summer's spring
Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead,
By paved fountain or by rushy brook,
Or in the beached margin of the sea.....rest on pg 159->

Back 6

Titania's speech-

climate change: discord in spiritual world
-moon changes, goes through phases
-feminity- Diana's signature
-relates to theme of translation and metamorphisis

Front 7

Why should I not then persecute my right?
Demetrius- Ill avouch it to his head-
Made love to Nedar's daughter Helena,
And won her soul, and she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, does in idolatrym
Upon this spotted and inconstant man.

Back 7

Lysander- asking Theseus to judge a fellow inconstant man (theseus is also said to be one)

Front 8

I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow....
"By all the vows that men have broke-
In number more than ever women spoke"

Back 8

Hermia-
men's vows cannot be relied on.
It is a type of PERFORMATIVE LANGUAGE= "I do" language- that does something, affects a new reality

Front 9

I am invisible

Back 9

Oberon
-Shows fluidity of Shakespearean stage

Front 10

Philomel with melody,
Sing in our sweet lullaby;
Lulla, Lulla, Lullaby; Lulla lulla lullaby.
Never harm
Nor spell nor charm
Come our lovely lady nigh.
So good night, with lullaby.

Back 10

The Chorus of the fairies song to sing the fairy queen Titania to sleep. It is incantatory- like a spell

Front 11

Help me Lysander, Help me!
Do thy best to pluck this crawling serpent from my breast!
Ay me, for pity. What a dream was here!
Lysander, look how I do quake with fear.

Back 11

Hermia- upon waking to discover Lysander has left (after having the juice placed on his eyes)
Two ways to inerpret this:
literal- he has abandoned her
-represents masculinity: she wants him to be near- but TOO NEAR: Serpent and Protector

Front 12

Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her,
And she in mild terms begged by patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child

Back 12

Oberon-
Takse pity on Titania now that he has completely subdued her - he has "tamed" his counterpart and she gives up the boy like he wanted

Front 13

No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and, hearing our intent,
Came here in grace of our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus, is not this the day
That Hermia should give her answer of choice?

Back 13

Theseus-

thinks lovers came out to celebrate his wedding

Front 14

Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I see Hermia.
But like in sickness did I loathe this food;
But, as in health come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will evermore be true to it.

Back 14

Demetrius- telling Theseus he loves Helena now

Front 15

Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
Of this discourse we more will hear anon-
Egeus, I will overbear your will,
FOr in the temple by and by with us...

Back 15

Theseus- likes to defer things

Front 16

More strange than true. I never may believe
These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends

Back 16

Theseus-
again he is quick to have an answer
- teasing argument between rationality and imagination
Rationality= masculine
Imagination= feminine

Front 17

Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
When everything seems double.

Back 17

Hermia- when lovers are discussing what happened in the woods. She feels she has a "dual perspective" on the situation

Front 18

- I am aweary of this moon. Would he would change
-It appears by his small light of discretion that he is in the wane; but yet in courtesy, in all reason, we must stay the time.

Back 18

First: Hippolyta
SEcond: Theseus

Hippolyta does not trust players with dignity
Theseus does
Starveling insists on dignity- underscores importance of audience