This course of true love never did run smooth (who said it and to who) | Lysander to Hermia |
This course of true love never did run smooth (meaning) | He is talking to Hermia about how her family doesn’t approve of him, but it is true love |
Love looks not with the eye but with the mind (who to who) | Helena to herself |
Love looks not with the eye but with the mind (meaning) | Helena saying talking about how Demetrius will love her not for her beauty but because she is smarter than Hermia |
Nay, faith, let me not play a woman. I have a beard coming (who to who) | Flute to Quince |
Nay, faith, let me not play a woman. I have a beard coming (meaning) | He doesn’t want to play thisbe because it will revoke his manliness |
Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? (who to who) | Bottom to Quince |
Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? (meaning) | Bottom asking what beard he should grow for the role of Pyramus |
Night and Silence! Who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he, my master said, despised the Athenian Maid (who to who) | Puck to himself |
Night and Silence! Who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he, my master said, despised the Athenian Maid (meaning) | Puck talking about drugging Lysander instead of Demetrius on accident, dramatic irony |
And all my powers, address your love and might, to honor Helen and to be her knight (who to who) | Lysander to Helena |
And all my powers, address your love and might, to honor Helen and to be her knight (meaning) | Lysander pledging his love to Helena instead of Hermia after being drugged |
Tarry, rash wanton. Am not I thy lord? (who to who) | Oberon to Titania |
Tarry, rash wanton. Am not I thy lord? (meaning) | Oberon proving masculinity to Titania |
The bolt of Cupid fell, it fell upon a little western flower. Before milk-white, now purple with love’s wound. And maidens call it “love-in-idleness” (who to who) | Oberon to Puck |
The bolt of Cupid fell, it fell upon a little western flower. Before milk-white, now purple with love’s wound. And maidens call it “love-in-idleness” (meaning) | He is describing the love flower that he was to drug everyone with |
A stranger Pyramus than e’er played here (who to who) | Puck |
A stranger Pyramus than e’er played here (meaning) | Puck planning his prank |
Out of this wood do not desire to go. Thou shalt remain here whether thou wilt or no (who to who) | Titania to Bottom |
Out of this wood do not desire to go. Thou shalt remain here whether thou wilt or no (meaning) | Titania showing dominance to Bottom and expressing her love |
This is the woman, but not this the man (who to who) | Puck to Oberon |
This is the woman, but not this the man (meaning) | Puck revealing his love flower mistake |
The sun was not so true unto the day as he to me (who to who) | Hermia to herself |
The sun was not so true unto the day as he to me (meaning) | Hermia talking about how Lysander is always true, even though he is with Helena |
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite, and laid the love juice on some true love’s sight (who to who) | Oberon to Puck |
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite, and laid the love juice on some true love’s sight (meaning) | Oberon angry at Puck’s love flower mistake |
Tis no jest that I do hate thee and love Helena (who to who) | Lysander to Helena and Hermia |
Tis no jest that I do hate thee and love Helena (meaning) | Lysander breaking Hermia’s heart and loving Helena |
When they next wake, all this derision shall seem a dream and fruitless vision (who to who) | Oberon to Puck |
When they next wake, all this derision shall seem a dream and fruitless vision (meaning) | Oberon explaining the plan to fix the love juice problem |
Her dotage now I do begin to pity– then did ask of her changeling child, which straight she gave me (who to who) | Oberon to Puck |
Her dotage now I do begin to pity– then did ask of her changeling child, which straight she gave me (meaning) | Oberon bragging that he took titanias kid |
For in the temple by and by with us, these couples shall eternally be knit (who to who) | Theseus to lovers |
For in the temple by and by with us, these couples shall eternally be knit (meaning) | Theseus saying that Lysander and Hermia and Demetrius and Helena shall marry the next day |
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact (who to who) | Theseus to lovers |
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact (meaning) | Theseus calling the lovers fools |
But all the story of the night told over, and all their minds transfigured so together (who to who) | Hippolyta to Theseus |
But all the story of the night told over, and all their minds transfigured so together (meaning) | Hippolyta disagreeing that the lovers are fools |
A tedious breif scene of young Pyramus and his love Thisbe. Very tragical mirth. (who to who) | Theseus to all |
A tedious breif scene of young Pyramus and his love Thisbe. Very tragical mirth. (meaning) | Theseus choosing the play |
No epilogue, I pray you, for your play needs no excuse (who to who) | Theseus to all |
No epilogue, I pray you, for your play needs no excuse (meaning) | Giving his final reaction to the play |
And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream (who to who) | Puck to himself |
And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream (meaning) | Puck repeating the theme of the show |
Midsummer Night Quotes
August 27, 2019