A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61 (Sung in English): Act II Scene 2: What thou seest, when thou dost wake (Oberon, Puck) by David Timson, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Gunnar Cauthery, Tom Mison, Anne
Puck claims it was an honest mistake, but he's enjoying himself anyway. My legs can keep no pace with my desires. She calls her "a thief of love" 3. Shall we their fond pageant see? Lord, these humans are idiots! DEMETRIUS Abide me, if thou darest; for well I wot Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place, And darest not stand, nor look me in the face. To correct the situation, Oberon sends Puck in search of Helena and then squeezes the magic potion into the cold-hearted Demetrius' eyes. OBERON But we are spirits of another sort: I with the morning's love have oft made sport, And, like a forester, the groves may tread, Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red, Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams. You know I know it.
Exit OBERON Flower of this purple dye, Hit with Cupid's archery, Sink in apple of his eye. Hermia Are you leaving it behind with Lysander? Analysis Shakespeare's parody of love reaches its peak in this scene. HERMIA 225 I am amazèd at your words. How now, mad spirit? Helena takes this as a deliberate insult and concludes that Hermia has joined the men in belittling her. I never did anything to hurt you—other than, out of love for Demetrius, telling him about your plan to sneak into this forest.
No Fear Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Act 3 Scene 2
Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, A crew of patches, rude mechanicals That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, Were met together to rehearse a play Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day. LYSANDER Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena. Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? But in this instance, Hermia mistakes the snake; Demetrius has not killed Lysander, but her heart will soon be pierced with an even greater shock. Robin Puck Queen Titania has fallen in love with a monster. ROBIN Yet but three? But, that being said, hurry up. Hermia Your strong words confuse me.
Then everything will be at peace. LYSANDER Away, you Ethiope! DEMETRIUS I say I love thee more than he can do. When I make my vows to you, I cry. Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Why would he say that to a girl he hates? Re-enter HERMIA HERMIA Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, The ear more quick of apprehension makes; Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, It pays the hearing double recompense. Would he have stolen away From sleeping Hermia? The man will have his horse again, and all will be well. HELENA Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks, Make mouths upon me when I turn my back; Wink each at other; hold the sweet jest up: This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. Let me kiss this, pure, white hand as a seal of our engagement.
Though the man does not have elephant feet in place of his own, a reader would understand that the man's feet are large. Exeunt Re-enter LYSANDER LYSANDER He goes before me and still dares me on: When I come where he calls, then he is gone. I wihs eth mocrfiontg tglih of yad uldow sehin so I cna go acbk to hsntAe dna etg ywaa ofmr ehest eopepl who teah me so cmuh. He has been in love with Hermia, as far as she knows, since he came to Athens so that Egeus could have Theseus force Hermia to marry him rather than face a nunnery or death. Act 5 Our last set of metaphors and similes comes in an emotional speech during Act 5.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Original Text: Act 3, Scene 2
Did you run away? She continues her speech using the poorly chosen simile ''his eyes were green as leeks'' to connect his eyes with the vegetable leeks. She was a vixen when she went to school; And though she be but little, she is fierce. Exit DEMETRIUS There is no following her in this fierce vein: Here therefore for a while I will remain. So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet an union in partition, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem; So with two seeming bodies, but one heart, Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. The damned souls of all those who committed suicide , buried at crossroads or at the bottom of a river, have already returned to their wormy graves. Sleeps Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS PUCK Ho, ho, ho! PUCK I go, I go; look how I go, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Lysander Hermia has let go of me. Oberon But we are spirits of another sort. If you have any pity, grace, or manners, You would not make me such an argument. It cannot be but thou hast murdered him. Analysis One of Love's Labor's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night also all rely on the audience knowing that characters are sneaking behind each other's backs. Are you going to ditch her? To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Hermia, incensed and devastated, pursues Helena.
Similarly, he blames Cupid, rather than himself, for making "poor females mad" 441. HELENA eils odwn nad pessle ROBIN epleS ellw tehre on hte rdnogu. And made your other love, Demetrius Who even but now did spurn me with his foot , To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare, Precious, celestial? His playful side is also emphasized here. HELENA 460 O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy hours! Lord, what fools these mortals be! Neptune: god of the sea. When they wake, all this mockery and fighting will seem like a dream or an insignificant hallucination.
