Quotes (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

This section explains the key quotes in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a fantastical comedy that explores themes of love, transformation, magic, and social order. Below are key quotes from the play, with explanations to help you in your exam revision.

 “The course of true love never did run smooth.” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lysander)

Lysander speaks this to Hermia when they are planning to flee together. This line encapsulates one of the play's major themes: the difficulties and challenges of love. It reminds the audience that love is often fraught with obstacles, which is a central tension throughout the play.

 “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.” (Act 1, Scene 1, Helena)

Helena laments the fact that Demetrius does not love her, while Hermia, who is less beautiful in Helena's view, has won his heart. This quote reflects the irrational nature of love, suggesting that love is governed by inner emotions rather than outward appearances.

 “I am that merry wanderer of the night.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Puck)

Puck introduces himself as a mischievous sprite. His playful, chaotic personality drives much of the plot's confusion and magical mischief. This quote gives insight into his role as a prankster and agent of chaos.

 “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” (Act 3, Scene 2, Puck)

Puck marvels at the foolishness of humans as he observes the tangled love lives of the Athenian lovers. This line highlights the comedic nature of the play, as the audience sees how absurd the characters' actions and emotions have become under the influence of magic.

 “I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Oberon)

Oberon describes a beautiful, enchanted place where Titania will be put under the spell of the love potion. This quote creates a sense of wonder and fantasy, painting a vivid picture of the magical forest where much of the play takes place.

 “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Oberon)

Oberon addresses Titania with a mixture of love and bitterness. The phrase suggests that their meeting is inauspicious and signals the tension between the fairy king and queen, who are in conflict over a changeling child. It introduces their strained relationship.

 “I’ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, To die upon the hand I love so well.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Helena)

Helena speaks of her unrequited love for Demetrius. She is willing to suffer and follow him even though he does not love her back. This quote demonstrates her obsession and the extreme lengths she is willing to go for love.

 “Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell: It fell upon a little western flower.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Oberon)

Oberon describes the origins of the love potion he will use to manipulate the lovers and Titania. The idea of love being controlled by magic introduces the theme of manipulation and illusion in relationships.

 “What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” (Act 3, Scene 1, Titania)

Titania wakes up under the influence of the love potion and falls in love with Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey. This line emphasises the absurdity of the situation and highlights the theme of love’s irrationality and blindness.

 “Methought I was enamour’d of an ass.” (Act 4, Scene 1, Titania)

Titania, after being released from the love potion’s effects, reflects on the ridiculousness of her enchantment with Bottom. It serves as a moment of comic relief, while also underscoring the foolishness of love and the effects of illusion.

 “I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.” (Act 4, Scene 1, Bottom)

Bottom’s reflection on his transformation and experiences with Titania is filled with irony. He doesn’t fully understand the magical events that have taken place, and his confusion adds to the play's humour. The dream-like quality of the play is also mirrored in this line.

 “O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, You thief of love!” (Act 3, Scene 2, Hermia)

Hermia accuses Helena of stealing Lysander’s love, not knowing that his affection is due to a magic potion. This moment captures the chaotic nature of the lovers' misunderstandings and also shows how quickly love can turn into anger.

 “My Oberon! What visions have I seen! Methought I was enamour’d of an ass.” (Act 4, Scene 1, Titania)

Titania, like Bottom, is bewildered after waking from her enchantment. This quote again emphasises the play’s theme of love as a foolish and irrational force, as well as the magic that underpins much of the story's humour.

 “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, Are of imagination all compact.” (Act 5, Scene 1, Theseus)

Theseus comments on the power of imagination in shaping reality, suggesting that lovers, poets, and madmen all have in common an altered perception of the world. This quote reflects a key theme of the play: the fine line between illusion and reality.

 “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Helena)

Helena describes Hermia as small but formidable. This quote often highlights Hermia's fiery personality and determination, showing that appearances can be deceiving.

 “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended.” (Act 5, Scene 1, Puck)

Puck delivers this line at the end of the play, asking the audience for forgiveness if the play has offended them. It plays with the idea of the play being a dream, and Puck offers a light-hearted resolution to the chaos.

 “So quick bright things come to confusion.” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lysander)

Lysander reflects on how fleeting happiness and love can be, acknowledging the rapid changes in emotions and circumstances. This line foreshadows the chaotic and confusing events that unfold during the play.

 “The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen.” (Act 4, Scene 1, Bottom)

Bottom speaks in a comically muddled way after his strange experiences. This quote shows his confusion but also reflects the play’s theme of the limits of human perception and understanding.

 “Not Hermia, but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove?” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lysander)

Under the influence of the love potion, Lysander suddenly loves Helena instead of Hermia. This quote highlights the absurdity and instability of romantic relationships in the play, showing how easily affection can shift.

 “The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye; And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.” (Act 3, Scene 1, Titania)

Titania describes the melancholy of the natural world, which mirrors the emotional conflicts between her and Oberon. This personification of nature emphasises the play's connection between human emotions and the magical world of the forest.

Conclusion

These quotes provide insight into the themes, characters, and dramatic structure of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Themes of love, magic, illusion, and transformation are intertwined throughout, and Shakespeare uses both comic and poetic elements to explore these ideas. Understanding these key quotes will help in analysing the play's meaning and dramatic effect.