with the speech O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent To set against me for your merriment: If you we re civil and knew courtesy, You would not do me thus much injury. Can you not hate me, as I know you do, But you must join in souls to mock me too? If you were men, as men you are in show, You would not use a gentle lady so; To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, When I am sure you hate me with your hearts. You both are rivals, and love Hermia; And now both rivals, to mock Helena: A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes With your derision! none of noble sort Would so offend a virgin, and extort A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.
can somone explain what it all means, i think its about her saying stop taking the mic out of me, pretending that you are in love with me. i have a problem when performing this speech who is she addressing it to (talking to herself)? or actually talkin 2 Lysander&demetrius? how should i perform it plz
2007-11-08 20:19:45 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Since she believes that both men are in love with Hermia, she mistakes their advances as mockery. She is speaking to both the men.
2007-11-09 02:14:37 · answer #1 · answered by DramaGuy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you read the play right up to the scene in question, you will learn that Lysander and Demetrius are both fighting over her now, when only the day before, both men had been desperately in love with her friend Hermia. They both desperately love Helena now, as a result of a love-potion administered (by mistake in the case of Lysander) by Puck. Helena doesn't know about the love-potion, so she thinks the men must be mocking her.
She loves Demetrius, and had been throwing herself at him, only to have him spurn her time and time again---so it really stings her to believe that he's making fun of her now. She's mad at Lysander, too, but Demetrius is the one who has hurt her. The lines "can you not hate me, as I know you do" and "when I am sure you you hate me with your hearts" are undoubtedly aimed at Demetrius. That might help you to perform this speech.
2007-11-10 00:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by helene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we shadows have offended, think of yet this and all is mended: which you have yet slumbered right here whilst those visions did seem And this susceptible and idle subject not extra yielding yet a dream Gentles, do no longer reprehend in case you pardon, we are able to adult adult males's And as i'm an trouble-free %., If we've unearnèd success, Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue we are able to make amends ere long provide me your palms if we be buddies And Robin will restore amends
2016-11-10 21:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to read the entire play in order to understand the monologue.
2007-11-08 23:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by mamabee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have to read more of the play to under stand it.
2007-11-12 16:09:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋