A Midsummer Night’s Dream Group

Question:

tessina
tessina
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What does the following quote from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" mean?

now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour / draws, on apace

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Posted by tessina on Sunday November 30, 2008 at 10:37 PM and tagged with a midsummer night’s dream, meaning, midsummer nights dream, quote.

Answers:

  1. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    "A Midsummer Night's Dream" opens with Theseus telling his fiancee, Hipployta, that they are to wed each other at the new moon which will be in four days.  However, Theseus expresses his eagerness for the wedding:  "...how slow this old moon wanes!"

    This erotic anticipation of their nuptials on the part of the aristocracy sets the tone for the other characters in the play.  In fact, some critics interpret the play as a fulfillment of Theseus's "dream" stated in this first line, with Oberon and Titania as doubles for him and Hipployta.  Afterall, the two aristocrats reappear only at the end of the play.

    For more on this idea, see previous questions on this play and one cited below

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer-nights-dream/act-one
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer-nights-dream/q-and-q/comm...

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    Posted by mwestwood on Sunday November 30, 2008 at 11:02 PM