Jul 24, 2008

A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Hippolyta (Character Analysis)

The play opens as Hippolyta and Theseus are discussing their upcoming marriage. Theseus comments that he

woo'd thee [Hippolyta] with my sword,
And won thy love doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.
(I.i.16-19)

Theseus is referring to the fact that he conquered Hippolyta in his war with the Amazons. Hippolyta's only lines in this act are in response to Theseus's comment that they will be wed in "Four happy days" (I.i.2). She says simply, in a few lines, that the time will pass quickly....