Favorite Quotes from Act I

I love A Midsummer Night's Dream so far, so I thought I would share my favorite quotes from the first Act.

Hermia:

By all the vows that ever men have broke
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.

(I, I, 175-178).

I thought that this quote was humorous, because I felt like Hermia was being a little bitter referencing all the vows that men have broken compared to the number that women have spoken. She is angry and frustrated with her father, and I think she is warning Lysander that their elopement is a very dangerous idea, and if he falls through with his promise, she will never forgive him.


Helena

O, were favor so,
Yours I would catch, fair Hermia, ere I go.
My ear should catch your voice. My eye, your eye.
My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The rest I'd give to be to you translated.
Oh, teach me how you look and with what art
You saw the motion of Demetrius' heart.

(I, I, 186-193).

I can just feel Helena's desperation jumping off the page. All she wants is for Demetrius to love her, and she feels that she needs to be just like Hermia for him to love her. I feel sorry for her. I think she is the character in the play that exemplifies the frustration of teenage love and experiences. I also feel that she is the most "human."