O spite! O hell! (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Themes: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Classical, Comedy, Rejection, Shakespeare
Length: 1 Minute
Gender: Female

Helena, feeling rejected and mocked by Lysander and Demetrius, expresses her frustration and despair.

O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent to set against me for your merriment: if you were 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.