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It is an attempt to illustrate his contention that "dreamers often lie". Dreams, he says, do not come from reality but from a fairy influence. Where she touches you determines what you dream on: if on the lips, you dream of kissing, and so on. But he is of course tongue in cheek because he also has lovers dreaming of kissing, soldiers dreaming of fighting, lawyers dreaming of fees and so on. So he is also saying that everyone dreams about what they are most interested in. Your dream is not the truth about the world, it is the truth about you.
Of course the speech rather gets away from him because he a bit of a windbag.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Mercutio's speech about Queen Mab portrays him as imaginative, quick-witted, and cynical. It reveals his tendency to use fantasy and wit to cope with the harsh realities of life. His belief in the whimsical and mischievous nature of Queen Mab also hints at his skepticism towards traditional beliefs and superstitions.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoThis speech shows Mercutio's cynical and maveric nature. He does not value love or honour or dreams and through Queen Mab (quean and mab being Elizabethean words for prostitute) he mocks the value others place on dreams. mercutio's description of Queen Mab begins with a delightful image, which would appeal to children, yet he then goes on to show how all people dream of things merely to improve their own position. The references to the body show the physical realities of life as opposed to the ideals that Romeo and others hold high. This speech shows much about the firey spirit of Mercutio, but it also suggests a more brutal and realistic view of life, contrasting with the ideals of love.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoMercutio likes to hear himself talk. Romeo is troubled by a dream, but self-centred Mercutio does not even want to hear about it. Instead, he goes on and on and on about his fantasy of a fairy that makes people dream.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBasically, nothing. As Romeo says, "thou talkst of nothing". But basically the idea is that teeny little queen mab drives her chariot over you when you sleep and where she drives it affects what dreams you have.
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How does the impression that Mercutio creates of Queen Mab in his speech change over the course of his soliloquy?
In Mercutio's soliloquy about Queen Mab, he starts by presenting her as a whimsical and tiny fairy who influences people's dreams. However, as he continues, his depiction of Queen Mab becomes darker and more destructive, highlighting the potent and often negative impact she has on human nature and behavior. The shift from light-hearted to ominous tones in his speech reflects Mercutio's complex and sometimes contradictory view of the world.
Who was the fairies midwife in Romeo and Juliet?
Mercutio describes Queen Mab as the "fairies' midwife" in his famous Queen Mab Speech.
What is the significance of the queen mab speech?
The Queen Mab speech in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet showcases Mercutio's wit and imagination, while also foreshadowing the themes of dreams, desires, and fate that will unfold in the play. It adds depth to Mercutio's character and highlights his perspective on love and destiny. Ultimately, the speech serves to entertain the audience and provide insight into the complexity of human nature.
What is Shakespeare's point in the Queen Mab speech?
The Queen Mab Speech shows that Mercutio is imaginative, creative, quick-witted, and lively.
Who is the fairy that mercutio says romeo in dreams?
According to Mercutio, the fairy queen, Queen Mab, is a fairy mid-wife. She is responsible for causing dreams. Mercutio is a character from Romeo and Juliet.
Who wrote queen mab?
Queen Mab is the Queen of the fairies in a long speech delived by Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet. There may also be other works which have the name of this fairy as a title. But if you are thinking of the speech, it was written by William Shakespeare.
Who is Queen Mab in Romeo and Juilet?
She is the fairy queen. She doesn't have anything to do with the story aside from one speech.
In midsummer night's dream what is the queen of the fairies called?
In Mercutio's speech in Romeo and Juliet, it's Queen Mab. In A Midsummer Night's Dream it's Titania.
What are five metaphors in Mercutios Queen Mab speech (lines 53-94) in Scene iv.?
Queen Mab is compared to a midwife that delivers dreams to sleeping minds, showing her role in bringing forth fantastical thoughts. Mercutio describes Queen Mab as a tiny fairy that travels in a chariot made from a walnut shell, emphasizing her delicate and whimsical nature. Queen Mab is likened to a grain of barley that can influence people's actions and thoughts, highlighting her power to impact human behavior. The way Queen Mab tickles people's noses with a wagging feather suggests her ability to evoke both pleasant and unsettling sensations in dreams. She is compared to a courtier who can manipulate and influence people's desires through her magical touch, showcasing her role in shaping human aspirations and fantasies.
Why does mercutio deliver his Queen Mab speech?
To say romeo wont get unlucky, and wont have bad dreams.
What opinion of dreams is expressed in Mercutio's Queen Mab speech?
The idea is that a person's dreams are directed by fairies.
Is Queen Mab the queen of good dreams?
no queen mab is the evil queen that gave birth to the son that challenges sir authors kingdom and kills him in battle
