Expense Quote by William Shakespeare
““I will go tell him of Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow night Pursue her; and for this intelligence If I have thanks, it is a dear expense: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again.””
About This Quote
A character plans to inform another about Hermia's escape, intending to track her through the forest and thereby intensify his own emotional suffering by witnessing her movements.
In simple terms: Informing about a lover's flight to deepen personal anguish.
Key Takeaway
Self-inflicted emotional torment through surveillance.
Themes
love
betrayal
jealousy
suffering
revenge
Mood
melancholic
tense
brooding
Type
dramatic
poetic
When to use this quote
- confessing a secret to a rival
- following a lover into danger
- using information as emotional leverage
Key Concepts
communication
emotional manipulation
pursuit
Practical Applications
- dramatic storytelling
- character development
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about the character's relationship with pain?
- How does the act of informing serve his own emotional needs?
