Drama Quote by William Shakespeare
““There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisby that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that? SNOUT By'r lakin, a parlous fear. STARVELING I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done. BOTTOM Not a whit: I have a device to make all well. Write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed; and, for the more better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver: this will put them out of fear. QUINCE Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written in eight and six. BOTTOM No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight.””
About This Quote
Source Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1595
Characters devise a prologue to avoid audience distress over a staged death, using deception to maintain comedic tone.
In simple terms: They create a false narrative to keep the audience comfortable.
Key Takeaway
Use framing to manage expectations.
Themes
theatre
deception
audience management
Mood
playful
strategic
Type
dramatic
meta‑theatrical
When to use this quote
- stage productions
- scriptwriting
- audience engagement
Key Concepts
dramatic irony
meta‑theatre
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing alter audience perception?
- When is deception acceptable in art?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on deception may undermine authenticity.
![“I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit in, and raise it to another level if I can. And this [Code Black ] has been another one of those really fun success stories, much like Parks And Recreation, although obviously…” quote by Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea3/rob-lowe-855_black_i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-th_6557.jpg)
