--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain…" description: "\"Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear As morning roses newly wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/william-shakespeare-4_antithesis_say-she-rail-why-i-ll-tell-her-plain-she_1531019.jpg" --- # Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain She sings as… ![“Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear As morning roses newly wash'd with dew. Say she be mute and will not speak a word; Then I'll commend her volubility, and say she uttereth piercing eloquence.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/william-shakespeare-4_antithesis_say-she-rail-why-i-ll-tell-her-plain-she_1531019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/william-shakespeare-4_antithesis_say-she-rail-why-i-ll-tell-her-plain-she_1531019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/william-shakespeare-4_antithesis_say-she-rail-why-i-ll-tell-her-plain-she_1531019.jpg) > “Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear As morning roses newly wash'd with dew. Say she be mute and will not speak a word; Then I'll commend her volubility, and say she uttereth piercing eloquence.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker uses sarcasm to praise a woman's silence by claiming it is more eloquent than speech, highlighting the irony of praising the opposite of what is said. **In simple terms:** Sarcasm praises silence as eloquence. Key Takeaway Recognize irony in praise. Themes irony language communication gender sarcasm Mood playful critical Type literary humorous When to use this quote - theatre performance - literary analysis - writing workshops - social critique - education Key Concepts rhetoric literary devices social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does sarcasm affect perception? - When is irony an effective tool? 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