"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber’d here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend; if you pardon, we will mend; And, as I am an honest Puck If we have unearned luck Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue We will make amends ere long; So, goodnight unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends."
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
This quote means that the character speaking (Puck- played Neil in The Dead Poet's Society) is addressing the audience and saying that if the audience was offended in any way by the play, they should pretend it was but a dream. I think that in the original context, it meant for a kind of summary of the play, with it's dreamy atmosphere and magic and slumber and mix up, but in the context of the movie we watched, I think it was an apology from Neil to his father. Neil had disobeyed his father and when he saw his father at the theater, he spoke the words to him. He was saying that he can just forget about the acting and the disobedience, and can pretend it was a dream. He's asking for forgiveness in the "Gentles, do not reprehend; if you pardon, we will mend..." and so on.
RSS Feed