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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 1Scene 1
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“sway the motion”
Wordplay
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 186-193

An explanation of the wordplay in the phrase “sway the motion” in Act 1, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Helena

Sickness is catching. O, were favor so!
Your words I catch, fair Hermia. Ere I go,
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The rest I'd give to be to you translated.
O, teach me how you look, and with what art
You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

Helena plays on the words "sway" and "(e)motion":

  1. Hermia affects the "motion" of Demetrius' heart, causing it to "sway" back and forth.
  2. Hermia causes Demetrius' heart to have the emotion of love.