You are here

“play it in a mask”
Cultural Context
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 41-44

An explanation of Quince and Flute’s discussion of Flute’s beard in Act 1, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Flute

Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a
beard coming.

Quince

That's all one. You shall play it in a mask, and
you may speak as small as you will.

There were no female actors in the Elizabethan period, so young boys played the female roles. Quince is saying that Flute's playing a woman won't pose a problem even though he’s starting to grow a beard because his character will hold a dainty mask in front of her face, something upper class ladies did when out in public to protect their privacy.