As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
Die for adultery! No: The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly does lecher in my sight
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote criticizes the triviality of infidelity and points out the ubiquitous nature of desire.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the idea that infidelity and sexual desire are natural occurrences, drawing an image of even the smallest creatures, like a wren or a fly, engaging in such acts. By stating 'Die for adultery!', he seems to mock the seriousness with which society treats infidelity, highlighting that it is a common human experience that transcends moral judgments.
Themes
InfidelityDesireAdulteryNatureLove
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about the nature of fidelity in relationships.
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