A Midsummer Night's Dream · Act I, Scene I
William Shakespeare
Love in Shakespeare's time was often a transaction, not the thrilling pursuit we imagine today. Marriages were arranged for power, wealth, or status, leaving little room for genuine affection. In this line, Shakespeare captures the inevitable turbulence when true love dares to defy these social constraints. The play dances through dreams and reality, yet the obstacles of love remain concrete and persistent.