Helena’s Monologue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 3, Scene 2: "Lo, she is one of this confederacy!"

Synopsis

Helena laments what she perceives as a betrayal by her lifelong friend Hermia. Misunderstanding the magical chaos around her, Helena believes Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius have conspired to mock her by pretending to love her. This monologue explores Helena’s feelings of deep hurt, betrayal, and confusion, as well as her longing for the lost innocence and closeness of her friendship with Hermia.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Under the influence of Puck’s magical meddling, both Lysander and Demetrius profess their love for Helena, abandoning their affections for Hermia. Helena, convinced this sudden attention is a cruel joke, accuses them of mockery. When Hermia arrives, Helena assumes she is part of the conspiracy, igniting this emotional outburst.

Original Text

"Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia! Most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspired, have you with these contriv’d,
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us – O, is all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices and minds,
Had been incorporate. So we grew together
Like a double cherry, seeming parted
But yet an union in partition,
Two lovely berries moulded the one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart;
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly;
Our sex as well as I may chide you for it,
Though I alone do feel the injury."

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

"Look, she’s part of this conspiracy!
Now I see all three of them have teamed up
To create this cruel prank to humiliate me.
Unfair Hermia! Ungrateful girl!
Have you plotted with these men
To mock me with this horrible ridicule?
Have you forgotten all the advice we shared,
The sisterly promises, the hours we spent together
Complaining about time moving too fast
And separating us? Have you forgotten it all?
All the memories of our school days and childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, were like two artists,
Sewing one flower with our needles,
Both working on the same embroidery, sitting side by side,
Singing the same song in perfect harmony,
As if we shared the same hands, sides, voices, and minds.
We were like two halves of a single cherry,
Looking separate but actually joined,
Two beautiful berries growing on the same stem;
Two bodies but sharing one heart.
Like identical coats of arms sharing one crest.
And now you’re going to tear our friendship apart
Just to join with men in mocking your poor friend?
That’s neither kind nor ladylike.
Women everywhere would scold you for it,
Though I alone feel the pain of this betrayal."

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Confederacy: A secret alliance or conspiracy.

  • Fashion this false sport: Create this cruel joke.

  • Injurious: Hurtful or unfair.

  • Contriv’d: Plotted or schemed.

  • Bait: Torment or mock.

  • Chid: Rebuked or scolded.

  • Artificial gods: Creative, skillful beings.

  • Sampler: A piece of embroidery.

  • Warbling: Singing melodiously.

  • Incorporate: United or inseparable.

  • Double cherry: Two cherries growing from the same stem.

  • Coats in heraldry: Matching designs on family crests.

  • Rent asunder: Tear apart.

  • Maidenly: Befitting a young woman.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing

  1. "Lo, she is one of this confederacy! Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three To fashion this false sport in spite of me."

  2. "Injurious Hermia! Most ungrateful maid! Have you conspired, have you with these contriv’d, To bait me with this foul derision?"

  3. "Is all the counsel that we two have shared, The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent When we have chid the hasty-footed time For parting us – O, is all forgot?"

  4. "All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence? We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, Have with our needles created both one flower, Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion..."

  5. "And will you rent our ancient love asunder To join with men in scorning your poor friend?"

  6. "It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly; Our sex as well as I may chide you for it, Though I alone do feel the injury."

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Helena identifies Hermia as part of a conspiracy, immediately raising the emotional stakes.

  • Turning Point: She recalls their deep bond and shared experiences, contrasting it with the present betrayal.

  • Climax: The imagery of their inseparable friendship—the double cherry, the united hearts—intensifies the sense of loss and betrayal.

  • Resolution: Helena appeals to Hermia’s sense of loyalty and morality, asserting the pain of her solitude in feeling betrayed.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Samantha Morton (National Theatre, 1992)

  • Calista Flockhart (Film, 1999)

  • Eleanor Bron (BBC Television, 1968)

  • Michelle Terry (Globe Theatre, 2013)

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