Quince's Prologue

In Act V, Scene I, Lines 113 – 122, Quince recites the opening prologue of the play of Pyramus and Thisbe. This prologue is an example of a particularly clever use of words and punctuation by William Shakespeare. Quince recites the introduction using the wrong punctuation, pausing in incorrect places and beginning and ending sentences in a different way than the play’s author had intended. The prologue has the complete opposite meaning than otherwise intended, as a result of the use of varying punctuation. Theseus’s comment on Quince’s lack of attention to punctuation draws attention to the passage’s brilliance. Quince’s version of the introduction is offensive and rude, and says that the upcoming show is meant to be offensive, will end in its actors’ execution, and that the play does not entertain. The passage should really stress that the play should not offend others, but instead show off the actors’ skills, and delight its audience. It is a fantastic job by Shakespeare to have written a passage that when read with different punctuation can have the completely opposite meaning.