What does ''Lord what fools these mortals be'' mean?

These Words were spoken by Puck, a mischievous elf in Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (written about 1595) We take up the story in Act III, scene II. The characters in this scene: * Puck, mischievous elf, and Oberon, King of the Elves and Fairies, who all lead lives of frivolity and amusement. * Helena, a young woman. * Hermia, her friend, who loves Lysander. * Demetrius, who was once engaged to Helena * Lysander, a young man who loves Hermia The setting is in a wood. The elves are talking to each other. Puck has set up a trick (read play for details) to be played on Demetrius, to make him love Hermia. But Puck accidently makes Lysander fall in love with Helena! Demetrius and Hermia are walking in the forest and are arguing. It is evident that they have not fallen in love! Tired, they fall asleep on the forest floor. Puck, seeing an opportunity to put the original plan into effect, reports back Oberon, and Puck now tries to undo his mistake. Lysander and Helena now enter the scene and come to where Demetrius and Hermia are sleeping. Disturbed by the noise, Demetrius awakes, sees Helena and immediately falls in love with her, not Hermia! So both Lysander and Demetrius are now in love with Helena! Not quite what the elves had originally planned! And Hermia becomes jealous and also takes part in the arguments! But Puck is not unhappy about his mistakes, he sees them as the hand of fate, creating good spectator sport for the fairies to watch in delight! Puck and Oberon are playing with human emotions. So they sit back to enjoy what might ensue! They anticipate seeing deeply felt, but contradictory human feelings in action, together with all the accompanying mental and emotional conflicts and angst, and are thrilled by the prospects! It is as if a stage has been set before them, for their pleasure!

Watching to see what will happen, Puck says to Oberon, 'Shall we their fond pageant see?

'Lord, what fools these mortals be! Puck has said, in effect "Look, Lord Oberon, and notice, in the scenes that are about to take place down there, between these four persons, how silly short-lived humans really are to take such matters as love, affection and fidelity so seriously!" So what happens next? …As expected, all confusion and contention breaks out amongst the four 'lovers'! And an actual heated fight does indeed take place! It all gets quite deadly serious, in fact.

However, you will have to read the story yourself to see how this scenario and all the other plots and sub-plots unfold! (There are plays within a play in this one!) * For an analysis of the complete play, and further analysis of this famous quote, see Related links below.