Act 1, Sc. iv

The whole speech is based on pagan Celtic mythology. Mercutio’s speech is laced with sexual innuendo. The words “queen” and “mab” refer to whores in Elizabethan England. Queen Mab seems like a a whimsical and playful fairy-like crature. In reality she is a creature , who punishes "unchaste" ladies by blistering their lips and making knots in their hair and their sores leak fluid.