...A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare is complied of many different themes including love, marriage, and jealousy. Desire is one theme that sticks out to the most. Desire is known to be a feeling of great want or need of someone or something. In A Midsummer Nights Dream various scenes in the play exhibit strong roles of desire. The quarrel of the four lovers, the issue of the changeling boy and the strength of the love potion are all parts of this play where desire played a role. The situation of the Changeling Boy is a great example of desire being displayed in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Titania took the boy as her personal helper and ended up in a quarrel with her husband Oberon because he desired the boy as well. However, Titania...
Words: 498 - Pages: 2
...uniting in either a marriage of a party. Although these two genres are seen as being complete opposites of each other, through further analysis one can gather that though they are different certain similarities can also be seen. One aspect of these genres that can be compared and contrasted is the narrative or plot. A comparison can be analyzed in that both begin with a problem. In Oedipus Rex, the play begins with a plague devastating the city of Thebes. In A Midsummer Night's Dream there is also a plague that is upon the land. However, a difference between these two beginnings is that in Oedipus Rex the citizen are effected by it to the point that they look towards Oedipus for a solution to their suffering; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the effects of the plague are never shown to the audience and it seems a minor detail. Another difference is the cause of the plague in the two plays. In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, the hero ends up being the cause because he murdered the king; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream the cause is a fight between Titania and Oberon. Another point that can be compared and contrasted is the search for a solution in the plots. In Hamlet, Hamlet is searching for the truth to discover if his father was really murdered by his uncle and if this is true he must correct the situation by killing his uncle. Also, in Oedipus Rex this plot is seen in that Oedipus is searching for the truth about the...
Words: 1046 - Pages: 5
...uniting in either a marriage of a party. Although these two genres are seen as being complete opposites of each other, through further analysis one can gather that though they are different certain similarities can also be seen. One aspect of these genres that can be compared and contrasted is the narrative or plot. A comparison can be analyzed in that both begin with a problem. In Oedipus Rex, the play begins with a plague devastating the city of Thebes. In A Midsummer Night's Dream there is also a plague that is upon the land. However, a difference between these two beginnings is that in Oedipus Rex the citizen are effected by it to the point that they look towards Oedipus for a solution to their suffering; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the effects of the plague are never shown to the audience and it seems a minor detail. Another difference is the cause of the plague in the two plays. In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, the hero ends up being the cause because he murdered the king; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream the cause is a fight between Titania and Oberon. Another point that can be compared and contrasted is the search for a solution in the plots. In Hamlet, Hamlet is searching for the truth to discover if his father was really murdered by his uncle and if this is true he must correct the situation by killing his uncle. Also, in Oedipus Rex this plot is seen in that Oedipus is searching for the truth about...
Words: 1063 - Pages: 5
...is hard to confirm, that we can understand the title of A Midsummer Night's Dream in context of the play's events if we know that the Elizabethans still only recognized three seasons of the year. The three seasons were autumn, winter, and summer. The Elizabethans also still used the Julian Calendar, which placed the new year as starting in March, with New Year's Day on March 25th. Hence, according to some critics, the new year began in March, which was summer, although that is hard to confirm. If summer begins in March then May Day, or May 1st is certainly in midsummer as Shakespeare knew it. We know that the play centers around May Day because when the lovers awake in the forest and are found by Theseus and Egeus, Theseus observes that the couples must be in the forest at dawn "to observe The rite of May". Critics also observe that May Day was often celebrated in the Elizabethan era at sunrise with an opening ceremony of singing . Hence, we see, that according to some critics, the play is set beginning on the eve of May 1st and continues through to May Day, which was indeed considered to be midsummer. Therefore, the title A Midsummer Night's Dream is completely fitting. The title of one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is an allusion to the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), around June 23, but in fact the play is set in May. Still, the holiday of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is appropriate since this day was associated with magic (herbs...
Words: 377 - Pages: 2
...uniting in either a marriage of a party. Although these two genres are seen as being complete opposites of each other, through further analysis one can gather that though they are different certain similarities can also be seen. One aspect of these genres that can be compared and contrasted is the narrative or plot. A comparison can be analyzed in that both begin with a problem. In Oedipus Rex, the play begins with a plague devastating the city of Thebes. In A Midsummer Night's Dream there is also a plague that is upon the land. However, a difference between these two beginnings is that in Oedipus Rex the citizen are effected by it to the point that they look towards Oedipus for a solution to their suffering; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the effects of the plague are never shown to the audience and it seems a minor detail. Another difference is the cause of the plague in the two plays. In the tragedy, Oedipus Rex, the hero ends up being the cause because he murdered the king; while in A Midsummer Night's Dream the cause is a fight between Titania and Oberon. Another point that can be compared and contrasted is the search for a solution in the plots. In Hamlet, Hamlet is searching for the truth to discover if his father was really murdered by his uncle and if this is true he must correct the situation by killing his uncle. Also, in Oedipus Rex this plot...
Words: 655 - Pages: 3
...Antithesis in A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's, there are a lot of themes that are evident. Some of these themes included order, disorder, reality, dream, harmony, enmity, amity, harmony, and dissonance are just to name a few. Normally, none of these themes would even be present at the same time because of their contrasting nature and the fact that they are complete opposites. However, the fact that not only are these themes present at the same time, but they even interact with one another inside of the play to create events within the play is the epitome of antithesis. Shakespeare even includes character antitheses that intertwine with the themes. Furthermore, in A Midsummer Night's Dream the main overshadowing theme is the concept of antithesis because the fact that all of the themes present in the play have opposites that can be clearly be seen and the fact that Shakespeare places next to each other in contrasting beauty show antithesis. In this play, none of these themes would exist without their opposites. Initially, one of the examples of antithesis, and probably the most prevalent, in A Midsummer Night's Dream is the theme of disorder and its companion order. Disorder is a dominant theme in this play because it is seen on nearly every page and in many aspects of the play. In most cases, the disorder is cause by the fairies. These fairies are part of the dream world that actually controls the real world. One of the main fairies that...
Words: 585 - Pages: 3
...and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare are highly evocative pieces of theatre that have transcended the category of brilliance and have had a profound effect on the course of Western literature and culture. Both plays explore a broad range of themes, from the supernatural to comments on the power of religion in society. However, I have chosen to explore the ways in which they portray the theme of gender. Firstly I will examine the issues regarding gender in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in particular the oppression of the female characters. I will explore Shakespeare’s portrayal of Titania and Hermia and his ability to disguise the deeper feminist consciousness that is at work. I will then look at the way in which gender is presented in Miller’s The Crucible, ranging from the heroic depiction of John Proctor to the oppositional presentations of Abigail and Elizabeth. William Shakespeare is a famously suggestive author in terms of highlighting issues regarding gender ideology. Although in some works, such as Othello, he reflects and arguably supports the stereotyping of men and women, he is also seen to challenge such representations. A Midsummer Night’s Dream dramatizes tensions between genders, from a young woman quarrelling with her father for the right to choose her own husband, to Theseus marrying Hippolyta whom he conquered through violence and even a bitter battle between Oberon and Titania which affects the order of the natural world. A Midsummer Night’s Dream...
Words: 2021 - Pages: 9
...in a midsummer night's dream women are portrayed as characters that will do almost anything for love, even when they are not under a spell. the women characters in this play are shown to be very gullible, and are all greatly effected by the love spell. women are manipulated a lot in this play. friendships built upon more solid foundations crumble when attacked by the artillery of petty jealousies or when undermined by misunderstandings, which creates a complicated portrayal of women and their relationships with one another that cannot be understood in one specific way. Shakespeare wanted to convey regarding the nature of female passions and affections, not only as they affected women, but also as they impacted women’s relationships with men. The friendships and relationships of women in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare are important to the plot and even the general structure of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare. One of the most interesting representations of the friendships of women in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare can be seen in the conflict between Titania and her husband, Oberon. This is occasioned by the fact that both the wife and the husband want to retain possession of a young Indian boy who has been placed in Titania’s care. Titania does not want to give up the boy because she has, as she states in one of the important quotes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare, “never had so sweet a changeling” (II.i.23); for this reason, she...
Words: 1481 - Pages: 6
...Why did Shakespeare include uneducated commoners into a serious play on love? To this day many still doubt why Shakespeare added the mechanicals to the play—especially to perform Pyramus and Thisbe, a serious play. However, the prolific Shakespeare had a ingenious purpose for the addition of the mechanicals. First, the mechanicals add a comedic value to the entire play. Also, with the addition of the mechanicals, the play engages a wide spectrum of audience from nobility to low-class labourers. Finally, the mechanicals help to support the theme of the humankind’s foolishness. Thus. the mechanicals prove that sometimes the most underappreciated characters contribute a lot to the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One of the most important purposes...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
...In the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare, there are many aspects of love. Many characters present a dark feeling of love towards others. Helena believes her friendship with Hermia has changed ever since men have entered their lives. Helena reacts to this adjustment in her life with jealousy. Theseus shows his love for Hippolyta in a more manly way rather than romantically. He believes in the more dominant type of love, where man overpowers woman. Egeus, Hermia’s father, is an ignorant man. He does not care for his daughter’s happiness with Lysander but for his own well-being. Shakespeare approaches the concept of love in a negative way. Helena and Hermia are best friends but ever since men have made an impact in their lives, Helena has been left out. She believes her friendship with Hermia has taken a turn for the worst. She feels jealous because she wants to be like Hermia, she wants to be loved by Demetrius and have the characteristics that he loves about her. She misses her simple friendship with Hermia, “So we grow together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet a union in partition, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem; So with two seeming bodies, but one heart;” (III.ii.208-212) Helena explains how close she used to be with Hermia. They have branched apart and wish she could be like her because men like her and she is beautiful. This represents the fact that when a relationship is put between friends the love in the middle of the friendship can...
Words: 633 - Pages: 3
...Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Two protagonists, Hermia and Lysander, enamored of each other with an almost cloyingly forbidden love, seek escape from persecution and treachery meant to rob them of their certain amorous connection. Standing resolute, the king of Athens, Egeus, would rather smite down his daughter, Hermia, than permit her to stray from the path he ordained her to follow. She's presented with three choices, the most agreeable "to protest [for] aye austerity and single life" as a nun (Shakespeare). Otherwise, she's faced with death, as her father would rather maintain his own authority and reputation than allow the happiness of his daughter. While it is important to uphold a high degree of order, is not the grief that would come about if she were "to die [for] disobedience to [her] father's will" less agreeable than the "disobedience" in itself (Shakespeare)? Egeus would rather appear dignified to the public and have his daughter killed than allow her the love she longs for. Such ulterior motives, ulterior sins, such as pride and greed exist in the world today and cause major corporations and celebrities alike to prefer the easy ways out in pursuit of money and stardom. Instead of addressing change head-on, those with power hide from it and ruin lives from their sanctuaries of bureaucracy. They fight modifications to their contentedness by proxy, or not at all. Intriguingly, the setting of A Midsummer Night's Dream also conveys the...
Words: 1002 - Pages: 5
...6/14/14 05 A Midsummer Night's Dream. Love can be known to be crazy and complicated. love has many different aspects to it and it can be understood to be magical and a beautiful thing, as well as vise versa. love is known to have many powers and Shakespeare is very interested in both magic itself and love. These two things in A Midsummer Night's Dream are greatly connected. This is why I think that the magical and surreal world Shakespeare creates in his play, reflects the almost supernatural power of love. The things that he creates within his text to embody this are the love potion, the "dreams", the double worlds, and the forests. the love potion and magic itself that are woven within the play makes some characters feel love drunk, confused, or under the influence. the first example of this is when Demetrius thinks he's in love with Helena while under the potions powers, when you can tell from the beginning of the play he really is not. "O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what my love shall I compare thine eyne." (3.2.137-138) This piece of text evidence shows exactly the powers of this plant. The potion on Demetrius makes him think that he is in love with Helena, but he doesn't realize that he is under the influence of this potion, leaving him confused and not sure of his real feelings for Hermia. Another thing that involves the love potion and reflects the actions of being drunk is when Oberon orders puck to put the love potion onto Tatania's...
Words: 1330 - Pages: 6
...Name: Instructor: Course: Date: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Love & Madness) The theme of love has always been the main subject when it comes to Shakespeare. The play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is no exception. The multiple love triangles in this play have enhanced the manner in which the theme of love can be perceived in this case. Love has been presented as a form of insanity where people opt to do crazy things all in the name of love. The characters in the play are involved in different acts of love that portray the idea of madness. As a result of this, love has been shown as a form of madness brought about by the actions of those in love. A quote from the play states “Lovers and madmen have such seething brains; such shaping fantasies, that apprehend more than cool reason ever comprehends.” This goes to prove the insanity evident in love. This argument brings about a different comprehension to the works of Shakespeare. This is evident from the notion of insanity applied to the interpretation of love; thus making love to look like something different other than the desire and passion intended by the author. While the story revolves around love, we are introduced to different acts of love that the different characters are involved in. The major story of love is portrayed by Theseus and Hyppolita. The different love triangles among the other characters such as Hermia, Helena, Lysander and Demetrius also portray the notion that love has been represented as a form...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...love in the end. In the Renaissance era romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare uses the motif of sleep to reveal the importance of love, even though love often seems insane. People everywhere, every day, endure the struggle and heartbreak of love. Love tends to seem crazy and unreasonable to most people, no matter how young or old, whether it serves as the first time or the tenth. Often, in the play, A Midsummer...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...‘As men prove their weakness, they demonstrate their power.’ The male characters in a midsummer night’s dream are depicted as ones, who are given authority; however the female characters in the play aren’t submissive to them and they seem to have very little power over them. Oberon has power through aristocracy and his marriage with Tatiana who is queen of the fairies. He is initially at odds with his wife, because she refuses to relinquish control of a young Indian prince whom he wants for a knight. Oberon’s desire for revenge on Tatiana leads him to send Puck to obtain the love-potion flower that creates so much of the play’s confusion and farce. We also know that Oberon and Titania have been clashing a lot and that their big "brawls" have been very destructive. Titania tells us that the fights have been so violent that they've disrupted the seasons and the weather, which has caused devastating winds, rain, and flooding. As a result, crops have been ruined and there's been a shortage of food for humans. As Titania admits, "this progeny of evils comes from our debate, from our dissension" (2.1.3). This shows that Oberon is equally as powerful as Titania, normally women were dominated by their husbands as a woman belongs to their father until they’re married ultimately becoming their husbands possession. Furthermore, the fact Titania is reluctant to gain control of an Indian prince and questions Oberon’s choices is an example of her independence rather than to follow him without...
Words: 656 - Pages: 3
