A Midsummer Night's Dream

Introduction

A Midsummer Night's Dream, first performed in 1595 and then published in 1600, is one of William Shakespeare's best-loved plays and remains popular. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a Fantasy drama which was depicted in Athens and a nearby wood. William Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream includes four interwoven plots: the two sets of lovers who flee into the woods, the upcoming nuptials of Theseus and Hippolyta, the battle of the sexes between Oberon and Titania, and the play rehearsals and performance by the “rude mechanicals.” The four plots merge in the last two acts as the four lovers pair off (Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius) and join the newlyweds Theseus and Hippolyta in the viewing of the tragedy Pyramus and Thisby. Shakespeare's comedy concludes with the joining of these three couples, as well as with the reconciliation of the fourth, Oberon and Titania.

Thesis Statement

Unlike many problem plays “A Midsummer Night's Dream” ends with perfect order and three marriages that promise to be blissful.

Discussion

Shakespeare's comedies, like those of most Renaissance playwrights, involve love and its obstacles. Much of the comedy in A Midsummer Night's Dream derives from the attempt of Lysander and Hermia to remain together while overcoming the “blocking figure” (the adult authority figure who attempts to hinder the love of a young couple). The overcoming of an obstacle (in this case, Egeus) functions as a common motif in Renaissance comedy. The audience must wonder, however, whether Lysander and Hermia, as well as Demetrius and Helena, actually love each other. While it is the love potion that alters the objects of the men's affections, one may interpret the juice as a metaphor for lovers' inconstancy. The juice only contains magic because the male lovers do not possess a fervent and true love. It is significant that Lysander and Demetrius change their minds about whom they love, but Hermia and Helena never waver; perhaps Shakespeare correlates faithfulness with gender. (Pennington, 75)

Audience members generally support the relationship between Lysander and Hermia — partly because her father does not. They are struck by his indifference to his daughter's happiness: He prefers that she die rather than be happy with a man of whom he does not approve. Egeus, furthermore, provides no reason to Theseus as to why he does not support Lysander; it is as if he disapproves for arbitrary reasons — merely to exert ...