A Midsummer Night's Dream is set in Athens and revolves around the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. The comedy was written by William Shakespeare in 1595 or 1596. The title suggests an atmosphere of fantasy, whimsy, and imagination. In an interesting, the word “dream” only appears 14 times throughout the play and the only variation of it, “dreams,” appears just twice. It was first performed between 1595 and 1596. The play was written to celebrate the wedding of Elizabeth Carey. It expresses, "gender and power", "appearance and reality", "order and disorder", "dream and consciousness."
Thomas Fisher published the first quarto edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1600. He entered the play into the Register of the Stationers' Company on October 8, 1600. On the other hand, Arthur Rackham illustrated a limited edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1939. The play belongs to the author's early-middle period, a time when Shakespeare devoted primary attention to the lyricism of his works. A second quarto was printed in 1619 by William Jaggard, as part of his so-called False Folio.
At the inception of the play, Duke Theseus prepares for his marriage to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Egeus comes to the duke, and claims to Theseus that his daughter, Hermia, is denying the marriage with demitrius, because he loves a gentleman, Lysander. Regarding the context, the Duke asks Hermia to be obedient to her father then tells, "I beseech your Grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case
If I refuse to wed Demetrius." In Hermia's abdication, Duke offers her death or accept a celibate life as a nun in Diana's temple. On the other hand, Helena is desperately in love with Demetrius. Hermia expresses to Lysander, "in the wood where often you and I Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie". On the other way, Demitrius and Helena follow them.
In the act two, Oberon, King of the Fairies, has recently quarrelled with his queen, Titania. Oberon orders to his servant, Robin Goodfellow, to fetch a purple flower to create lovable responsibility. Afterwards, Oberon overhears Helena and Demetrius arguing in the forest. Oberon hears Demetrius mistreat Helena and tells Robin Goodfellow to anoint 'the Athenian', so they will fall in love with the first person that he sees. Robin Goodfellow puts in Lysander eyes, after awakening, He instantly falls in love with Helena. In this regard, Helena expresses, "Do not say so. Lysander, say not so.What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though?" When Demetrius awakes, Oberon puts magic juice on his eyes, which makes him fall in love with Helena as well. Now, Demitrius and Lysander are loving to Helena, and She realizes they are mocking.
In the third act, the workers rehearsal in the wood. After frightening the others away, Bottom is lured towards the sleeping Titania whom Oberon has anointed with Robin Goodfellow's magic flower juice. On waking, the fairy queen falls in love with the ass and discloses, "Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful." Oberon and Puck watch the chaos, and Oberon commands Puck to put it right again. The lovers' arguments have tired them all out as they have chased one another through the woods. Puck eventually distracts the two men from their pursuit of Helena by impersonating their voices, and they get lost in the woods.
In the penalty and last act, Oberon restores Titania's sight and wakes her (thank goodness). After expressing her dismay at the sight of Nick Bottom, she reconciles with Oberon. The lovers are woken by Theseus and Hippolyta's hunting party. Lysander sees Hermia and falls in love with her once again. Happily reunited (Lysander with Hermia and Demetrius with Helena), they agree to share the Duke's wedding day. The play of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' is presented before the wedding guests. As the three couples retire to bed, Robin Goodfellow and the fairies return to bless the palace and its people.
Shakespeare's play suggests that the play will deal with a dream on a summer night. It also suggests an atmosphere of fantasy, whimsy, and imagination. He uses comedy and fairies to show how people can't always form steady romantic relationships. He also explores how people tend to fall in love with those who appear beautiful to them. Shakespeare portrays love as a blind, irrational, and often beautiful force that can be both cruel and forgiving. The play's imagination can be destructive. In the play's climax, the play ends happily with three marriages blessed by the reconciled fairy King and Queen. In a last sense, Robin says, "If you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck."
Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has various romantic entanglements and misunderstandings among the characters are resolved. The magical mischief caused by Puck is resolved, and the characters come to understand the nature of love and illusion. It shows, "love, art and culture, foolishness and magic." The play's plot makes it legendery and wonderful. In the play, magic love juice causes characters to fall in love with a monster. The play ends with a performance of a comical play, which providing a joyful and festive atmosphere. This comedic and enchanting finale emphasizes the theme of love's unpredictable and transformative power.
Comments