Abstract The purpose of this paper is to understand what Shakespeare meant by the title "A MidsummerNight's Dream" following the clues in key speeches. It also looks at the theme of the title, midsummer madness and supernatural elements.
From the Paper "The themes embodied in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream recall the line that questions whether all that we see or seem is merely a dream within a dream. Unlike his other plays the title of Shakespeare's fantastic..."
Abstract This paper discusses Shakespeare's play; "A MidsummerNight's Dream" and analyzes how it satisfies the functions of literature, raising a heightened sensitivity of the complexities of life. The paper also discusses plot devices.
From the Paper "A Midsummer Night's Dream: One of the functions of literature is to force the reader to question the things he has taken for granted; another is to heighten his sensitivity to the complexities of life and individuals. Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" fulfills both functions masterfully. Shakespeare's play creates an intricate juxtaposition of plot and characters that reduces even the careful reader to a state of confusion."
Tags: A MidsummerNight's Dream, Shakespeare, literature
Abstract This paper analyzes one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated comedic plays, "A MidsummerNight's Dream". The author examines how the throughout the play the characters attempt to find a way to understand the mechanism of love in a rational way and experience self-alterations that they believe to be a dream in the end. The paper also looks at how the recurring reference to the ever-changing moon parallels the transformation of the characters in "A MidsummerNight's Dream".
From the Paper:
"A MidsummerNight's Dream" brilliantly expresses the profound human uncertainty about love. Dream world and reality merge undetectably so that the characters are not sure themselves in which sphere they move, nor whether what they have experienced has been imagination or truth. What seems to be a fantasy or a dream for the characters in "A MidsummerNight's Dream" is actually reality. However, the dreamlike atmosphere of the play accentuates the fact that the lovers appear to be quite removed from any criteria applicable to reality."
Abstract In this article, the writer first looks at the artist William Shakespeare and then studies his work "A MidsummerNight's Dream". The writer discusses the play and notes that while the situations portrayed in 'A MidsummerNight's Dream' are hilarious to the point of being absurd, ultimately the play serves a higher purpose - that is, to affirm the value of love and pleasure in an often hostile universe. The writer concludes that whatever way one chooses to interpret 'A MidsummerNight's Dream', the play's goofy characters, outrageous situations, and rich language have ensured the play's status as a classic work of English literature.
Outline:
William Shakespeare the Artist
A MidsummerNight's Dream
From the Paper "A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most beloved romantic comedies. It consists of three plots that are chaotically interwoven in order to elicit an atmosphere of magic and the absurd, as well as love and the unknown. Throughout the course of the play, people from all different class backgrounds interact, and against the setting of a magical night forest, they come into contact with a band of mischievous fairies whose pranks will temporarily transform some of the characters, while making others' dreams come true.
"At the center of A Midsummer Night's Dream is the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens to the Amazonian Queen Hippolyta. Egeus has chosen Demetrius to marry his daughter Hermia - and Hermia is unhappy with the decision. To rebel, she runs away from Athens into the magical forests surrounding the city alongside her lover Lysander, with whom she hopes to elope. Hermia tells her best friend Helena of her plans."
Abstract Specifically, this paper presents a thesis that magic and imagination drive the events of the story in "A MidsummerNight's Dream" more than in any other Shakespearean play, thus making "A MidsummerNight's Dream" Shakespeare's only play of pure fantasy.
Abstract This paper analyzes the use of love and magic in William Shakespeare's "A MidsummerNight's Dream". The paper looks at how magic is used to bring the effects of love to light and how the magical setting of the play is emphasized by the language of the play, which also stresses the parallelism between love and magic. The paper concludes that, in this play, Shakespeare wonderfully uses magic to emphasize the power of love in A MidsummerNight's Dream, a love which he is describing as a magical force.
From the Paper "The powers of love are not only shown in language, but also in the transformations that the characters are enduring in the play. Magic and love are closely linked by the symbol of the love flower, "Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound" (2.1.167) because of Cupid's mistake. The flower has endured the power of both magic and love, and is now carrying its transformation on to the ones on which its juice is applied. This is what happens to Titania, the queen of the fairies when she wakes up under the influence of the love potion in front of Bottom. The transformation of Bottom into an ass is an important magical change in the play. It has the effect of revealing Bottom's true nature, since, as Quince says, "[he is] translated" (3.1. 113). Titania's falling in love with Bottom, namely with an ass-head creature, makes us realize how love is not logical. Shakespeare thus says that love does not follow logic in any way, and can even fool a queen. Consequently, magic, under the form of the love flower, is used to emphasize the illogical nature of love."
Abstract This paper discusses the whirling relationships between the four lovers in Shakespeare's comedy "MidsummerNight's Dream". It illustrates the theme of rash love's delusions versus mature, realistic love. The author explores the impact of midsummer madness on behavior.
From the Paper "In Shakespeare's, "Midsummer's Night Dream" the pivotal word is dream-in the sense of illusion and irrational behavior. The enchanting comedy seems like a romp of intoxicated imagination in which deluded lovers end up in ..."
Abstract This paper discusses "MidsummerNight's Dream" as the author believes Shakespeare intended the play to be - as a delightful, fun frolic, and contrasts it to Moshinsky's film version which emphasizes the darker elements of the script and loses much of the comic elements of the story.
From the Paper "This sentence would be a perfect introduction to Elijah Moshinsky's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", since it is not delightful, but instead stresses the tragic elements of the play. Shakespeare's language, rich of colourful images, creates a flower-scent and magical atmosphere. ?The descriptions breathe a sweetness like odours thrown from beds of flowers.? Though Moshinsky adapts Shakespeare's original text, the language loses nevertheless a part of its imaginative power. He focuses rather on the tragic elements of the play and renders it thus more serious and less bland."
"?We do not come, as minding to content you, our true intent is. All for your delight, we are not here. That you should here repent you, the actors are at hand; and, by their show you shall know all, that you are like to know (p.57).?
This sentence would be a perfect introduction to Elijah Moshinsky's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", since it is not delightful, but instead stresses the tragic elements of the play.
Shakespeare's language, rich of colourful images, creates a flower-scent and magical atmosphere. ?The descriptions breathe a sweetness like odours thrown from beds of flowers.? Though Moshinsky adapts Shakespeare's original text, the language loses nevertheless a part of its imaginative power. He focuses rather on the tragic elements of the play and renders it thus more serious and less bland."
Abstract This paper argues that a common theme in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's work, "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Shakespeare's "A MidsummerNight's Dream" is the effect of fantasy and enchantment on the characters in those stories. An examination of the two works shows how fantasy influences and modifies the characters, how it affects the story's setting, and the message that each author is sending to the reader.
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities and differences between "A MidsummerNight's Dream" and 'Romeo and Juliet". The author compares the themes and characters in the two plays.
From the Paper "Certain parallels can be drawn between William Shakespeare's plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "Romeo and Juliet". These parallels concern themes and Shakespearean character types. Both plays have a distinct pair of 'lovers', Hermia and Lysander, and Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Both plays could have also easily been tragedy or comedy with a few simple changes. A tragic play is a play in which one or more characters is has a flaw, which leads to his/her downfall. A comedic play has at least one humorous character, and a successful or happy ending."
Abstract This paper explores the theme of magic in 'A MidsummerNight's Dream', and discusses how Shakespeare uses supernatural elements throughout the play. It considers the boundaries between good and evil, and comments upon the ways Shakespeare presents the play as a supernaturally charged adventure.
From the Paper "There was a strong belief in the supernatural in Shakespeare's era and subsequently, some form of the supernatural realm is a common theme throughout his plays. The supernatural is a central theme in A Midsummer Night's Dream which is set in an enchanted fairyland wood and the play clearly demonstrates the power of the supernatural and the dramatic influence the spiritual world has upon the natural order of things. "
Abstract An analysis of the plot and characters of Shakespeare's "A MidsummerNight's Dream". The author shows how the success of the play depends on the audience's ability to suspend disbelief and believe in magic.
From the Paper "The play is not a play that would have been written in 2002, because it is partly a comedy of manners. For instance, Hermia's and Lysander's crisis is unimaginable in this day and age. No leader, even one who had complete powers, would agree to put the daughter of a friend to death or send her to a convent if she did not marry the husband her father had chosen for her. This is an example of negotiating (2/2/02), but one that dates the play. Nevertheless, eloping was a much greater act of defiance during Shakespeare's time than it is now."
Abstract This paper examines the Shakespearean character "Puck" in the play ? A MidsummerNight's Dream.? It describes him as the head fairy and protagonist in the play and the reason this play is so magical. The paper describes the use of language in order to set apart the fairies from the "mortals".
From the Paper "'Spirits and fairies cannot be represented, they cannot even be painted, -- they can only be believed'" (Bloom 87). This could be the opening line of Shakespeare's ?A Midsummer Night's Dream,? for as we watch the play unfold, we are taken out of the world of today, and into a magical world full of romance, magic, and farce, and Puck is a major player in the story that unfolds."
Abstract The paper discusses why Act two Scene one of Shakespeare's "A MidsummerNight's Dream" is a very important scene. In it all the major and minor themes of the play as a whole can be found, through a detailed analysis of the characters, their speech and the imagery the scene contains. Among other things, jealousy, the supernatural/natural world and love in all its different forms are explored in this essay. The paper contains a thorough analysis of the characters, imagery and ideas all contained within the scene, which can be applied to to the rest of the play as a whole.
From the Paper "Cupid's "fiery shaft" renders the idea/theme of love as a fiery, passionate and heated affliction, that literally pierces the heart in a shower of flames. This idea foretells the lovesick hysteria that is soon to enfold the young Athenians, and can especially be seen in Helen as she traipses after the desperate Demetrius. The "shaft" itself is contrasted with the description of the moon, which is "chaste" and "watery", a hazy image in comparison to Cupid's blazing arrow. The sing-song alliteration mirrors the maiden's carefree state, in which she carries on unscathed by Cupid's plan. The notion of love as an infliction (albeit a desirable infliction) is stressed once more by Oberon's description of the "love-in-idleness" as "a little western flower" which has been turned "purple with love's wound"."
Tags: demetrius, helena, hermia, love, nature, oberon, titania, world
Abstract Dreaming and what happens during the period of slumber are two important themes that emerge from the Shakespearean comedy "A MidsummerNight's Dream". This paper discusses the difference between actual dreams and the surreal situation in order to grasp the meaning and significance of "dreaming" in the play.
From the Paper "A Midsummer Night's dream, as the name suggest, is full of instances of fantasy and illusion which makes it on the one hand, a beautiful magical tale while on the other a comic story where surrealism outweighs every other force. While many would think that love is the dominant theme of the play, the playwright it appears had another theme in mind when he created this story. Shakespeare has given dreams a more dominant role to play in the plot because it is during the period of slumber that magical things happen to the characters, which completely change the course of the play."
Tags: slumber, love-potion, fantasy, fairies, love
