FREE ESSAY ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S 
DREAM
A
Midsummer Night's Dream was written in 16th century England. In 1595, life was as you can
imagine very different. During this period Queen Elizabeth I was at the throne. England
was a Christian country and people greatly honoured the queen. Shakespeare was Elizabeth
I's poet laureate, so his work was highly valued across England.
Women were treated as second-class citizens. In lower class families, girls were not
usually educated. They were expected to do domestic jobs and look after children. In the
upper class homes things were different. Girls were educated but they did not have free
opinion. Women did not have any rights; they had no choice in what they did with their
lives or whom they married. The father of the girl would choose a suitor for her (usually
being the wealthiest man available) and she was expected to marry him. In theatre, men
would play the part of women. The Elizabethans strongly believed in the supernatural. Few
aspects of sixteenth century life were not affected by the belief of witchcraft. Fairies
and sorcerers as being real. Magic was not as we see it today; things that young children
believe, but as compelling and real. Their beliefs in god were very much related to those
of witches and demons. If you had sinned, people believed you had the devil in you.
In a Midsummer Night's Dream, different plots are linked to form a comical play based
around magic and love. The play is set in an enchanting forest amongst the cowslips;
hidden deep in the wood is the fairy kingdom.
I personally think that Shakespeare was very clever in how he devised 'A Midsummer
Night's Dream,' as he has three very good elements of entertainment; love, magic and
comedy represented with different stories and characters. The Lovers represent the
effects and powers of love. Hermia is prepared to give her life up for the man she loves.
In a way, Shakespeare has adopted a modern view of things, as Hermia's character is not
one of a 'typical' Elizabethan woman. She is a fiery young lady, determined to be with
the man she loves. Lysander and Hermia have a good, strong relationship. Helena dotes
upon Demetrius, but her 'love' is not real love, like Hermia's, it is more of an
infatuated love. This contrast of being in real love and being blinded by love, very much
makes you think and if you were in a relationship you would think twice about your
feelings after watching the play. 
The Workmen are all very simple characters, named according to their personality. They
have been implanted in the play to add humour and some lighthearted entertainment from
the more serious issues within the play. Bottom, in particular, is used to cause fun and
drama. 
The fairies make the play magical and exciting; Puck is a mischievous, cunning young
fairy that likes to play tricks on mortals. Some of his speeches contain repetition for
example:
396 Puck: 'Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down.
I am fear'd in field and town;
Goblin, lead them up and down...'
Repetition has made this speech into a song/chant; this makes the speech 'magical' and
'fun'. The use of repletion and rhyme by Puck at the end of this scene is used to create
a poetic country atmosphere. In which the natural world is described well. 
The fairy scenes are very entertaining. The language is in the way, Titania's ironical
words to bottom.
144 Titania: 'Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.'
It is ironic that Titania is saying this, because Bottom is clearly nothing close to
beautiful. There is sense of suspense present in Act 3, Scene 1. Titania is asleep on the
stage, the person she first sets her eyes upon when she awakens will be the one she falls
in love with. On the stage are the workmen. This suspense makes the play exciting. 
The lovers are very much more involved in the dramatic side of the production, with their
arguments,
Shakespeare uses alliteration to create a dreamy, romantic, magical atmosphere. For
instance:
435 Hermia: 'And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,
Steal me awhile from mine own company'
The use of alliteration emphasises what Hermia is talking about, making her words more
memorable. 
The plot is very clever, although it relies on coincidence. The fairies' costumes would
have been spectacular and dazzling. The workmen would be dressed in rags and the lovers
and court in very smart, rich garments. The play begins as a tragedy and becomes
comical.
Act 3, Scene 2 begins to be comical in which the lovers are talking in rhyming couplets.
These are used to make the scene romantic and comical. Helena thinks that she is being
made a fool of, as both, Lysander and Demetrius appear to be madly in love with her. Here
is an example of this. 
169 Lysander: Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none:
If e'er lov'd her, all that is gone.
My heart to her but as but as guest wise sojourn'd,
And now to Helen is it home return'd.
The scene becomes very dramatic when the lovers are quarrelling. We notice that the
comedy has gone, and become a serious quarrel when the rhyming couplets no longer appear.
There are many lessons to be learned from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Lysander says a line
that implies that love can never be perfect.
134 Lysander: The course of true love never
did run smooth;
I believe this is very true, as there are so many problems in love. It also teaches us
that 'true love' is important and you should not try to meddle with it.
Similes have been used in Act 5, Scene 1 to comment on the play within the play.
122 Hippolyta: Played on his prologue like a child
on a recorder
124 Theseus: His speech was like a tangled chain.
Similes are often used to describe performances. Hippolyta is comparing Quinces' prologue
to a child, meaning it was not professional, as the actors thought it was. Theseus
comments on Quinces' speaking skills, previously Quince has said the prologue completely
wrong.
I think the Duke is enjoying the play within the play, as he has always seen
'professional, serious performances. This is a unique experience for them, less drama and
more comedy.
I have concluded that the play was amusing and interesting. My favourite speech of the
play was Pucks epilogue, it has rhythmic feel to it, and this makes it the perfect ending
for the play. The fact that I had previously read the play in Year 8 familiarized me with
characters. When I studied the play this time, we concentrated on different aspects of it
and took more of an interest in the language techniques. I am very glad that I read this
work of Shakespeare again, as I do not think I have really appreciated his works up until
now. An understanding of how life was like in the 16th centaury is quite vital to
identify with the play. I am happy that our chosen Shakespeare piece was A Midsummer
Nights Dream, as it is very entertaining.