The Men of Rule in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer...

In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer’s Night Dream† two worlds are contrasted throughout the play. The Athenian state is governed by order, law, and reason; the forest or Fairy world lies within the realm of the imagination where anything is possible. While both worlds run parallel in the play, their inhabitants are influenced by one another. Their rulers, Theseus and Oberon, play critical roles in the events of the story. Theseus acts compassionately with a sense of duty, order and respect; his initial rulings for Hermia provide the exposition for the comedy (May 75). Oberon acts compassionately as well, but acts on a whim and resorts to trickery if it suits his desires; his actions direct the complication in the plot (May 75). Their†¦show more content†¦Unlike Theseus, Oberon does not try to reason with Titania. He uses trickery and magic to distract Titania and settle this dispute. Oberon applies a drop of magic â€Å"liquor †¦in her eyes† (II.1.178) which makes â€Å"the next thing†¦she†¦ looks upon / †¦. She shall pursue it with the soul of love† (II.1.179-181). Oberon plans to â€Å"take this charm from off her sight / I’ll make her render up her page to me.† (II.1.183-185). Oberon acts and bases his decision on acting selfishly and irrationally out of his own desires. Oberon and Theseus have very different moral stances, and thus base their decisions and actions on very different thought processes. As long Oberon gets what he wants he will act and impose his own decisions. Theseus must be asked to intervene and urges methodical decision making. As rulers, Theseus and Oberon, have many subjects and minor characters surrounding them. These subjects include Oberon’s wife, Titania, and Theseus’ fiancà ©e Hippolyta, as well as the various members of their courts. Hippolyta is a Queen of the Amazons, captured in battle. Theseus acknowledges that she was a captive taken against her will and his early relationship with her he was not particularly honourable. â€Å"I woo’d thee with my sword/ And won thy love, doing thee injuries (I.1.16-17). He vows to make amends, â€Å"But I will wed thee inShow MoreRelatedThe Men of Rule in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream†1491 Words   |  6 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† two worlds are distinctly contrasted throughout the play. These worlds serve to be the extremes both in thought and action. One world is the Athenian state; which is governed by order, law and reason; wh ereas, the forest or fairy world lies within the domain of imagination, where anything is possible. While both worlds are paralleled in the play, they have complex interactions in which the characters succumb to influences to influences from bothRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1068 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth to Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Both females are mentioned numerous times when discussions on Shakespeare’s plays comes about. One female character, though, is overlooked time and time again. Although not seen as a strong character, it is due to both historical context and male dominance that forced Hippolyta into the role she played in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Firstly, a quick summary of the events in the play. There are four main couples in the play: HelenaRead MoreSociety in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare1721 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare uses his word craft and characters as outlets addressing social issues, race, class, and or gender. Through his plays, he emulates the real world and is able to manipulate his worlds to allow his audience to see everything from all sides. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream and discussed in â€Å"Jack shall have Jill;/Nought shall go ill† by Shirley Nelson Garner, in order for the world of men and patriarchal society and hierarchies to be secure and be well, the homoerotic relationships andRead MoreThe Theme of True Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare744 Words   |  3 PagesThe Theme of True Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare The overriding theme of the play A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare deals with the nature of love. Though true love seems to be held up as an ideal, false love is mostly what we are shown. Underneath his frantic comedy, Shakespeare seems to be asking the questions all lovers ask in the midst of their confusion: How do we know when love is real? How can we trust ourselves that love is real when we areRead MoreA Descriptive Bibliography Of Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream 1542 Words   |  7 PagesA Descriptive Overview of Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and grew up in Strafford-upon-Avon. He wrote â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† in his early years as a playwright. He also wrote the play is a mixture of romance and comedy. It tells the story of four young people who fall in love with each other with the aid of magic. Shakespeare managed to create a dream world for the audience using the characters tied to a plot filled with antics andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1404 Words   |  6 Pages1590’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of William Shakespeare’s most delightful and eccentric pieces of work (The Life of William Shakespeare). While some of Shakespeare’s contemporaries disregarded the play as â€Å"insipid† and â€Å"ridiculous†, this romantic comedy has been successful in the theater from its first production to the present day† (Worthen 186). Shakespeare lived during the Elizabethan age, and during this era, learning and literature were thriving in London under Queen Elizabeth’s rule (TheRead MoreFemale Sexuality in Shakespeare4830 Words   |  20 PagesQuestion Compare and contrast the representation of female sexuality in Cymbeline, the Sonnets, and one of the plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II, Hamlet, Antony and Cleopatra, Measure for Measure or King Lear.       Both Cymbeline and A Midsummer Night’s Dream  (AMND)  are both set in a patriarchal environment where both genders grapple for control. Valerie Traub defines the distinction between gender sex and gender behavior as â€Å"Sex refers to the . . . biological distinctions betweenRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare is a renowned poet, playwright and actor. Many believe that he was the most2400 Words   |  10 Pages William Shakespeare is a renowned poet, playwright and actor. Many believe that he was the most zealous writer in the English language and also the most significant playwright in history. Shakespeare wrote his plays for an assorted audience, he manipulated complex and universal themes such as patriarchy and gender roles while placing emphasis on women’s quest for power, equality, happiness and identity. Shakespeare embarked on issues that everyone could relate to, hence, his stylistic techniquesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1397 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’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 adult authority figure who attempts to hinder the love of a young couple. The overcoming of an obstacle functions as a common motif in Renaissance comedy. The audience must wonder, however, whether Lysander and Hermia, as well as Demetrius and Helena, actually loveRead More A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay: Order and Disorder1377 Words   |  6 PagesOrder and Disorder in A Midsummer Nights Dream Order and disorder is a favorite theme of Shakespeare. In A Midsummer Nights Dream the apparently anarchic tendencies of the young lovers, of the mechanicals-as-actors, and of Puck are restrained by the sharp Athenian law and the law of the Palace Wood, by Theseus and Oberon, and their respective consorts. This tension within the world of the play is matched in its construction: in performance it can at times seem riotous and out of control The Men of Rule in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer... In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† two worlds are distinctly contrasted throughout the play. These worlds serve to be the extremes both in thought and action. One world is the Athenian state; which is governed by order, law and reason; whereas, the forest or fairy world lies within the domain of imagination, where anything is possible. While both worlds are paralleled in the play, they have complex interactions in which the characters succumb to influences to influences from both of them. The ruler’s of these two worlds, Theseus in Athens and Oberon in the Fairy world, play critical roles in the events of the story in which their actions and decisions transform the lives of the young lovers. Theseus’ initial rulings for†¦show more content†¦Egeus specifically asks Theseus’ help telling him that he comes â€Å"Full of Vexation†¦with complaint / against my child† (I.1.22-23). However, Oberon merely o versees the lovers and decides to meddle without provocation. The rulers’ personality differences can also be seen in the way they deal to decision making and problem solving. Theseus looks for reason; whereas, Oberon acts on impulse. When sorting out the dispute about Hermia’s marriage he advises Hermia to be make a wise and well thought-out decision. He says, â€Å"question your desires, / Know of your youth, examine well your blood† (I.1.67-68). This suggests that Theseus values reason and contemplation before acting upon one’s desires. On the contrary, Oberon clearly acts on his emotions instead of logic like Theseus. This is seen in his first argument with Titania. Shakespeare never reveals why Oberon wants the boy for himself; however, he does provide a valid reason for Titania to keep the boy for himself as he was the son of a friend of hers whom died in childbirth (May 77). Oberon acts on his obvious jealous and own desire to use magic to distract Titania and get what he wants. Oberon does this by a drop of a magic â€Å"liquor †¦in her eyes† (II.1.178) which makes â€Å"the next thing†¦she†¦ looks upon / †¦. She shall pursure it with the soul of love† (II.1.179-181). His plan is then to â€Å"take this charm from off her sight / I’ll make her render up her page to me.† (II.1.183-185). Oberon acts and bases his decisionShow MoreRelatedThe Men of Rule in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† 1322 Words   |  6 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer’s Night Dream† two worlds are contrasted throughout the play. The Athenian state is governed by order, law, and reason; the forest or Fairy world lies within the realm of the imagination where anything is possible. While both worlds run parallel in the play, their inhabitants are influenced by one another. Their rulers, Theseus and Oberon, play critical roles in the events of the story. Theseus acts compassionately with a sense of duty, order and respect; hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1068 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth to Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Both females are mentioned numerous times when discussions on Shakespeare’s plays comes about. One female character, though, is overlooked time and time again. Although not seen as a strong character, it is due to both historical context and male dominance that forced Hippolyta into the role she played in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Firstly, a quick summary of the events in the play. There are four main couples in the play: HelenaRead MoreSociety in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare1721 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare uses his word craft and characters as outlets addressing social issues, race, class, and or gender. Through his plays, he emulates the real world and is able to manipulate his worlds to allow his audience to see everything from all sides. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream and discussed in â€Å"Jack shall have Jill;/Nought shall go ill† by Shirley Nelson Garner, in order for the world of men and patriarchal society and hierarchies to be secure and be well, the homoerotic relationships andRead MoreThe Theme of True Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare744 Words   |  3 PagesThe Theme of True Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare The overriding theme of the play A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare deals with the nature of love. Though true love seems to be held up as an ideal, false love is mostly what we are shown. Underneath his frantic comedy, Shakespeare seems to be asking the questions all lovers ask in the midst of their confusion: How do we know when love is real? How can we trust ourselves that love is real when we areRead MoreA Descriptive Bibliography Of Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream 1542 Words   |  7 PagesA Descriptive Overview of Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and grew up in Strafford-upon-Avon. He wrote â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† in his early years as a playwright. He also wrote the play is a mixture of romance and comedy. It tells the story of four young people who fall in love with each other with the aid of magic. Shakespeare managed to create a dream world for the audience using the characters tied to a plot filled with antics andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1404 Words   |  6 Pages1590’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of William Shakespeare’s most delightful and eccentric pieces of work (The Life of William Shakespeare). While some of Shakespeare’s contemporaries disregarded the play as â€Å"insipid† and â€Å"ridiculous†, this romantic comedy has been successful in the theater from its first production to the present day† (Worthen 186). Shakespeare lived during the Elizabethan age, and during this era, learning and literature were thriving in London under Queen Elizabeth’s rule (TheRead MoreFemale Sexuality in Shakespeare4830 Words   |  20 PagesQuestion Compare and contrast the representation of female sexuality in Cymbeline, the Sonnets, and one of the plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II, Hamlet, Antony and Cleopatra, Measure for Measure or King Lear.       Both Cymbeline and A Midsummer Night’s Dream  (AMND)  are both set in a patriarchal environment where both genders grapple for control. Valerie Traub defines the distinction between gender sex and gender behavior as â€Å"Sex refers to the . . . biological distinctions betweenRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare is a renowned poet, playwright and actor. Many believe that he was the most2400 Words   |  10 Pages William Shakespeare is a renowned poet, playwright and actor. Many believe that he was the most zealous writer in the English language and also the most significant playwright in history. Shakespeare wrote his plays for an assorted audience, he manipulated complex and universal themes such as patriarchy and gender roles while placing emphasis on women’s quest for power, equality, happiness and identity. Shakespeare embarked on issues that everyone could relate to, hence, his stylistic techniquesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1397 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’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 adult authority figure who attempts to hinder the love of a young couple. The overcoming of an obstacle functions as a common motif in Renaissance comedy. The audience must wonder, however, whether Lysander and Hermia, as well as Demetrius and Helena, actually loveRead More A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay: Order and Disorder1377 Words   |  6 PagesOrder and Disorder in A Midsummer Nights Dream Order and disorder is a favorite theme of Shakespeare. In A Midsummer Nights Dream the apparently anarchic tendencies of the young lovers, of the mechanicals-as-actors, and of Puck are restrained by the sharp Athenian law and the law of the Palace Wood, by Theseus and Oberon, and their respective consorts. This tension within the world of the play is matched in its construction: in performance it can at times seem riotous and out of control