A Midsummer Night's Dream Research Paper

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Recommended: Literary Analysis of a Midsummer Night Dream

Explore how far you agree that ultimately, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a light-hearted and superficial comedy.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a light-hearted and superficial comedy written by Shakespeare. Shakespeare's use of the mechanicals, witty wordplay and his expression of human behaviour shows the play to be light-hearted. However the faults of society and theme of magic is what makes the play superficial as the involvement of fairies in mortal affairs strongly shapes the chaos in the play, this because most of the play is set in the woods, where fairies can take advantage of the humans.
Light hearted
Shakespeare uses the problems that befall the characters as a form of comedy to amuse the audience. Even modern day audiences are amuse …show more content…

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a light-hearted comedy however it encompasses other features that aren't outwardly made obvious in the play “Star crossed lovers.” The theme of forbidden love is presented in the play albeit is a less tragic and dark representation. This link between the relationships here and Romeo and Juliet creates a sense that the love is just as tragic and this is what makes the play superficial. On the surface the mechanicals create a sense of light-heartedness but the actual themes of the play are sad. This is shown through Helena, who throws herself at Demetrius “Use me but as your spaniel…” Her desperate need for attention is vexatious as she is neglecting all self-respect. The irrationality of love in the play makes it a superficial and light-hearted …show more content…

The character of Puck is a magical character in the play. His name is a testament to his purpose in the play as Puck; a mischievous nature sprite, demon, or fairy. His presence on the stage is enjoyed by the audience as he brings in comedy through mischievous and cruel acts giving him the role of the “trickster”. He highlights the folly of human behaviour and even looks down on them “Lord, what fools these mortals be” this put him in a position of illusory superiority as he believe himself to be better than humans. His use wide uses of verse forms from different classes and sexes, couplets of various lengths and quatrains as well as blank verse represents his free chaotic personality “I'll put a girdle round about the earth. In forty minutes." Puck effortlessly moves between similar verse forms freely and this makes him an unpredictable and mysterious character as he shifts between the verse forms. Puck is the creator of comedy and chaos in the play as his tricks cause amusing confusion between the four lovers. This is a form of comedy however it isn’t light-hearted as it is built upon the misfortune of others.
Puck himself explores a more sinister aspect of the play originally through his provisional background as a demon or sprite, as a victim of gratified insanity. Hence his sadistic and uncaring nature “A million fail, confounding oath

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