Chaos In A Midsummer Night's Dream

Contrast is used throughout Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Athens is a symbol of law and regulation. On the other hand, the forest and the fairies, especially Puck, are a symbol of chaos. Throughout the book, these two opposing sides take over as the mortals and fairies try to restore proper love and find merriment. In his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare explores the theme of order vs disorder.

Order is portrayed first in the play, in the setting of Athens. It provides a symbol of law and reason. In the beginning of the play, Hermia’s father Egeus explains to Theseus, King of Athens, that he wishes his daughter to marry the nobleman Demetrius, saying: “As she is mine, I may dispose of her, / Which shall be either to this gentleman / or to her death, according to our law” (1.1.42-44). However, Hermia is in love with Lysander, but according to Athenian law, Egeus has the final say in whom she marries. Hey may wish her to be killed or sent to convent if she does not comply with his orders. In saying this, he decides to choose logic and law over passion and love of his daughter, exemplifying Athenian law and the tight

First, Puck sets out to fix the love among the Athenian couples. He first brings all four Athenians into a room to fall asleep. As they sleep, he slips the love potion into Lysander’s eyes so that when he wakes up he falls back in love with Hermia. This works, causing symmetry between the couples so that Demetrius and Helena are together and Lysander and Hermia are in love again. Before she falls asleep, Helena states: “Shine comforts from the east, / That I may back to Athens by daylight” (3.2.43-44). This reference to Athens continues the symbolic significance Athens has with order, which will be restored in the morning when she wakes up at daylight. Additionally, Oberon also mentions Athens as a place where repair happens and all the mistakes are fixed,