Custom Essay - Sexuality and Sexual Intercourse in A Midsummer Nights Dream

2431 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Setting description of midsummer's dream

Sexuality and Sexual Intercourse in A Midsummer Nights Dream

On the surface, Shakespeare’s play A Mid Summer Nights Dream is simply a comedic romp concerning love. A close examination of the actions and words of each of the players will reveal that the primary focus of the play is not really love but rather sexuality and sexual intercourse.

Hippolyta's nightlife role as Titania is stage-managed by Theseus-Oberon, who gets his will by magical means. if his own imperial gaze has proved ineffectual, he will capture Titania's gaze and refocus it with an aimlessness that would have gratified Cupid:

The next thing then she waking looks upon,

Be it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,

Or meddling monkey, or on busy ape,

She shall pursue it with the soul of love.

This prepares the way not only for an arousal of 'animal love' in Titania but for its consummation in her bower. The supposed ravishment of Bottom would have to happen offstage, primarily because that is the only place it could have happened. Titania's bower is not the same as the flower-canopied bank 'where the wild thyme blows' and where according to Oberon, 'sleeps Titania sometime in the night'. If it were the same, then it is especially easy to believe that no sexual act occurs between the Queen and the Ass. If such an act should occur, it must be believed that her bower is really in fairyland, which is distant from the wood, and that it is there where Bottom is taken and there where he is ravished.

As for the theater, a Titania-jumping Bottom, or a Bottom-jumping Titania, is hardly what Shakespeare could have meant for ...

... middle of paper ...

...f the sadism Hermia's dream attributes to Lysander, and since this is also Hippolyta's 'dream', it represents her anxieties about a Theseus who won her love by doing her injuries. Oberon not only sees Titania's disgrace, but feels it, and by doing so breaks his charm.

Unpleasant as Oberon's methods are, we can only judge them by Titania's response. When she wakes up, she is not bitter, but quick to love, 'My Oberon!'. And, to obey, when he asks for music she immediately cries, 'Music, ho! Music, such as charmeth sleep!'

Works Cited and Consulted

Berry, Ralph. Shakespeare’s Comedies. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1972.

Greenblatt et al., ed. “A Midsumer Night’s Dream.”The Norton Shakespeare: Comedies. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1997.

Vaughn, Jack A. Shakespeare’s Comedies. New York: Frederick Uncar Publishing Co., 1980.

Show More
Related

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream Love Is Crazy Essay

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Titania has been giving all of her time and affection to a “changeling” child, left in the custody of Titania. Not only is Oberon jealous that Titania no longer gives affection or time to him, but Oberon selfishly wants the boy to be employed as his henchman. When Titania refuses to disclose the boy’s location to Oberon, Oberon devises a plan to use magic on Titania by forcing her to fall in love with the next living creature she lays her eyes upon. How this is supposed to lead to the boy, I have no idea. But Titania ends up falling in love with an Athenian man who has the head of a donkey; using the strange donkey-love distraction, Oberon is able to locate and take the boy. Does Oberon want the boy solely for the purpose of employing him as a henchman, or does Oberon wish to rekindle a relationship between himself and Titania that the boy has interrupted? Either way, forcing your wife to fall in love with a donkey man is pretty outrageous and

    Read More

  • Piano Lesson

    662 Words  | 2 Pages

    Just like the resolution that occurs from black people who attempt to better themselves, Boy Willie fails to accomplish his goals and thus end up running to another state in order to get away from his past. Like many of his African-Americans he over-reached his goals, and had attempted a crazy plan. It's pretty clear that he was fighting a losing battle, as it is clearly represented through his fight with Sutter's ghost. Unknowingly in the end, he somewhat fulfilled a piece of his goal. He does leave his own imprint in the world when he informs his sister to play the piano otherwise Sutter and him will be back.

    Read More

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare: Oberon is the Root of All Problems

    1495 Words  | 3 Pages

    He felt sorry for Helena and tried to get Demetrius to fall in love with her. However, on the other hand, Oberon is cruel, jealous, and tyrannical. Resembling his mischievous servant Puck, Oberon finds no problem playing with other people’s love. He swindled his own wife and laughed at the misfortunes of the four Athenians Helena, Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius. Despite one’s view of Oberon, it is clear that he is the root of all the problems in the play because he starts a sequence of problems by making the love juice, orders the love juice to be used on Demetrius which in turn causes disarray for all four of the young lovers, and causes disgrace for Titania and creates obstacles for Bottom and the Rude Mechanicals when he uses the love juice on Titania in order to fulfill his own selfish desires.

    Read More

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Measure for Measure

    2231 Words  | 5 Pages

    A Midsummer Night's Dream is a festive comedy.  The play takes place in June and this is a bewitched time.  In the spring the custom is to celebrate the return of fertility to the earth.  During  this time the young people spend the night in the woods to celebrate.  Shakespeare uses the greenworld pattern in this play.  The play begins in the city, moves out to the country and then back to the city.  Being in the country makes things better because there is tranquility, freedom and people can become uncivilized versus when they are in the city and have to follow customs and laws and behave rationally.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Research Paper

    679 Words  | 2 Pages

    All characters in the tragic play contributed to the sorrowful conclusion, however, some stand out from the rest. Friar Lawrence trusted Friar John to deliver a letter to Romeo. The impatience of Capulet forced Juliet to marry Paris one day earlier causing Juliet to drink the potion one day earlier. Romeo's depression from Rosaline lead to his stubborn love for Juliet. In the end, this play showed that everyone's actions can build up and result in an extreme and drastic event.

    Read More

  • John Steinbeck Journey Through The Dust Analysis

    2031 Words  | 5 Pages

    There are few novels that have the ability to shed light on historical context while simultaneously tell a captivating story. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck does an excellent job of telling a fascinating story and juxtaposing the historical importance of the time period. Set during the great dustbowl of the 1930’s, Steinbeck wrote this evolutionary tale to inform Americans across the country about the hardships faced by those who were left destitute by the natural disaster. Although the subject of the novel is the social and economic climate of America during the dust bowl, Steinbeck described different themes to illustrate how impactful the incident truly was. The dustbowl not only left thousands homeless, hungry, and poor, it also altered the social dynamic of the United States. Family dynamics changed, new prejudices developed, and religion became more prevalent. Through the themes of race, religion, gender, and class Steinbeck immerses the reader into the time of the great dust bowl. The reader becomes a 1930’s destitute farmer, who is looking to support his family in any manner possible.

    Read More

  • The Roaring Twenties: A Time Of Confidence

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roaring Twenties was a time of confidence for all Americans, and this confidence affected them both culturally and socially. Culture in America at the time could have been described by words, such as baseball, the radio, patriotism, and even music. At the time, the radio swept the nation, bring people the sweet sounds of music everywhere at any time. Radio shows sprang up and introduced people to new ideas, and new ways of thinking. Some radio stations brought radical ideas and malicious attacks on many people, manily politicians. In fact, Robert P. Shuler was a pastor in Los Angeles whom was kicked off the radio for slandering the government and public officials. The radio also broadcasted America’s favorite pass time, baseball. Baseball was apart of every household in the 1920s, and it brought joy to millions of people across the nation. “He honestly believed that he loved baseball… the game was a custom of his clan, and it gave an outlet for the homicidal and side-taking instincts which babbit called ‘patriotism’ and ‘love of the sport’ (H). The sport baseball gave hope to many Americans. Coming out of this gruesome war, the people needed something to turn their heads towards to forget about all the atrocities that the war brought with it. The passion Americans had for baseball was unlike any other, and anything baseball related… all of America was watching. This brought Amer...

    Read More

  • The Relationship Dynamics Of A Midsummer Night's Dream

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, the ideal relationships are not immune to experiencing unharmonious periods. Despite this, the ideal couples eventually found harmony which allowed them to experience a joyous ending. Lysander and Hermia have a harmonious relationship in that they display similar desires and mindsets. In the beginning, after declaring their love for one another Lysander and Hermia devise a plan to run away and elope (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.156-178). Even when they are not of the same mindset Hermia and Lysander find an amicable solution. After becoming lost in the forest, Lysander’s desire is for them to sleep together, Hermia refuses for fear of the disgrace that would be placed upon her if for some reason they did not become married. Even though Lysander is a reluctant he respects her wishes (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.1.47-67). On the other hand, the relationship between Oberon and Titania in spite of being plagued by dysfunction comes to a harmonious agreement. At the beginning Titania and Oberon are quarreling over the control of an Indian changeling boy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.1.18-31). While under the influence of an enchantment that Oberon had placed on her Titania relinquishes the control of the changeling boy to Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 4.1.56-60). After the enchantment is removed from her Titania no longer has feelings of defiance toward Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s

    Read More

  • Blind Ambition in Macbeth

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Ambition Analysis

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, first published in 1606, is an endearing tale outlining the dangers of unchecked ambition and moral betrayal. In the subsequent centuries after first being performed, Macbeths critics have been divided upon whether Macbeth himself was irrevocably evil, or if he was guided by the manipulation and actions of the women in the play to his ultimate demise. Although Lady Macbeth and the witches were influential with their provocations in the opening acts, it is ultimately Macbeth’s inherent immorality and his vaulting ambition, that result in the tragic downfall. It was Macbeth’s desire for power that abolished his loyalty and trustworthiness and led him down a path of murder. It is evident through his actions and words

    Read More

  • The Pain and Suffering of "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night revolves around a love triangle that continually makes twists and turns like a rollercoaster, throwing emotions here and there. The characters love each another, but the common love is absent throughout the play. Then, another character enters the scene and not only confuses everyone, bringing with him chaos that presents many different themes throughout the play. Along, with the emotional turmoil, each character has their own issues and difficulties that they must take care of, but that also affect other characters at same time. Richard Henze refers to the play as a “vindication of romance, a depreciation of romance…a ‘subtle portrayal of the psychology of love,’ a play about ‘unrequital in love’…a moral comedy about the surfeiting of the appetite…” (Henze 4) On the other hand, L. G. Salingar questions all of the remarks about Twelfth Night, asking if the remarks about the play are actually true. Shakespeare touches on the theme of love, but emphases the pain and suffering it causes a person, showing a dark and dismal side to a usually happy thought.

    Read More

  • Love, Lust and Infatuation in Midsummer Night’s Dream

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love, lust and infatuation all beguile the senses of the characters in this dreamy and whimsical work of Shakespeare, and leads them to act in outlandish ways, which throughly amuses the reader. True love does prevail in the end for Hermia and Lysander, and the initial charm of infatuation ends up proving to have happy consequence for Helena and Demetrius as well. Even when at first the reader thinks that, in theory, the effects the potion will wear off and Lysander will once again reject Helena, Oberon places a blessings on all the couples that they should live happily ever after.

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Macbeth

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the end of an awful, long day one might wonder what went wrong – was the universe against them? Was it a mistake on their part? What have they lost as a result? Such a scenario can be exemplified in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. First, outside forces influence Macbeth into making decisions he would not ordinarily make. Second, Macbeth’s transition from a revered leader to a detested king can be symbolized by the absence of nobility loyalty, and peace. Third, Macbeth’s overwhelming pride and thirst for power leads him to commit a series of crimes. The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare highlights the role of a Tragic Hero signifying that not staying true to ones core values will ultimately lead to their downfall.

    Read More

  • Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love plays a very significant role in this Shakespearian comedy, as it is the driving force of the play: Hermia and Lysander’s forbidden love and their choice to flee Athens is what sets the plot into motion. Love is also what drives many of the characters, and through readers’ perspectives, their actions may seem strange, even comical to us: from Helena pursuing Demetrius and risking her reputation, to fairy queen Titania falling in love with Bottom. However, all these things are done out of love. In conclusion, A Midsummer Night’s Dream displays the blindness of love and how it greatly contradicts with reason.

    Read More

  • Cultural Diversity Essay

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diversity is a very potent reality of life, were it weakness society in many levels. Cultures that are not supposed to mix eventually will clash on uprising and social problems. People should try to maintain their own culture identification and respect each others. From a little town in Mexico, to the huge city if Hong Kong in China, every community has its on identity that shouldn’t mix with other ones.

    Read More

More about Custom Essay - Sexuality and Sexual Intercourse in A Midsummer Nights Dream

Open Document