Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream contains many dramatic elements that help readers have a greater understanding of the play. Numerous symbols, dramatic irony, figurative imagery, and allusions can be found throughout Act I, Scene I. Additional images that further represent the assortment of dramatic elements are present in the PowerPoint collage. Firstly, symbolism is commonly found within the written work of Shakespeare, the use of symbolism allows an author to indirectly represent different emotions and atmospheres. Act I, Scene I take place at Theseus’ palace, a palace has similar attributes to a castle symbolizing a house of royalty. Theseus is the ruler of Athens, this shows that there is a class divide and can be analyzed …show more content…
through Marxist criticism. Hermia’s father seeks advice from Theseus and allows him to choose the fate of his daughter if she does not marry Demetrius, showing his authority. The palace is represented with images of grand rooms decorated with gold depicting what a palace in Athens could look like. In addition, the moon plays a role in representing time. Theseus is counting down the days till his wedding, “Another moon: but, O, methinks, how slow, this old moon wanes...” (I.I.3-4), showing the moon is seen as an old way of telling time. As the moon comes up at night a disappears during the day Theseus knows that he is one day closer to marrying his love but he is also growing impatient as he claims the moon is moving too slow. Images of a clock, the moon and a countdown showing four days until the wedding are displayed in the collage representing the meaning of the quote. Furthermore, blood is a symbol of the outcome Hermia might have if she does not listen to her father. Theseus gives Hermia a choice, “Either to die the death or to abjure forever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; Know of your youth, examine well your blood…” (I.I.65-68), Hermia can either listen to her father, die, or live a life never being able to touch a man. Blood is associated with the colour red and red also symbolizes sacrifice. She will have to give up the love of her life and her chance of marrying or having children if she does not listen to her father. Images or blood, future arrow, and the word sacrifice depict what her future could look like if she does not obey her father. This shows that women have to listen to a man’s decisions or else they will dictate their future if they choose to disobey them. Implying that Hermia has no say in her love life no matter how much she pleads that she loves Lysander her father and Theseus have the final say. Secondly, dramatic irony is also present at the end of this scene. As Lysander and Hermia finish telling Helena about their plans to elope Helena has a monologue where she reveals her future plan. Helena reveals, “I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow night pursue her; and for this intelligence, if I have thanks, it is a dear expense: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, to have his sight thither and back again.” (I.I. 246-251), she plans to tell Demetrius of Hermia’s plan to run away. The audience is aware of her plan but Lysander and Hermia do not know that she is going to spill their secret. This is also ironic as Hermia let Helena know so that she can take Demetrius as she loves him but Helena does the opposite and wants to tell Demetrius. The collage has images of secret telling as well as two people running a way to describe the meaning of the quote. An image of a girl waiting represents how Helena is waiting for Demetrius to acknowledge her the way he used to. Helena previously mentions that everyone in Athens says she is as beautiful as Hermia, but Demetrius does not and that is all she cares about. Helena only wants Demetrius’ opinion showing that women long for men’s compliments despite what everyone else says. Helena’s willingness to give up her happiness immediately displays women as being submissive to men. Helena wants to tell Demetrius in hopes that he will acknowledge her for her intelligence. Her goal is to get some recognition from him displaying that women care so much about a man’s recognition they are willing to give up their happiness. Third, imagery allows readers to create a mental picture by using words that appeal to the five senses. Within scene, I figurative imagery is used in the form of a metaphor. Hermia tells Helena she does not want Demetrius’ love, in contrast, Helena longs for his love and affection. Helena tells Hermia, “Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air “(I.I.183), Helena longs for Hermia’s good looks and beautiful features so that Demetrius will fall in love with her. She compares her eyes to ‘lode-stars’ allowing people to envision a girl with eyes that are able to guide anyone, Helena wishes for this trait so she can guide Demetrius to fall in love with her. She longs for Hermia’s voice that she compares to ‘sweet air’ allowing readers to picture a woman with a beautiful angelic voice. Images of a navigation star, eyes, and mouth singing all represent the features that Helena wishes to acquire. Helena cares so much about her appearance and her voice and wishes to have the same features as Hermia to impress Demetrius. Overall, giving off the message that women will do anything to gain a man’s attention to the point where they wish to change themselves. Lastly, allusions are indirect references to people or historical events that help readers make more connections since they are familiar with the references being made.
Diana the goddess of the wilderness and childbirth is made reference to when Theseus states, “for disobedience to your father's will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would; Or on Diana's altar to protest for aye austerity and single life.” (I.I.87-90) this suggests that if Hermia does not follow her fathers will she will live a single life as the goddess Diana did. Pictures showing a statue of Diana, wilderness animals, and a baby are displayed in the collage. Cupid is an allusion that comes up a few times in the play. Hermia uses the reference of cupid when she speaks to Lysander, “my good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow, by his best arrow with the golden head…” (I.I.168-170) Showing that she promises to meet him so they can run away, she uses cupid to enhance the love she has for him as Cupid is the god of love. Images within the collage consist of a picture of cupid, his powerful golden arrow, and hearts. Therefore, allusions allow readers to make a connection to real life mythical gods/goddess to have a better understanding of what is trying to be
said.
In Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream he entices the reader using character development, imagery, and symbolism. These tools help make it a wonderful play for teens, teaching them what a well-written comedy looks like. As well as taking them into a story they won’t soon forget.
Exerting the type of power that is influenced by malicious intentions can cause one to make decisions that are not beneficial to others. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is written within a time period and setting that favors men instead of woman. In other words, men have all the authority to control the events that occur in their own lives as well as the lives of others whom are considered insignificant. The plot displays the catalysts that ignite many characters’ desire for control that is misused by higher status people. Shakespeare’s use of characterization demonstrates how the wanting of control causes the characters to act irrationally through the misuse of power. Shakespeare’s use of setting, plot and characterization causes the ordeals that the characters ultimately face. In turn, the deceitful choices of a few individuals with status impacts whether the lives of lower status people are enhanced.
All of literature is littered with symbolic archetypes, from the night to the forest to the hero to the star crossed lovers, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream is no exception. In this piece, as with every other great work of fiction, Shakespeare shapes his characters and the setting to fit into these universally recognized molds. Before analyzing this piece of literature through these archetypal eyeglasses, it is crucial to understand what archetypes are, and why they are used.
In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare makes heavy use of hyperbole, the twisting of reality into something greater than what it actually is, in both the dialogue and the ridiculous, larger-than-life nature of the situations that occur to provide a basis for the conflict between reality and illusion, blurring the line that separates the two concepts.
Color, for writers through the ages, has been a telling element. A Midsummer Night’s Dream should be no exception to this element. The characters of the story tell a tale of magic; complete with fairies, potions, and a donkey’s head. Each of these effects brings enchantment to the story, charm that can not necessarily be employed naturally on a Middle English stage. The play, itself, talks on the magic that is A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, there are multiple analyses that one can follow in order to reach a conclusion about the overall meaning of the play. These conclusions are reached through analyzing the play’s setting, characterization, and tone. However, when one watches the production A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Michael Hoffman, a completely different approach is taken on these aspects, leading to a vastly different analysis of the work. Though there are many similarities between the original written play A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare and the on-screen production of the aforementioned play which was directed by Michael Hoffman, there are differences in setting and
In conclusion, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare effectively uses the motifs of the seasons, the moon, and dreams to show that love, irrationality, and disobedience directly cause chaos. By calling to mind the seasons in unnatural order, describing the moon behaving strangely, and discussing the dualistic, irrational nature of dreams, Shakespeare effectively evokes a sense of chaos and disorder. Linking each of these motifs to the themes of love, irrationality, and disobedience allows Shakespeare to illustrate the disarray that is bound to result from any romance.
Even his lightest plays have serious undertones to them. Each one depicts life as it once was, complete with the rules and expectations which were common at the time. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare reflects society’s views on love and gender, both in his own time and in ancient Athens.
Comedy in A Midsummer Night's Dream "why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make me afeard. "(3.1.99) This is a quote from the Shakespearean play "A Midsummer Night's Dream. " In this quote, the speaker, Bottom, is wondering why everyone is afraid of him.
Considered to be the greatest playwright to ever have lived, William Shakespeare’s works continue to fascinate and entrance audiences around the world. Imbued with imagery, his comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream is perhaps one of his more fantastic but none the less intricate plays. Presiding over the proceedings, the moon is the uniting feature of the play. With its multi-layered symbolism it is the thread that connects the different characters and weaves the tale together.
Schanzer, Ernest. "_A Midsummer-Night's Dream." 26-31 in Kenneth Muir, ed. Shakespeare: The Comedies: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1965.
In today’s society, the concept of dreaming and dreams, in general, has been featured in a variety of different mediums, such as literature, film and even music. While the mediums of film and music are both prime examples of this concept, the medium of literature, on the other hand, contains a much more diverse set of examples pertaining to dreams and dreaming. One key example is William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While the portrayal of dreams, in general, plays a prominent role in Shakespeare’s play, the exploration of many aspects of nature, allows readers to believe that dreams are merely connected to somewhat unconventional occurrences.
In the first part of the play Egeus has asked the Duke of Athens, Theseus, to rule in favor of his parental rights to have his daughter Hermia marry the suitor he has chosen, Demetrius, or for her to be punished. Lysander, who is desperately in love with Hermia, pleads with Egeus and Theseus for the maiden’s hand, but Theseus’, who obviously believes that women do not have a choice in the matter of their own marriage, sides with Egeus, and tells Hermia she must either consent to marrying Demetrius, be killed, or enter a nunnery. In order to escape from the tragic dilemma facing Hermia, Lysander devises a plan for him and his love to meet the next evening and run-off to Lysander’s aunt’s home and be wed, and Hermia agrees to the plan. It is at this point in the story that the plot becomes intriguing, as the reader becomes somewhat emotionally “attached’’ to the young lovers and sympathetic of their plight. However, when the couple enters the forest, en route to Lysander’s aunt’s, it is other mischievous characters that take the story into a whole new realm of humorous entertainment...
Magic affects both the plot and the environment of William Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as it influences the thoughts and actions of the characters through most of the play. Through its power, magic confuses the characters and creates conflicts between them, but it also solves the conflicts. The character’s use and misuse of magic lead to some of the ridiculous moment of the play.
The title of the play A Midsummer Night's Dream can have many interpretations. I will give you my thoughts on the relationship of the title to the different situations that take place in the play. These interpretations give insight and overall meaning to the thematic nature of Shakespeare's work. Although I am only going to describe three interpretations of the title, there are many other meanings to the title.