Oberon A Midsummer Night's Dream

In the 1998 movie version of the A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Micheal Hoffman the boy is presented as Titania is explains all the effects the warring between herself and oberon has had on the human world. The timing of this presentation in conjunction of these disastrous effects almost creates the impression to the viewers that the boys is in fact some sort of power source for theses fairies. Using this as a justification for Oberon’s desire for the changeling child makes the request for the boy sound much more like a desire for actual manipulative power rather then sexual satisfaction. This performance choice creates an Oberon that is simultaneously power hungry and also sympathetically caring towards Helena. This is a dynamic character

First, Oberon decides to distract Titania with the love drugs Puck has obtained from the flower that was struck by Cupids stray arrow. Oberon intention is to distract Titania with an overbearing infatuation for someone so that she wont notice when Oberon steals the young foster boy. As discussed above, Oberon’s motivation wanting control of this boy can be performed and interpreted in many different ways. The fact of the matter, however, is that regardless of the motivation the results will always be Oberon drugging his wife in her sleep. This is an act which to modern eyes is almost universally frowned upon, and never an activity accosted with a caring leader. Oberon accomplishes his goal with Titania without missing a beat he makes a spilt decision to drug more people. Oberon’s decision to once again use drugs on unconsenting adults some when he oversees Helena’s advances be harshly denied by Demetrius. Oberon develops a sympathetic kindness towards the intentions of young Helena. This use of drugs seems much more kind and forgivable. Oberon is essentially doing what Shakespeare as a author always does in his plays by given the young single girl the man of her desire. However, Oberon is still just drugging people, point that often gets lost in the discussion as soon as the human couples and Puck are brought into the mix (Bevington