Shakespeare's Presentation of Contrast Relationships

Shakespeare's Presentation of Contrast Relationships

Theseus and Chipolata's relationship is a key element to the play as

all other events and characters are centred around their wedding. For

example, the mechanical's play "Pyramus and Thisby" is to be performed

at their wedding; Oberon and Titania argue over each other's feelings

towards Theseus and Hippolyta, and Hermia is told to

"Take time to pause, and by the next new moon - the sealing day

betwixt my love and me,"

She must wait until after Theseus wedding day before she makes the

decision of whether to marry Demetrius or not. So, in a way some of

the characters actions are controlled by the wedding.

The wedding itself is a symbol of the ideal pattern of love and

marriage in Theseus's own world, which is the court. Theseus won

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons in battle. This suggests that

Hippolyta is more like an object if she is "won" and represents the

typical view that men were superior over women. However with

Hippolyta's character Shakespeare mocks this ideal, as Hippolyta,

being queen of the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women, represents a

very strong and independent woman, therefore does not conform to the

stereotypical view of the "wife."

Theseus and Hippolytas first scene is important as it sets the scene

for the play. Shakespeare stresses the differences between the two.

Theseus is very impatient for their wedding to take place:

" But, O, methinks, how slow this old moon wanes."

Whereas Hippolyta replies,

" Four days will quickly steep themselves into night, four nights will

quickly dream away the time."

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...ong nature of

Titania and Oberon's relationship.

As blank verse is used by Theseus and Hippolyta as a representation of

the court, Oberon and Titania use blank verse as an expression of

disharmony. For example, in the argument. When the two are reconciled

at the end they revert back to couplets.

Oberon and Titania and Theseus and Hippolyta's relationships are

vital. They introduce some of the key themes and ideas central to the

play. All other relationships are in some way linked to them, whether

it is through themes or directly. Shakespeare uses them as a basis for

creating two different worlds, which explore both the conventional and

passionate sides to love and how it can be looked upon in different

ways. They raise the questions should passion rule over reason? Or

does passion in the end give way to reason?