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Analysis of Shakespeare
A midsummer night's dream analysis
Analysis of Shakespeare
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William Shakespeare, an illustrious and eminent playwright from the Elizabethan Age (16th Century) and part owner of the Globe theatre wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream in which he portrays the theme of love in many different ways. These include the paternal love seen in the troubled times for Egeus and his rebellious daughter Hermia, true Love displayed with the valiant acts of Lysander and Hermia and the destructive love present in the agonizing acts of Titania towards her desperate lover Oberon. Through the highs and lows of love, the first love we clasp is the paternal love from our family. In act 1, Scene 1, we are introduced to the paternal love of Egeus and Hermia. Egeus, being Hermia’s father has all right over who she marries and so he chooses Demetrius as Hermia’s to-be husband however she doesn’t truly love Demetrius and has her heart set in Lysander. This led to troubled times for her as if she didn’t marry Demetrius she had two options: execution or becoming a nun. Theseus Act 1, Scene 1: “Take time to pause; and by the nest new moon— the sealing-day betwixt my love and...
In Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, love appears to be the common theme of several storylines being played out simultaneously. Although these stories intersect on occasion, their storylines are relatively independent of one another; however, they all revolve around the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons. If love is a common theme among these stories, then it is apparent that love makes people act irrationally.
One strange element is why Egeus was so set on Hermia marrying Demetrius. Lysander came from as good a family as Demetrius. Both were well possessed with property and money so Egeus's power is made to seem senseless.
Theseus supports his argument, saying: “Be advised, fair maid / To you your father shall be as a god: / One that composed your beauties; yea, and one / To whom you are but as a form in wax / By him imprinted; and within his power / To leave the figure, or disfigure it” (I.i.48-53). Hermia faces much more serious consequences than her father’s wrath, however. When Hermia states that she loves Lysander, and not her father’s choice, Demetrius, Theseus tells her the full extent of the law. If she did not comply and marry Demetrius, they would send her to a nunnery or condemn her to
Love is only as strong as the people who share it. In William Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, there are relationships from all different viewpoints of love. Four Athenian lovers are caught in a web of love for the wrong person, according to fellow peevish characters. Along the story line of the play, one will be introduced to additional characters that try to be helpful by committing acts they presume will benefit the young lovers, but these characters actually create plot-twists. Also, there are other characters that have the authority to change whatever they feel is necessary without thinking twice. Furthermore, throughout this humored play, Shakespeare portrays various forms of love through arranged marriages, forbidden love, magically tampered love, and unanticipated romances to show how there’s no right or wrong way to love someone.
The relationship between Demetrius and Hermia is problematic, in that Demetrius is seeking the affections of Hermia, while she is in love with Lysander. However, Hermia’s father approves of Demetrius and tries to force her to marry him, but Hermia refuses because of her love for Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.22-82). Lysander points out the flaw in the situation through this comment, “You have her father 's love, Demetrius –/Let me have Hermia 's. Do you marry him,” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.93-94). The second flawed relationship is between Lysander and Helena, as a result of an enchantment put on Lysander that made him fall in love with Helena. Helena does not want the affections of Lysander, but rather the love of Demetrius, and believes that Lysander is taunting her. In addition, this relationship creates tensions because Hermia is in love with Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.2.109-140). Both relationships are not desirable due to a lack of mutual admiration and the creation of non-peaceful and unsatisfying
Love is a powerful emotion, capable of turning reasonable people into fools. Out of love, ridiculous emotions arise, like jealousy and desperation. Love can shield us from the truth, narrowing a perspective to solely what the lover wants to see. Though beautiful and inspiring when requited, a love unreturned can be devastating and maddening. In his play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare comically explores the flaws and suffering of lovers. Four young Athenians: Demetrius, Lysander, Hermia, and Helena, are confronted by love’s challenge, one that becomes increasingly difficult with the interference of the fairy world. Through specific word choice and word order, a struggle between lovers is revealed throughout the play. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare uses descriptive diction to emphasize the impact love has on reality and one’s own rationality, and how society’s desperate pursuit to find love can turn even strong individuals into fools.
The Theme of Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare In the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ many aspects of love are explored. In this essay I will be exploring how Shakespeare conveys the theme of love including illusion, confusion, escape, harmony and lust. Historically, it has been suggested that ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was written for a wedding, signifying the importance of love in this play, however there is no real evidence to prove this myth. Rather, the Lord Chamberlain’s men performed ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ on the London stage.
At the very beginning of the play, Egeus tries to make Hermia (his daughter) marry Demetrius or die. Not wanting to die, she and Lysander (the man she actually loves) decided to run away. In act 1 scene 1 it says, Lysander says, “There gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And to that pursue us. If thou lovest me, then steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night.” This shows that when Egues tried to control Hermia, she did things differently to get what she wanted. In act 1 scene 1 it also says, “To fit your fancies of your father’s will, or else the law of Athens yields you up to death or to vow of a single life...” This evidence describes that Hermia has no other choice but to run
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...
To start off, Shakespeare's elaborate use of figurative language is a huge reason why his writing is still taught centuries after his death. He used an extensive amount of this language to deliver a sense of emotion and depth in what his characters are saying. In some cases, Shakespeare will use figurative language to foreshadow future events in the play. For example, Friar Lawrence is talking to Romeo about the secret marriage he was being asked to do when he states, "These violent delights have violent ends. And in their triumph die, like fire and powder." In this case, Friar is basically reminding the audience that the forbidden lovers will die no matter how much they attempt to fix it. Shakespeare also uses figurative language to indicate a somewhat clear time period when actions take place. When Benvolio is talking to the Montagues about the last time he saw Romeo, he says, " An hour before the worshipped sun/ peered forth the golden window of the east." Shakespeare could have easily used simplistic language to explain the time of day the actions were taking place, but instead he personified the sun in a very pure and beautiful way.
Egeus is a perfect example of how love isn’t difficult. However, the person who messes with it, is. His actions and tongue caused Lysander and Hermia’s affection toward each other painful and problematic. Egeus stated, “You’ll either be executed or you’ll never see another man again”, making Hermia reply with “Lysander and I are running away from here” (Shakespeare 1.1.4). Egeus was angry that Hermia would not marry the man he desired her to marry. Nevertheless, he decided to give her three choices. To be executed, marry the desired man, or become a nun with a vow of celibacy. She immediately declined and refused all of these options. Hermia and Lysander decided to elope to escape the restraint. Love should not be this complicated. The intrusion of Egeus made the love more hard, exhausting, and
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.
In the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, there are a lot of various sorts of love by using different situation in different diverse circumstances. However, we’re going to pick three types of love in this essay Parental Love, False love, and True love. Parental love is shown when Egeus want his daughter to marry a man she does not love. False love is shown when Theseus and Hippolyta are going to get married because he won her in a battle. True love shown when Hermia and Lysander relationship, they runned off despite her father wishes. love is uncertain but, the fact that you never know where it might end up is the mystery. Much the same as in the play who knew whether Hermia and Lysander will end up together, or Helena and Demetrius yet love
Shakespeare can be shown to be a strong influence on many modern aspects of everyday life today, ranging from comedies, tragedies, history, modern television, and many other examples. Shakespeare is well known across the world and will continue to be an influence in the future. His true birthdate is unknown to this day, but his Baptized date was April 26th, 1564 in England.
Real love often becomes a very important theme in Shakespeare’s plays, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. However, it does not evidence in any of the characters. For example, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena all chase real love and think they can find it in each other. In spite of this, it does not quite work out at first, since Lysander and Demetrius both love Hermia, while Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius. Yet as it typically does, everything works out and ‘true love’ wins the day. Seen here, love becomes fleeting, unfulfilling, and often, mistaken.