A Midsummer Night's Dream And Pyramus Similarities

“Pyramus and Thisbe” tells the story of two young lovers who are forbidden to be together due to the fact that their families are enemies. William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the story of the chaos and craziness that surrounds the days prior to Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. In both of these stories, the reader is able to find several similarities and differences. When looking at the similarities, the reader sees several. First, a similarity between the two works is that the couples in each story are forbidden to be married. “Pyramus and Thisbe” demonstrates, “They would gladly have married, but their parents forbade.” A Midsummer Night’s Dream also shows, “As she is mine, I may dispose of her, Which shall be either to

First, one difference between “Pyramus and Thisbe” and A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the setting of the story. “Pyramus and Thisbe” shows “Pyramus was the handsomest youth, and Thisbe the fairest maiden, in all Babylonia.” This shows that the setting of this story is Babylonia. A Midsummer Night’s Dream contrasts, “Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments.” and “Happy be Theseus, our renowned Duke!” These two quotes show that Theseus is the Duke of Athens, therefore the setting of this play is Athens. In “Pyramus and Thisbe” there are lions in the Babylonian wilderness, so that is another way readers know that the settings of the two works differ. Secondly, the literary creations differ because one set of characters is able to be married and the other is not. “Pyramus and Thisbe” states, “And ye, unhappy parents of us both, deny us not our united request.” This quote shows that Pyramus and Thisbe were not allowed, under any circumstance, to be married. However, A Midsummer Night’s Dream offers, “For in the temples, by and by, with us, these couples shall be eternally knit.” This quote shows that each couple will be permitted to be married. Thirdly, the stories differ in the fate of the characters. “Pyramus and Thisbe” states, “I will follow thee in death, for I have been the cause.” This quote shows that both lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, commit suicide so that they can be together in the afterlife. However, A Midsummer Night’s Dream contradicts, “Three and three, We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.” This quote shows that the couples will be happily married and celebrated in their earthly life. Unlike Pyramus and Thisbe, the couples are allowed to be together before their deaths. These are just a few of the differences between the two literary