A Midsummer Night's Dream Research Paper

Perhaps one of the most well known names in literature is William Shakespeare. His writing affects us today in study as well as our modern language. During the year 1588 he began writing plays, and in this period he began his creation of some of the most popular tragedies and dramas still admired today. In the beginning of the 1600s he had a change of pace, and began writing comedies. One of his first lighthearted comedies is known as A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is an admired story of love gained, lost, and misinterpreted. Although it is one of his more humorous plays, it did not lack dimension. Although love isn’t always easy, as Shakespeare shows through his tragedies, it can also cause people to smile and even laugh. To prove this point,

It is implied that they were once in a relationship through Lysander saying, “Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena, and won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, upon this spotted and inconsistent man.” (13-15) Demetrius falls in love with Helena’s best friend resembling a stereotypical romantic comedy movie of today. In relation to the movie genre, Helena’s literal chasing of him through the woods as well as chasing after his heart easily makes her the character in the play the audience is rooting for. She is the most pitied character. Although these moments are comical, they are also some of the more serious moments in the play. He scorns her, yet she remains to hopelessly flock after him. Demetrius also attains that measure of seriousness; he is despondently in love with Hermia despite her love for someone else. Once he falls in love with Helena due to the fairies she immediately believes he is mocking her. Although it is entertaining when Demetrius finally falls in love with Helena, if he doesn’t remain true to his words he will leave her once again broken hearted. He says to Lysander, “Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none. If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guestwise sojourned And now Helen is it home returned, There to remain.”

The couple remains genuine throughout the play. Shakespeare presented a play filled with irony, ridiculous comedy, and immature and mature love. Just as there is a deeper meaning in his tragedies, there is in his comedies. He presented the aforementioned couples in the way he did to not only to cause the audience to laugh, but create an element of realism in his work. Although love can have sad moments, it can also be full of happy and even sidesplitting ones. The play remains a fan favorite through the ages because of its dimension in situations seen in relationships, as well as a hint of the seriousness that remains true to Shakespeare’s writing. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the perfect blend of fictional, realistic, and