A Midsummer Night's Dream Research Paper

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy by William Shakespeare that follows the romantic misadventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors in a magical forest. The play is known for its whimsical plot, memorable characters, and explorations of themes such as love, power, and the interference of the supernatural. With its witty dialogue, enchanting setting, and unforgettable scenes, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a beloved classic that continues to captivate audiences today.

Shakespeare proves love to be a powerful emotion that causes the irrationality of human behavior. Titania and Oberon, the King and Queen of the Fairies, have a very rough, unbalanced relationship. As the book goes on, Oberon figures out that Titania

In exact words, he says, "Give me that boy, and I will go with thee." (2.1.143). This interaction causes major conflict between the married couple, actively demonstrating that Oberon isn't really in love with Titania but just wants to materialize their relationship and abuse the true love she shows for him. Not only this, but Oberon is truly in love with control and power instead of Titania doing anything in her power to get his way and what he wants. As a result, Oberon commands Puck, the King of the Fairies, to use a magical potion to deceive and trick Titania into giving the changeling to him after she had already refused the first time, ruining their relationship. "I will watch Titania when she is asleep and drop the liquor of it in her eyes" (2.1.177). This manipulative action builds on my idea or argument that Oberon doesn't care about the love that Titania shows for him but is really in love with control and power by deceiving and fooling his own wife. Shakespeare constructs well-painted images emphasizing that love is a powerful, controlling emotion to be reckoned with and uses

Shakespeare uses the potion to prove that love depicts and blurs the line between reality and fiction in the book. After Puck, instructed by Oberon, accidentally uses the love potion on Lysander, Lysander then rambles about how beautiful his new feelings and emotions that have been transferred from Hermia to Helena are. He compares her using metaphorical language such as "Who will not change a raven for a dove?" ( 2.2.120). This expression of Lysander's feelings distinctly proves that Shakespeare blurs the line between reality and fiction because he manipulates Lysander's emotions into giving this false sense of love and happiness when really he does not love Helena; he loves Hermia, but the potion blended the lines, creating the fictional sense of emotion. Shakespeare's blurring of lines in these situations also carries a lot of conflict and emotion, as this makes Lysander feel anger towards Demetrius, which is not real or true. Confusing what is real and what is fake. Prior to this quote, Demetrius had been in love with Hermia and actively pursued her despite her lack of interest, and after Puck uses the potion, he experiences a sudden change of heart toward Helena. He begins to express his newfound devotion to her by saying things like, "O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! to what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?"(3.2.137). This present