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Midsummer Night's Dream Research Paper

1432 Words6 Pages

Essay For English - Jasmine Owen 8Eng1

Written during the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare explored the ideas and values of the time period through out his play Midsummer Night’s Dream which holds three plot lines the dispute of love between Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena, second: the play presented by the mechanicals and the last is the hatred of Titania from Oberon for not handing him the Indian changeling.These ideas in turn are further explained through: morals and love, power and status and his love for fantasy, which all hold a valuable lesson which is to be told.

Shakespeare has challenged the Elizabethan views on love and morals through the conflict between Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena. He states that people should have a choice of their own, you should always follow your heart and what you believe in. Parents don’t always give the correct advice, parents’ advices should be used as a guide line to assist you in making …show more content…

I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,
The more you beat me I will fawn on you.
Use me but as your spaniel: spur me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
What worser place can I beg in your love…
Than to be used as you use your your dog?” - Helena
(Page 39, Lines 202 -210)

This proves that the Elizabethan standard rules of romance was cruel leaving people unable to freely follow their hearts. Women who were in love were unable to share their feelings without approval of parents and society rules.

The next challenge to the Elizabethan views on the social hierarchy of the time intertwining with Athenian Law. Shakespeare further explores it through Theseus, Egeus and The Mechanicals In act 1, Egeus is having a dispute with Hermia and asks Theseus for support, even though Theseus would like to side with Hermia he must keep his reputation as a wealthy and high of status Athenian citizen and says:

“ What say you Hermia? Be advised, fair

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