Theme Of Chaos In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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In a Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare breaks down the belief that people need order and structure to prevent chaos. Although the characters disrespect their elders they face little to no serious consequences and the complications in the story work out in the end. Typically when chaos occurs serious intervention from a powerful authority is needed to fix or alleviate a situation. Chaos and disorder occurs when the characters leave the safe walls of the kingdom. However, relationships are rebuilt outside of the walls as well. In the end, both mayhem and resolution occur outside of the restrictions of a structured society with rules and laws. Once the Athenian people are in the “wild” social order and hierarchy vanishes. In a way the characters resort back to animal instincts and act primal and uncivilized. This may have occurred because of both the love potion mishap and law and order disintegrating once outside of the city’s walls. The forest represents the natural world. The forest renders a safe space for the characters but in reality both danger and desire lies in the woods. The characters associate freedom with being outside of the city. For example, the Athenian workers rehearse their play in the woods in order to escape distractions. The character Quince, who is an Athenian performing in the play, says, “There will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city we shall be dogged with company, and our devices known.” The characters truly believe that being away from