Theme Of Puck In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Robin Goodfellow often referred to simply as Puck is a mischievous fairy that enjoys playing pranks on mortals in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night 's Dream. Puck is Oberon’s jester, and his antics are responsible for many of the complications that launch the conflict of the play. Pucks were a category of spirits who were often sinister, and the Puck of this play is clearly mischievous. In his mischievous ways, he finds this entire situation a joke and entertainment to him. He first appears in Act 2, Scene 1 as he and a fairy discuss the troubles Oberon and Titania are having. In Literary Companion Series, the writer describes Puck as having duties similar to those of the matchmaker Cupid (p. 25). When Titania refuses to give up the challenges that Oberon wants, he sends Puck on a mission. His first task is to retrieve a special flower that contains “love juice.” Oberon learns of the troubles happening between Demetrius and Helena, and instructs Puck to use some of the special flower’s juice on Demetrius, so that he will return Helena’s love. When Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius, he wakes up to Helena and falls in love. To try and fix the situation, Oberon puts the juice on Demetrius’s eyes and soon after wakes up to Helena. Puck is filled with joy as the entertainment of the four young lovers comes together: “Shall we their fond pageant see? /Lord what these mortals be!” (III.ii.114-115). It has been noted that Puck can be seen not only as a spectator of the play’s