Love in all its variations is a major theme in both William Shakespeare 's A Midsummer Night 's Dream and Woody Allen 's Crimes and Misdemeanors. On the surface, the two authors seem worlds apart. William Shakespeare was born in April of 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was born into the Elizabethan era during the English Renaissance. It was a time of creativity and innovation in culture and the arts. Three hundred seventy one years later in the Bronx, New York on December 1, 1935 in the middle of the Great Depression, Woody Allen is born. At that time, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the Swing era was just beginning, and the clouds of World War II were forming over Europe. As uniquely different as these two authors appear their
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At the end of A Midsummer Night 's Dream the mood is light and cheerful. The characters have just been put through the wringer and now they are ready to celebrate. Love and joy are in the air. All the couples are now happily married and enjoying their merry wedding reception. Hermia and Helena have mended their broken friendship and the former rivals, Lysander and Demetrius are now friends. The "rude mechanicals" present their play to the delight of everyone. Oberon and Titania have reconciled and Puck and the fairies are busy blessing the palace and all who dwell in it. Shakespeare leaves the audience feeling optimistic and hopeful. The author perhaps believes people should never give up on romantic love. The audience watching Woody Allen 's Crimes and Misdemeanors might feel slightly less happy and optimistic at the conclusion of his film. Here too the final scene takes place during a joyous occasion. Ben’s daughter’s wedding day and all our main characters have gathered to celebrate. For the audience, however the mood turns melancholy. We soon discover that Ben has lost his eyesight so he cannot see his daughter get married. Clifford and Wendy are getting a divorce; Barbara is still looking for love in all the wrong places, Judah has rekindled his marriage, but at what cost, and Halley has dashed all of Clifford 's hopes by choosing the superficial Lester over him. Mr. Allen is showing the audience the more hopeless and disappointing side of love. In reality, living happily ever after is a rarity. The author’s view of love is more cynical than Shakespeare’s and yet, he still chooses to end his film on a hopeful note. The last imagine is of Ben, happily dancing with his daughter. Over this scene we hear the voice of Dr. Levy saying, “…It is only we with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying, and even to find joy from
At the end of A Midsummer Night 's Dream the mood is light and cheerful. The characters have just been put through the wringer and now they are ready to celebrate. Love and joy are in the air. All the couples are now happily married and enjoying their merry wedding reception. Hermia and Helena have mended their broken friendship and the former rivals, Lysander and Demetrius are now friends. The "rude mechanicals" present their play to the delight of everyone. Oberon and Titania have reconciled and Puck and the fairies are busy blessing the palace and all who dwell in it. Shakespeare leaves the audience feeling optimistic and hopeful. The author perhaps believes people should never give up on romantic love. The audience watching Woody Allen 's Crimes and Misdemeanors might feel slightly less happy and optimistic at the conclusion of his film. Here too the final scene takes place during a joyous occasion. Ben’s daughter’s wedding day and all our main characters have gathered to celebrate. For the audience, however the mood turns melancholy. We soon discover that Ben has lost his eyesight so he cannot see his daughter get married. Clifford and Wendy are getting a divorce; Barbara is still looking for love in all the wrong places, Judah has rekindled his marriage, but at what cost, and Halley has dashed all of Clifford 's hopes by choosing the superficial Lester over him. Mr. Allen is showing the audience the more hopeless and disappointing side of love. In reality, living happily ever after is a rarity. The author’s view of love is more cynical than Shakespeare’s and yet, he still chooses to end his film on a hopeful note. The last imagine is of Ben, happily dancing with his daughter. Over this scene we hear the voice of Dr. Levy saying, “…It is only we with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying, and even to find joy from