William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is still relevant, for it contains allusions, imagery, and similes to which audiences can still relate today. Shakespeare uses those three literary devices to help the reader understand the play clearly. In the play, Shakespeare uses allusions to give the reader another way to look at what is happening in his play. Egeus tells Theseus “But this other man has cast a spell over my child’s heart” (page 5). This sentence is an allusion of a mythological character named Cupid. This boy has taken her heart like Cupid when he shoots people with arrows and casts a spell over their hearts. When Egeus approaches Theseus he says “Long live Theseus, our famous and respected duke” (page 3). This sentence is an allusion of a group of mythological characters called olympians. Theseus is great and powerful, just like the olympians that live on Mount Olympus. Helena tells Demetrius “Stop! Stop if only to kill me” (page 59). This sentence is an allusion of a mythological saying about Achilles heel. Demetrius is Helena’s weakness just like Achilles only weakness was his heel. All of the allusions give another perspective for the
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Puck is talking about Lysander and says “He is wearing Athenian clothing” (page 59). This sentence tells what he is wearing so you start to see that type of clothing on a young boy. Helena is talking about Hermia and says “She is talking about our difference in height” (page 107). Helena is stating their major difference in height so that you can picture two girls where one is tall and one is short. Oberon is talking about Helena and says “She’s lovesick, and her face is pale from all the sighing she’s been doing, because sighing is bad for the blood” (page 91). Oberon is telling how sad and flushed Helena’s face is. When Shakespeare uses imagery it gives a mental picture so you can see what is happening as you
Puck is talking about Lysander and says “He is wearing Athenian clothing” (page 59). This sentence tells what he is wearing so you start to see that type of clothing on a young boy. Helena is talking about Hermia and says “She is talking about our difference in height” (page 107). Helena is stating their major difference in height so that you can picture two girls where one is tall and one is short. Oberon is talking about Helena and says “She’s lovesick, and her face is pale from all the sighing she’s been doing, because sighing is bad for the blood” (page 91). Oberon is telling how sad and flushed Helena’s face is. When Shakespeare uses imagery it gives a mental picture so you can see what is happening as you