Written sometime between 1590 and 1597, Shakespeare wrote, what is now labeled as, one of Shakespeare’s most famous and original comedy. In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Shakespeare uses forbidden love juxtaposed with arranged marriages to demonstrate that “the course of true love never did run smooth,” (1.1.134). This story develops in Athens, where Hermia loves and wants to marry Lysander, but Hermia’s father, Egeus, does not approve of Lysander and wants Hermia to marry Demetrious. It is written in Athens law that a father has the right to choose whom his daughter may marry, and if she does not want to, she must either turn into a nun or be put to death. Egeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrious go before Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to explain
…show more content…
At the same time in the story, there is another plot developing where Oberon, the king of the fairies, and Titania, the queen of the fairies, are having some troubles. Oberon decides to use a magic potion that if rubbed over the eyes while sleeping, will make that person madly in love with the first person they see when they wake, on Titania but decides to try to get Demetrious and Helena together when he sees them. Oberon asks Puck, one of his fairies, to fetch this flower so he may use it to get what he wants from Titania. Oberon also asks Puck to go out and use the potion on Demetrious so he would fall in love with Helena, but Puck gets Lysander and Demetrious mixed up, and in that way bring a comedic effect to the play. In the end, Theseus overrides the law and allows the two couple to be married. Shakespeare has used the forbidden love theme throughout his plays, and in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” he uses it to create the drama in the comedy. Athenian law stated at that time that the father had the right to choose who his daughter will marry, and if she does not, she could either turn into a …show more content…
Being that, Theseus asks them, “I know you two are rival enemies. / How comes this gentle concord in the world, / That hatred is so far from jealousy / To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?” (4.1.135-139), because since the last time they met Hermia had to pick between marrying Demetrious, nunnery or death. Even though they aren’t able to explain what happened in the forest, it shows that the forest is, “a place where strange things can happen and a place where fairies and hybrid beasts can happily co-exist … [and] where dreams and reality co-exist,” (Kerr 8). As a result, Theseus says, “Of this discourse we more will hear anon. – / Egeus, I will overbear your will. / For in the temple by and by with us / These couples shall eternally be knit,” (4.1.171-174). As a final point, Rhoads explains that the fairies did all they could to put these couples together, but Theseus had the most important role in if their relationship lasted outside the forest, “They have sorted out the lovers so that they are paired harmoniously, and they have produced constancy in the three sets of lovers,” (3). In conclusion, Shakespeare was able to show through Demetrious with Helena and Lysander with Hermia that, “the course of true love never did run smooth,” (1.1.134) but, a happy ending can be achieved with the wedding of Demetrious with Helena,
At the same time in the story, there is another plot developing where Oberon, the king of the fairies, and Titania, the queen of the fairies, are having some troubles. Oberon decides to use a magic potion that if rubbed over the eyes while sleeping, will make that person madly in love with the first person they see when they wake, on Titania but decides to try to get Demetrious and Helena together when he sees them. Oberon asks Puck, one of his fairies, to fetch this flower so he may use it to get what he wants from Titania. Oberon also asks Puck to go out and use the potion on Demetrious so he would fall in love with Helena, but Puck gets Lysander and Demetrious mixed up, and in that way bring a comedic effect to the play. In the end, Theseus overrides the law and allows the two couple to be married. Shakespeare has used the forbidden love theme throughout his plays, and in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” he uses it to create the drama in the comedy. Athenian law stated at that time that the father had the right to choose who his daughter will marry, and if she does not, she could either turn into a …show more content…
Being that, Theseus asks them, “I know you two are rival enemies. / How comes this gentle concord in the world, / That hatred is so far from jealousy / To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?” (4.1.135-139), because since the last time they met Hermia had to pick between marrying Demetrious, nunnery or death. Even though they aren’t able to explain what happened in the forest, it shows that the forest is, “a place where strange things can happen and a place where fairies and hybrid beasts can happily co-exist … [and] where dreams and reality co-exist,” (Kerr 8). As a result, Theseus says, “Of this discourse we more will hear anon. – / Egeus, I will overbear your will. / For in the temple by and by with us / These couples shall eternally be knit,” (4.1.171-174). As a final point, Rhoads explains that the fairies did all they could to put these couples together, but Theseus had the most important role in if their relationship lasted outside the forest, “They have sorted out the lovers so that they are paired harmoniously, and they have produced constancy in the three sets of lovers,” (3). In conclusion, Shakespeare was able to show through Demetrious with Helena and Lysander with Hermia that, “the course of true love never did run smooth,” (1.1.134) but, a happy ending can be achieved with the wedding of Demetrious with Helena,