Human emotions and human nature are certainly forces to be reckoned with. When allowed to run awry or shine through, they can lead to less than desirable situations. For example, in the search for power, one may make rash decisions to obtain said power. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by William Shakespeare, focuses on a power struggle between two fairies, a mischievous servant, a group of star crossed lovers, and some disorderly rude mechanicals. Oberon, the fairy king, and his wife Titania get into a spat over who is to take possession over a small changeling child. Instructed by Oberon, Puck, Oberon’s jester, goes out and messes with the rude mechanicals as well as the lovers. Everything that occurs in the woods is a result of rampant
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While conversing with Titania in the forest over who is to take ownership of the boy, Oberon says, “I do beg but a little changeling boy to be my henchman.” (II.i.123-4). He then later says to Titania, “Give me that boy and I will go with thee.” (II. i. 148). This demonstrates how jealous of a person he is by nature. Titania has something that he wants, and he cannot stand that. By acting off of his emotions, he sets a series of unfortunate events into motion. In addition, while arguing with his wife, he asks her, “Why should Titania cross her Oberon?” ( II. i. 122). This also demonstrates how Oberon desires and craves power. He is, in a way, offended that Titania would even cross him seeing as he is higher in power than she. Because of this, Oberon acts on impulse, and creates the confusion in the woods that is seen later in the play. All of these things connect to the greater meaning of the play itself; power is a force to be reckoned with, and in the search for power one may perform irrational acts. One may also do or say things without acknowledging the consequences when emotions are allowed to rule the …show more content…
While he thought he was doing all in his power to help Helena’s dream of finally having Demetrius to herself come true, that certainly wasn’t the case. Oberon instructs Puck, his servant, to apply the love potion to the eyes of Demetrius. He specifically states, “ Thou shalt know the man by the Athenian garments he hath on.” (II.ii.271-2). Oberon’s instructions to Puck were rather unclear, because there was more than one man, who was in the forest at the time, dressed in Athenian garb. As a result of these inexact instructions, Puck applied the potion to the eyes of the wrong man, which only added to the confusion within the woods. At the time, Oberon felt bad that Demetrius did not love Helena in return, so he stepped in to try and fix the situation. Oberon’s actions and words once again display how one may make rash decisions when emotions are allowed to take control in the decision making
While conversing with Titania in the forest over who is to take ownership of the boy, Oberon says, “I do beg but a little changeling boy to be my henchman.” (II.i.123-4). He then later says to Titania, “Give me that boy and I will go with thee.” (II. i. 148). This demonstrates how jealous of a person he is by nature. Titania has something that he wants, and he cannot stand that. By acting off of his emotions, he sets a series of unfortunate events into motion. In addition, while arguing with his wife, he asks her, “Why should Titania cross her Oberon?” ( II. i. 122). This also demonstrates how Oberon desires and craves power. He is, in a way, offended that Titania would even cross him seeing as he is higher in power than she. Because of this, Oberon acts on impulse, and creates the confusion in the woods that is seen later in the play. All of these things connect to the greater meaning of the play itself; power is a force to be reckoned with, and in the search for power one may perform irrational acts. One may also do or say things without acknowledging the consequences when emotions are allowed to rule the …show more content…
While he thought he was doing all in his power to help Helena’s dream of finally having Demetrius to herself come true, that certainly wasn’t the case. Oberon instructs Puck, his servant, to apply the love potion to the eyes of Demetrius. He specifically states, “ Thou shalt know the man by the Athenian garments he hath on.” (II.ii.271-2). Oberon’s instructions to Puck were rather unclear, because there was more than one man, who was in the forest at the time, dressed in Athenian garb. As a result of these inexact instructions, Puck applied the potion to the eyes of the wrong man, which only added to the confusion within the woods. At the time, Oberon felt bad that Demetrius did not love Helena in return, so he stepped in to try and fix the situation. Oberon’s actions and words once again display how one may make rash decisions when emotions are allowed to take control in the decision making