The Role Of Magic In A Midsummer Night's Dream

In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we look into the lives of many different characters, several of which have profounding roles throughout the play. At the beginning of the play we meet an Athenian man named Egeus; the father of Hermia. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father has ordered her to marry Demetrius. Demetrius is in love with Hermia as well but with the help from a magical fairy falls in love with Helena,much to her liking because she is in love with him, by the end of the play. The most prominent role in the play is a fairy named Puck; Jester to Oberon the fairy king. Puck is a mischievous, comical elf-like character that is sent out throughout the play by King Oberon to tie up loose ends with the young Athenian lovers. Puck uses his magical powers with a flower love potion to inject conflict amongst many of these main characters. The use of magic is apparent through much of the play. Puck also creates …show more content…
Puck’s role was the turning point in the middle of all the conflict and humor that had all characters in the play working towards the greater good for all who were involved. By the end of the play Hermia and Lysander were able to achieve what they had set out to do and they were able to elope in good graces with Egeus at Theseus and Hippolyta 's wedding. Without Puck and all the conflict he stirred up with cupid 's potion, this dramatic comedy would have had nothing. In the final part of the play Puck mentions that all of this could just be a dream and to not even worry about everything that took place. “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber 'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend:And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent 's