William Shakespeare was a playwright, poet, and actor during the Renaissance. Today he possesses two eminent and well-known titles—“the English national poet” and “the greatest dramatist of all time”. The Bard of Avon was not only influential during his time, but he still continues to inspire people today. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare creates an effective and famous comedy with his use of mistaken identity, irony, and the character Puck.
During the Renaissance, a time of “rebirth”, societal developments were a result of questioning personal beliefs: "So the literary revival occurred in a society rife with tensions, uncertainties, and competing versions of order and authority, religion and status, sex and the self" (“English Literature”). …show more content…
Unlike Shakespeare’s other plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream does not rely on disguises to create an intended act of deception, but mistaken identities are accidentally caused by a love potion. The first case of mistaken identity happens when Oberon orders Puck to anoint Demetrius’ eyes with a love potion so he will fall in love with Helena. He also tells Puck that he will recognize him “[b]y the Athenian garments he hath on” (Shakespeare 2.1.251). However, the audience understands that two men wearing Athenian clothing wandering in the forest. Instead of pouring the solution into Demetrius’ eyes, Puck accidentally puts it in Lysander’s. The audience laughs because this ultimately begins the game of mistaken identities and they know this moment will most likely lead to much more confusion. A second case of mistaken identity occurs when Puck puts the love potion in Titania’s eyes, so when she wakes up, she falls in love with the first creature she sees. When she awakens, she mistakes Bottom for a creature worthy of love: “So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape. / And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me / On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee” (Shakespeare 3.1.66-68). Although the audience knows that Bottom is not the most attractive, especially since he has the head of a donkey, they find it funny that someone as beautiful as Titania falls head over heels with the …show more content…
It is tragic that the four lovers are having trouble with their relationships; however, the character Puck and his fun-loving nature offers the audience some comedic relief. Puck has an eagerness to prank anyone and everyone, and he certainly enjoys it. His mischievous “actions are responsible for many of the complications that develop the main plots in a chaotic way” (Bhattacharjee). Specifically in Act 3 Scene 2, Puck interferes with the fight between Demetrius and Lysander, making sure they do not injure each other. To secure their safety, he deceives them by disguising his voice as Lysander’s to lure Demetrius away, and he disguises his voice as Demetrius’ to lure Lysander
During the Renaissance, a time of “rebirth”, societal developments were a result of questioning personal beliefs: "So the literary revival occurred in a society rife with tensions, uncertainties, and competing versions of order and authority, religion and status, sex and the self" (“English Literature”). …show more content…
Unlike Shakespeare’s other plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream does not rely on disguises to create an intended act of deception, but mistaken identities are accidentally caused by a love potion. The first case of mistaken identity happens when Oberon orders Puck to anoint Demetrius’ eyes with a love potion so he will fall in love with Helena. He also tells Puck that he will recognize him “[b]y the Athenian garments he hath on” (Shakespeare 2.1.251). However, the audience understands that two men wearing Athenian clothing wandering in the forest. Instead of pouring the solution into Demetrius’ eyes, Puck accidentally puts it in Lysander’s. The audience laughs because this ultimately begins the game of mistaken identities and they know this moment will most likely lead to much more confusion. A second case of mistaken identity occurs when Puck puts the love potion in Titania’s eyes, so when she wakes up, she falls in love with the first creature she sees. When she awakens, she mistakes Bottom for a creature worthy of love: “So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape. / And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me / On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee” (Shakespeare 3.1.66-68). Although the audience knows that Bottom is not the most attractive, especially since he has the head of a donkey, they find it funny that someone as beautiful as Titania falls head over heels with the …show more content…
It is tragic that the four lovers are having trouble with their relationships; however, the character Puck and his fun-loving nature offers the audience some comedic relief. Puck has an eagerness to prank anyone and everyone, and he certainly enjoys it. His mischievous “actions are responsible for many of the complications that develop the main plots in a chaotic way” (Bhattacharjee). Specifically in Act 3 Scene 2, Puck interferes with the fight between Demetrius and Lysander, making sure they do not injure each other. To secure their safety, he deceives them by disguising his voice as Lysander’s to lure Demetrius away, and he disguises his voice as Demetrius’ to lure Lysander