The Moon In A Midsummer Night's Dream Analysis

William Shakespeare’s complex use of imagery and symbolism is what drives his work from being a rudimentary play to an artistic expression of emotions. A typical play from Shakespeare often holds love and romance as a central theme, which applies to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. On the surface, A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays itself as a romantic comedy combined with mystical works and lover’s desires, all of which is played under the moonlight. However, a deeper exploration into the work reveals an acute symbolism through the Moon that manages to unify the play as a whole. A common symbol of fertility, the Moon shows up repeatedly, but its effect on the play is variant and evolves as the play continues, which is Shakespeare’s take on the physical properties of the Moon. In a physical sense, the Moon is always present around Earth but has a different emotional effect depending on its phase, especially the full moon. Similarly, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Moon is …show more content…
As mentioned before, the crescent moon is a parallel for Cupid’s bow and the supernatural force it holds over lover’s desires. We also see that the Moon’s force can cause destruction and pain just like the ocean tides. The Moon, first compared to Cupid’s bow and now to the ocean tides, depicts a powerful symbol; it has a controlling force over humans and the complicated affairs of love. The fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream seem to depict the moon itself. Oberon, Titania, and Puck are all names of Uranus’ moons. This direct reference adds a scientific depth to the symbol of the moon, which has already been established as a thoroughly integrated token of symbolism in the play. Puck, the fairy that caused so much of the confusion within the play, represents the moon’s ability to be destructive and chaotic in