Order and chaos have been popular literary elements in all types of literature throughout history. In Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, order and chaos play important roles in all the acts of the play. The backgrounds and locations of the play reflect these different themes in various ways. Additionally, the characters are very representative of control and anarchy. Moreover, the actions of the characters are also mediums with which Shakespeare conveys these two important aspects of the plot. The lovers in the play and how they differ do not obviously portray the chaos and order concepts. In Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, order and chaos are portrayed through the play’s settings, characters, and other specific plot components.
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However, even the rude mechanicals and Puck are symbolic of one of the two themes. The lovers can be associated with either one of the themes, depending on the point in time in the story. For instance, Theseus and Oberon are symbolic of orderliness throughout the story, but Hermia and Lysander are not as easily defined. Theseus attempts to resolve the quarrel concerning the arranged marriage of Hermia and Demetrius in a calm, equitable fashion. Similarly, Oberon seeks to stop the chaos that ensues in the forest after Puck’s mistakes. Thus, these two roles embody much of the play’s sense of authority and discipline. The lovers in the story are very representative of chaos during the scenes that take place in the forest. The fights, arguments, and confusion are where most of the play’s conflict comes from and these characters are at the center of it. However, towards the final act of the play, the lovers are depicted calmly watching the play with Theseus and Hippolyta. Given this information, one could argue that these roles undergo a transition from order to chaos with the coming of the play’s resolution. Additionally, Puck is almost the sole cause of the play’s conflict which makes him an enormous factor in the chaos theme. Puck’s mistakes on his mission from Oberon lead to confusion and excitement in circumstances that would otherwise be
However, even the rude mechanicals and Puck are symbolic of one of the two themes. The lovers can be associated with either one of the themes, depending on the point in time in the story. For instance, Theseus and Oberon are symbolic of orderliness throughout the story, but Hermia and Lysander are not as easily defined. Theseus attempts to resolve the quarrel concerning the arranged marriage of Hermia and Demetrius in a calm, equitable fashion. Similarly, Oberon seeks to stop the chaos that ensues in the forest after Puck’s mistakes. Thus, these two roles embody much of the play’s sense of authority and discipline. The lovers in the story are very representative of chaos during the scenes that take place in the forest. The fights, arguments, and confusion are where most of the play’s conflict comes from and these characters are at the center of it. However, towards the final act of the play, the lovers are depicted calmly watching the play with Theseus and Hippolyta. Given this information, one could argue that these roles undergo a transition from order to chaos with the coming of the play’s resolution. Additionally, Puck is almost the sole cause of the play’s conflict which makes him an enormous factor in the chaos theme. Puck’s mistakes on his mission from Oberon lead to confusion and excitement in circumstances that would otherwise be