Themes of Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream

A detailed Summary of Themes of Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream

The themes presented by William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream are tied together perfectly, thus exposing the real life problems of the relations between human beings. A main literary theme in this play is the complications and deceptions of true love. Shakespeare shows the reader, through his characters and plot, that love is relatively non-existent unless both lovers involved have mutual understanding. He displays how people only see what they want to see in their lover, ignoring the realistic and negative aspects. Through his characters, plot, and symbolic creations in the play, Shakespeare has created a clear yet complex theme.

In the first trace of events relating to the theme, two of the four lovers (Lysander and Hermia) are unable to arrange their marriage, because of the Athenian law which denies them of approval without their fathers consent. The problems encountered here signify the notion that true love is full of obstacles and complications. Thus, Lysander speaks

Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show

This statement made by Oberon suggests that love itself is at times empty and easily changed or redirected.

Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!" (III, 2, 140-143)

To conclude the development of the theme, all of the lovers get married to the right person. Helena marries Demetrius, who she pursued and loved in the beginning of the play, before any enchantment took place. Lysander marries Hermia, who both loved each other before any enchantment. By making the plot end decorously, Shakespeare shows that love ends happily if the ones in love are sincere, and genuinely in love. Although it did not run "smooth", eventually true mutual love was achieved. Theseus notices the merriment in the lovers. "Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth." (V, 1, 29)

The theme is further developed to portray that love has blindness, and that individuals only see what they wish to see in whom they love. This is evident when Helena pursues D

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 669
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Themes of Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream

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