England in the 16th century was a Christian country; nevertheless, supernatural beings ( i. e. witches, goblins, fairies and others ) were believed to interfere directly with humans, helping and hindering according to there whims. However, Shakespeare set this play in what is supposed to be Athens, the seat of rationality, logic, order and democracy; nevertheless, Greece is simultaneously known for its vivid polytheistic tradition. Oberon, the fairy King, uses magic and witchcraft in this play; that is, he is determined to have his way with the fairy Queen and obtain the squire boy he infatuatedly covets. Hence, if his own royal gaze proves ineffectual, he will capture Titanias' gaze and refocus it with an aimlessness that would have gratified Cupid:

The next thing than she waking looks upon

Be it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,

Or meddling monkey, or on busy ape,

She shall pursue it with the soul of love.

In his pursuit to dominate his affairs with Titania, King Oberon requests assistance from Robin Goodfella, otherwise

'Twixt sleep and wake,

Magic, paganism and witchcraft are ancient cults. Most of the Shakespearean plays have some references to witches and the supernatural. There is no doubt that fear of the New World and what would be found there contributed to the new wave of witch trials throughout Europe and America. Witchcraft, along with the fear of the new ideas birthed during the Enlightenment and the Renaissance, and a resistance to the change of the world order are all reflected in Shakespeares' writings.

Then forth I fly

And loudly laugh out, ho, ho, ho!

I pinch the maidens black and blue.

Midsummer-Night's Dream offers the opportunity to view witchcraft, magic and the supernatural through the eyes of a seventeenth century writer. This way of looking at Shakespeare's works, as if they were an encapsulated portion of Elizabethan life, strikes me as an incredibly productive way of reading a play, not just as an independent drama, but as a reflection of the way people lived and thought four hundred years ago.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Witchcraft England, Robin Goodfella, Robin Goodfellow, Mediterranean Pan, Midsummer-Night's Dream, Enlightenment Renaissance, William Shakespeare, America Witchcraft, King Oberon, Thomas Percy, william shakespeare, robin goodfella, midsummer-night's dream, ho ho,
Approximate Word count = 872
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)