“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Shakespeare Essay Example

are getting married in four days. Hermia's father wants her to marry Demetrius, but she loves Lysander. Meanwhile, Helena is infatuated with Demetrius, who has no interest in her. This scene introduces the main characters and sets the tone for the play. In Scene II, we meet a group of working men from Athens called the clowns. These men, including Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, and Starveling, are planning to perform a play called Pyramus and Thisby at the wedding after-party.

The bottom changes his mind and wishes for every part, including his own, at first.

Act II.

Scene I. Introduces Puck, Oberon, and Titania. The scene starts out in the wood at a gathering or party that the fairies are having. You see that Puck is a mischievous and funny character. His master, Oberon, is not getting along with his lady, Titania. He wants to punish her so he decides to play a trick on her.

Oberon tells Puck to bring him a flower, which he will use to anoint Titania's eyes. This will cause her to fall in love with the first thing she sees, preferably something unpleasant. Meanwhile, Oberon observes Hermia chasing after Lysander, desperately asking him to at least acknowledge her presence if he cannot love her.

Oberon feels compassion for her and instructs Puck to put a magic potion on the eyes of "an Athenian" so that he will fall in love with Hermia. However, Oberon does not know the names of the characters at this point, so this is the most specific instruction he can provide to Puck. When Puck comes across Lysander sleeping, he assumes that

this is the Athenian man Oberon spoke of (although Oberon actually meant Demetrius). Helena discovers Lysander, who had been hiding with Hermia (also asleep) in the forest and wakes him. He immediately develops feelings of love for Helena.

Helena becomes confused and angry, accusing Lysander of playing a trick on her. She runs off, with Lysander in pursuit, while Hermia wakes up alone. In the meantime, Oberon applies the flower juice to Titania's eyes, causing her to remain asleep in the wood.

Act III Scene I. The clowns gather in the wood to practice their play. Before they commence, the men discuss the possibility of including a prologue to excuse the lion and deaths in the performance, as they do not wish to cause offense. As they begin rehearsing, Puck enters and mischievously puts a spell on Bottom, causing him to have the head of a donkey. This frightens the other clowns, who flee, leaving Bottom alone in the wood. Despite his new appearance, Bottom sings to show he is not afraid and will not be made a fool. His singing awakens Titania.

Titania falls in love with him instantly and tells him not to leave her (Titania: "Out of this wood do not desire to go." III.i.153). Bottom remains with Titania in Scene II. Oberon and Puck realize the error Puck has made.

He is happy to learn about Titania's love for a mortal with an ass's head, but then Demetrius and Hermia arrive. Hermia, who is searching for Lysander, gets angry at Demetrius and leaves him. Demetrius then lies down to sleep. Helena and Lysander come in and quarrel about his love for her.

She

stated that he has no knowledge of what he is discussing and harbors strong feelings for Hermia. Their argument awakens Demetrius, who immediately becomes infatuated with Helena. Helena angrily confronts him for teasing her alongside Lysander. Hermia arrives, bewildered by the situation.

Confused as to why Lysander no longer dotes on her, Helena blames herself for starting the idea to mock Hermia. The tension escalates as they all engage in a verbal fight, leading Hermia and Helena to leave. Demetrius and Lysander are now determined to fight each other. Puck, meanwhile, enjoys manipulating their thoughts and pretending to be the other man when speaking to them.

The men become even more angry with each other, causing Puck to cast a spell on them and make them fall asleep. Puck applies the juice from the flower to Lysander and Demetrius, causing them to fall in love with the first person they see again. Helena and Hermia each enter separately and go to sleep. Hermia next to Lysander and Helena next to Demetrius.

Act IV.

Scene I. This scene begins with Titania and Bottom in her lair.

Titania's intense affection towards Bottom becomes apparent as they sleep together. Oberon, observing Titania's behavior, begins to feel remorse for the spell he cast on her. By enchanting her, Titania awakens without any love for Bottom. Unaware of the recent events, she finds herself perplexed by the presence of a mortal with a donkey's head in her bed.

Titania and Oberon reconcile and depart together. Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus encounter the slumbering couples in the forest. They awaken them, prompting Lysander to return to his love for Hermia and Demetrius

to develop affection for Helena. They inform Theseus and Egeus that the previous issue (Hermia's forced marriage to Demetrius) no longer remains. Demetrius desires to marry Helena, and she accepts. Similarly, Lysander and Hermia also agree to wed.

Bottom wakes up alone in another part of the forest. He decides not to tell anyone about what happened the night before for two reasons: first, he doesn't fully comprehend everything that occurred, and second,

He would appear foolish if he recounted such a ridiculous tale as if it were real. Therefore, he decides to have Quince compose a song about "Bottom's Dream." In Scene ii, the other clowns in Athens are concerned about Bottom and disappointed that they can no longer perform their planned play. However, when Bottom arrives, they express their joy.

Act V.

Scene I. The final scene of the play.

At the post-celebration of the triple wedding that recently transpired, Theseus makes a request for entertainment to amuse himself, his spouse, and their attendees. Despite rejecting other options, he settles on watching the laborious play that the clowns have arranged. Surprisingly, the audience finds the play to be extremely amusing due to the clowns' lack of preparation. Curiously, they need someone holding a lantern to portray Moonshine because, inexplicably, they are unable to utilize the actual moon as initially planned. Additionally, Bottom (playing Pyramus) and Flute (portraying Thisby) unintentionally forget a few lines.

The prologue is incredibly simplistic and amateurish, causing one to burst into laughter. The concept of utilizing a person as a living wall is equally amusing. By concluding A Midsummer Night's Dream in this manner, a cheerful atmosphere is created for everyone involved, including the reader,

viewer, and so on.

At the conclusion of the scene, Puck delivers a final speech to clarify that the play was all just a dream and no harm was intended, so there is no need to be offended. He concludes by saying, "Give me your hands, if we are friends, And Robin Puck shall make things right again."