A Mid Summer Nights Dream

Love looks not with the eyes,

But with the mind;
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind
Shakespeare
About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England on April, 1564. He
was the greatest Playwright and poet. He married Anna Hathaway in 1582. He was died in
1616. He wrote 37 memorable plays and A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of them.
The theme of the play
David Bevington argues that the play represents the dark side of Love. He writes that the
fairies make light of Love by mistaking the lovers. Hermia and Lysander both met by Puck.
However the play also intimates to serious themes. At the end of the play, Theseus and
Hippolyta got happily married.
The theme of this play is look like as Romantic Comedy. This play represents the fine flower of
Romantic Comedy in English literature.
Introduction
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a Romantic Comedy written by the greatest play writer
William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1597. This play is Shakespeare's most popular works
and performed across the world. This play is really the best comedy in English literature.
Characters
The Athenians
1. Theseus

Duke of Athens

2. Hippolyta

Queen of Amazon and was love of Theseus

3. Egeus

Father of Hermia. He wants that his daughter marry Demetrius

4. Hermia

Daughter of Egeus and was in love with Lysander

5. Helena

Hermia's friend and in love with Demetrius

6. Demetrius

First he loved Hermia but after he loves Helena

7. Lysander

He was in love with Hermia at first but later he loves Helena and

then he returns to love Hermia.

The Fairies
1. Oberon

Titania's husband and the king of the Fairies

2. Titania

Oberon's wife and the queen of the Fairies

3. Puck

Servant of Oberon and was a great magician

4. Bottom

A man with asss face

5. Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed -

Fairy servant to Titania

Main (Opening) Scene

A Midsummer Night's Dream opens with a short conversation between Theseus and
Hippolyta. They both were talking about their marriage. Then the father of Hermia, Egeus
arrived with his daughter Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius. He complains against his daughter
who did not follow his rules. Egeus asks Theseus to judge them and to force Hermia to marry
Demetrius or allow him to kill his daughter, Hermia.
The law of Athens
The law of Athens was so strict. Theseus gave only two options to Hermia: First she
would marry Demetrius or second she must join nunnery.
The law of Athens was painful to Hermia. Theseus also gave time to Hermia to take a
decision till his wedding.
Decision of Lovers
Because of the law of the Athens Hermia and Lysander both were put in miserable
condition. So they both decided to meet in the woods next night that they can escape the law of
Athens and marry in Lysander's aunts house.
Helenas Soliloquy
Helena plaints that Demetrius loves Hermia and wants to marry her. Helena monologues
that she will tell Demetrius about the plan of Hermia. Helena thinks that this might make
Demetrius starts to love her again.

 Contention between Oberon and Titania

Oberon and Titania began to criminate each other of infidelity and jealousy. Titania has
stolen a boy and kept with her. She spends much of her times to care the boy. Oberon got
jealous of that and he orders Titania to give boy to him but Titania refuses him and went out.
Oberons Oath
After Titania departs, Oberon vows to get revenge from Titania. Oberon sends Puck to
bring out some pancy juice which used to make a person to fall in love with first thing he or she
sees after waking up. Oberon's plan is to put the juice in the eyes of Titania while she sleeps, so
that she will fall in love with the person whose face is looking like as donkey. Puck obeys him
and leaves and Oberon hides himself in wood.
Conversation between Helena and Demetrius
Helena and Demetrius also arrive in the wood where Oberon is hidden. Demetrius urges
Helena to go away and tells her that he does not love her. Helena threatens her not to leave her
alone in the wood. Oberon heard the entire conversation of Helena and Demetrius.
Perplexity of the play
Oberon, having overheard the entire conversation, decides to make Demetrius falls in
love with Helena. He calls out Puck to take some of the juice and drop in the eyes of the
Athenian man in the wood. Puck agrees.
Oberon takes opportunity and sprays the pancy juice in the eyes of Titania. Thereafter
Lysander and Hermia tired of walking decided to sleep. But Hermia demands Lysander to sleep
some distance away from her because of her modesty, since they are not married. Puck sees
Lysander sleeping away from Hermia and thinks that Lysander is the man that Oberon has
talked about. Puck drops juice into Lysanders eyes.
At the other side, Demetrius leaves Helena in the wood. Helena begs him to stop but he
refuses and left Helena alone in the wood. There Helena sees Lysander asleep. She shakes
him to awake. And therefore Helena becomes the first woman that Lysander sees. Lysander
falls in love with Helena. He tells Helena that he loves her deeply, but Helena thinks that it is a
joke and tells to stop.

Then Lysander decides to forget about Hermia and follows Helena. At the same time,
Hermia also awake seeing a scared dream. She calls Lysander, but Lysander is not near at
there. So Hermia leaves to search Lysander.
At that time, Titania wakes up and sees bottom with the ass's head and she falls in love
with him. Titania begs him to sing and to remain in the forest with her.
The Puck returns to Oberon and tells him about what happened with Titania. Oberon
goes happy to hear this. He then asks about the Athenian man. And that time Hermia and
Demetrius arrive.
Hermia convinced that Demetrius has killed Lysander and therefore she curses
Demetrius. She finally went away leaving Demetrius asleep in front of Oberon. Oberon angry
that Puck has ruined his plan to make Demetrius falls in love with Helena. He ordered Puck to
get her back. Puck soon returns with Helena and Lysander.
Helena tells that Lysander is mocking with her and tells that there is no truth in his words
of love. Then unknowingly Helena wakes up Demetrius. Demetrius sees Helena and fall in love
with her. Thus Lysander and Demetrius started to quarrel about that which man love Helena
much.
In the middle of this quarrel Hermia arrives. She shocked by Lysanders words and
couldnt believe that Lysander actually loves Helena. Hermia tries to break out this fight and
stop Lysander, but Lysander turns down her calling serpent. And finally Lysander and
Demetrius leave with the fight to each other.
Oberon sees entire spectacle and ordered Puck to separate Lysander and Demetrius.
Then Oberon tells him to make Lysander sleeps and to drop juice in Lysanders eyes that he
can fall in love with Hermia. Puck makes both men asleep and then finds two women and brings
them close to their lovers and Puck also makes them sleep. Then Puck sprinkles the juice in
them.
At the other side, Oberon sees his queen, Titania sleeping. He wakes her up. Titania
starts to love Oberon again. Titania thinks that she dreamed about being in love with ass. But
she sees that bottom is sleeping besides her. Then Oberon tells her that they will dance in
Theseus and other two couples marriage.
Sometimes later, Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus arrive where the lovers are sleeping.
Theseus wakes them up by sounding the horn.

Then Lysander expresses his love for Hermia and Demetrius too expresses his love for
Helena. Thus, Theseus decided that at that day all the three couples will marriage in Athens.
Finally they all are separated.
At the end, the three couples married in Athens. Oberon and Titania come to bless
Theseus and Hippolyta and two other couples. They dance together and leave.
In the end, Puck says to audience that if someone did not like the play, then they should
imagine that it was all a dream.
Like Shakespeare says
We are awake? It seems to me, we dream.!!
Criticism of the play
John Dryden preoccupied with the question of whether fairies should be depicted on
theatrical plays, since they did not exists.
Charles Gildon in the early 18th century recommended this play for its beautiful
reflections, descriptions and similes.
Thus, it is said that
The course of true love never did run smooth

Writer,
Hitesh L. Goswami
Arts College Lavana.
Mo. 7698700462