“These are the forgeries of jealousy…
But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport…
The seasons alter…
The spring, the summer, the childing autumn, angry winter, change…”
This speech of titanias shows us that the seasons and all the growth of nature are changed because of their jealousy arguments and disagreements. This is because Oberon and Titania are king and queen of immortals and have control over them and all nature. Their argument causes evil to occur. Later in the play when they are reconciled they bring blessing to the mortal world.
He therefore decided to teach his wife a lesson when she refuses to give him “the little Indian boy”. Puck is told to bring back a flower love-in-idleness, the juice of this shows no pity for his wife when she wakes and falls in love with bottom. Though hideous with the head of an ass fixed upon his shoulders she thinks of him.
“What angel wakes me from my bed?”
Titania wakes up with the juice controlling her, she has no choice over what she is about to do. The man she loves and adores is filthy and disgusting he also has an ass’s head on his shoulders, but she still calls him an angel. Her husband must be some sad person to allow this to carry on. It seems odd that anyone would allow this to carry on seen as they are married, its also very unkind that Oberon allows his wife to find someone else attractive.
While Oberon enjoys his wife’ predicament he tells puck to stop Demetrias from treating Helena so badly by putting the love juice on to Demetrias eyes. If Oberon had not interfered, a lot of the play would not of happened. Shakespeare uses Oberon as the centre character around whom the story resolves.
Oberon is a man of many parts. As his mood changes so do his actions, as his actions change so does the atmosphere of each scene.
When we first meet Oberon, he is sarcastic and angry towards his wife Titania. Puck had warned that it would be better if the king and fairy queen did not meet.
“The king doth keep his revels here to-night.
Take heed the queen come not within his sight;
For Oberon is passing and wrath,
Because that she as her attendant hath”
“Ill watch titania when she is asleep,
And drop the liquor when of it in her eyes.
The next living thing when she’s walking looks upon-
Be it a lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, on meddling
Monkey, or a busy ape- she shall
Pursue it with the soul of love”…
Oberon is jealous of Titania, he wants the little Indian boy, and Titania won’t give Oberon the boy. So Oberon puts love-in idleness on Titania’s eyes when she is asleep, Oberon makes Titania look like a fool; Titania couldn’t control her feelings for puck because of Oberon.
When they do meet we realise just how powerful and vicious Oberon can be when angry! It is obvious that mortals suffer when these two quarrel! It is obvious they have quarrelled many times before.
Titania leaves Oberon’s “bed and company” we see how determined Oberon is to have the little Indian boy, his wife refuses.
While angry with his wife Oberon feels sorry for Helena when he hears Demetrias treats her badly. How strange that Oberon intends to use the flower juice on his own wife to misuse and embarrass her. The swing of the emotion is typical to mood swings through the play.
It is Oberon that controls the lives of the other characters and brings changes of mood and atmosphere. It is he who moves he story to a happy end. When Titania agreed to give Oberon the little Indian boy he takes the juice of her eyes. The lover’s muddles are sorted out and they are happy.
This is a very different Oberon from which we see at the start of the play, he is a much better person. In the same way he acts like a spoilt child.
