In context to the play, the fairies significance is somewhat vital for the reason that their actions and decisions determine the course of the play. Furthermore, the opening scene is somewhat significant for the reason that it tells the reader the play is a fairy story, thus the role of the fairies is then imperative to some extent. “And then the moon, like to a silver bow new bent in heaven, shall behold the night” implies the notion of a ‘once upon a time story’, hence being a magical tale. Secondly, in correlation to the notion of fate that persists within the real world is determined through the magical droplets of the fairies, hence causing complications and the structure of a plot. For instance, the most apparent complication would be when Puck drops the juice into Lysander’s eyes and not Demetrius. This mistake leads on to the fight between Lysander and Demetrius and Helena and Hermia. However, Oberon as the king of the fairies sees these complications, but decides to deal with them only when is own love is stolen by the head of an ass. “Of thy misprision must perforce ensue some true love turned, and not a false turned true.” (3, 2 90). Furthermore, the fairies metaphorically represent gods within the comedy for the reason that they control the happenings within the real world as they seem to create the complications but then solve them at the end, thus being virtuous and moral; additionally signifying how the play has come full-circle. For example, after mistaking Lysander for Demetrius, the fight between Hermia and Helena, and Titania falling in love with Bottom all portray the complications which then are resolved through the magic of Oberon, as the four lovers get married in Act 5 Scene 1. “Lead these testy rivals so astray as one come not within another’s way.”(3, 2,358) Magic is a very powerful theme in correlation to the fairies as Shakespeare uses it to embody the powers of love and to create a surreal world. Although the misuse of magic causes chaos, it ultimately resolves the play’s tensions by restoring love to balance among the quartet of Athenian youths. Additionally, the ease with which Puck uses magic to his own ends, as when he reshapes Bottom’s head into that of an ass and recreates the voices of Lysander and Demetrius, stands in contrast to the gracelessness of the craftsmen’s attempt to stage their play.
Subsequently, Shakespeare emphasizes the notion of beauty within the play for the reason that marriage is such a sacred event which can only occur when lovers are meant to be. However, the fairies in the role of gods look over this and match the right couples together for a sense of happiness. This sensation was what brought a conclusion to this epic, marking it as a true romantic comedy. Furthermore, the sense of happiness is what the fairies are all about, it seems to be their duty as they unintentionally caused the complications. However, their initiation to solve it signifies the purity in their hearts. On the contrary, the fairies seem to be breaking the Athenian law of love for the reason that Lysander and Hermia’s love was assured by the fairies, hence going against Egeus’s will of marrying her to Demetrius. “And what is mine my love shall render him; and she is mine.”(1, 1, 96) This symbolizes the paradox of beauty and joy the fairies seem to bring into the real world.
The images that occur in the speeches of Puck and the fairies come from nature, using flowers, forests and fountains symbolizing their homes. Shakespeare’s exquisite use of language makes these natural features seem real and magically beautiful to the reader. For instance, the freckles on the flowers become “rubies” decorating their coats, and drops of dew. This personification exemplifies how Shakespeare associates the sense of royalty with the fairies. Furthermore, this depicts the love and harmony that coexists between the world of the fairies and the real world.
The language that Shakespeare imposes into the conversations between the fairies is significant for the reason that they live in a different world, and Shakespeare attempts to make this apparent through the shift in language. Firstly, in much of the dialogue between the fairies, Shakespeare utilizes rhyming verses in order to evoke the magical ambiance of the play. For instance, “With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes; but do it when the next thing he espies.”(2, 1,261) Furthermore, Shakespeare uses all the fives senses in Oberon’s closing statement to show the magical world and beauty of the fairies. The looks represent Shakespeare’s detail as the “enameled” makes the brightness of the snakeskin vivid; the feel of the place- what is the feeling of the snakeskin; taste and smell are appealed in “luscious” whilst the soothing sounds are portrayed through “oxlips” and “musk-roses.”
In conclusion, the fairies have brought a magical beauty to the play which not only emphasizes the notion of love and marriage but further signifies how their actions have led to the conclusion of the play. Their metaphorical characters as gods have allowed the play to come full-circle and solve all complications that have been instigated, even those that don’t concern them, hence marking A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a true romantic comedy.
Rohan Kapoor
