A Midsummer Nights Dream

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English 2007

“A Midsummer Nights Dream” Essay

Daniel Sammut 10 B

In the play, “A Midsummer Nights Dream”, written by William Shakespeare, many characters are manipulated to experience love and hate at there most extremes. Oberon, the King of the fairies, uses his wife, Titania, to get what he wants. Hermia, son of Egeus, is forced into such a terrible situation about her fathers directions in who to marry. Hermia, one of the lovers, is also treated in a bad way by Demtrius, who she loves, in whom he does not, and they marry under the influence of a love potion. A Midsummer Nights Dream is a play about love and hate; and how they affect people’s lives and views on life.  

In the play, Oberon uses Titania is such a way that he says it is fair to do these things in love and hate. Titania, the Queen of fairies, has a changeling boy from India in her possession. Oberon, the King, wants this changeling boy as one of his servants, but can’t get it off Titania, his wife. Titania obtained the boy from a mother in India, who perished, and the boy was left with on-one to live with, and Titania thought the boy would be a good servant. Oberon then uses a love potion, and puts it in Titania’s eyes. His aim was that if Titania falls in love with a beast, he will give up a cure for the changeling boy. This potion is useful, as when the victim awakens (as the potion is applied when the victim is sleeping), they will fall in love on what ever lively beast they will see first. Titania falls in love with Bottom, who at that time has an ass’s head on his own head. Oberon then asks for the changeling boy, and surprisingly she accepts. Oberon then removes the potion when Titania no longer loves Bottom. A quote from the book:

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 “What thou seest; when thou dost wake,

Do it for thy true-love take.

Love and Languish for his sake.

Be it ounce, or cat, or bear,

Pard, or boar with bristled hair,

In thy eye that shall appear,

When thou wak’st, it is thy dear,

Wake when some vile thing is near.” (II.II.26-34)

Oberon says this little poem just before he puts the potion into Titania’s eyes. He explains how he really doesn’t care if Titania falls in love with a cat, bear etc, but as long as he gets the changeling boy in his possession. In AMSND, Oberon ...

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