How does Shakespeare make men appear stronger than women in his play "A Midsummer Nights Dream "
How does Shakespeare make men appear stronger than women in his play "A Midsummer Nights Dream "? How does this affect society at the time of writing? "A Midsummer Nights Dream" was written by William Shakespeare and was rumoured to be written around 1598, when Elizabeth the 1st was on the throne. The reason that it is believed to be written around this era is that at the time there was a few years of bad weather in England. This links to the effects of Titania and Oberon's argument over the changeling child whereby the fairy and mortal world are changed. Titania is the Queen of the fairies and Oberon is the King of the fairies. In this essay I will be providing evidence that men seem stronger than women in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" by using quotations and personal reasons. As 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' is set in Athens and there are four main groups of characters, the lovers, the mechcanicals Theseus, the duke of Athens is getting married to Hippolyta, the Queen of amazons. Egeus has chosen a husband for his daughter, Hermia, who has refused to marry Demetrius. Egeus has gone to the Duke to ask him what he can do about his uncooperative daughter. The Dukes solution is to punish Hermia for disobeying her father; to die or to marry Demetrius. This contradicts my essay title that men are more powerful than women, however, this is only one of the very few times when women
The Customs of Marriage and the Rights of Women in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Diana Best March 11, 2003 Shakespeare Dr. McHenry The Customs of Marriage and the Rights of Women in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream It is hard to imagine in today's world that there could be or ever have been restrictions on the choice of one's spouse or the bonds of marriage. Yet history shows that only recently has the freedom to choose one's spouse become a reality, more so for women than for men. Women's rights, especially when it came to choosing a mate, were minimal. Marriages for women tended to be arranged, pre-paid, or not allowed before, during, and after the 16th century. One might wonder what rights did women have concerning marriage and how can they be seen in the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare. According to "The Law's Resolutions of Women's Rights," published in 1632, women were taught from birth that they were inferior to men. It was a common belief at the time that women were the "authors of original sin who lured men away from God and salvation" (Tudor Women, 2). Young women, from birth had few rights whether born into privilege or not. The women born into nobility or the upper classes such as Hermia, Helena, and Hippolyta, were given the opportunity to be educated, but mostly in the ways of housewifery such as how to manage a household, needlework, music, meal preparation, and duty to their future mate. All of these
What qualities would you look for in casting the actors playing Lysander and Demetrius and how would you direct Act 3, scene 2 of the play to bring out the differences/similarities between the characters?
What qualities would you look for in casting the actors playing Lysander and Demetrius and how would you direct Act 3, scene 2 of the play to bring out the differences/similarities between the characters? In my version of 'A Midsummer's night dream,' the qualities I would look for in casting my Lysander and Demetrius are that they need to look different, so as for the audience to be able to tell them apart. Demetrius is an authoritarian, slightly militaristic, not very likeable guy, for example in Act 1 he is seen as the 'bad guy' who is trying to separate the lovers, Lysander and Hermia 'Thy crazed title to my certain right.' Then when he is put under Puck's spell I would have him suddenly turn into a dopey love-fiend, therefore an actor is needed who can create this dramatic change of character. Lysander on the other hand is the classic romantic hero. He loves Hermia until they go into the woods and his darker side is revealed when the fairies put drugs in his eyes. Therefore, I would cast someone who's slight and vocally soft. I would cast a very good actor as the character of Lysander is a young Mr. Right, sensitive, sweet and supporting. But when the spell is cast on him, and he falls in love with Helen and renounces Hermia, I would have him become pure comic, as we know from Act 1 'do you marry him' that he is a joker. So his expressions would be exaggerated, and his
What makes Act 3 Scene 2 in a “midsummer night's dream” a ‘pivotal’ scene?
Luke Plant 10S8 English Coursework 09/06/2002 What makes Act 3 Scene 2 in a "midsummer nights dream" a 'pivotal' scene? In this essay I will discuss arguments for and against the statement that Act 3 Scene 2 is the 'pivotal' scene in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream. The events which take place in this scene are somewhat erratic and confusing so I will try to break them down into more manageable sections so they are easier to analyse and therefore make clearer and more concise points to put into my arguments. Act 3 Scene 2 begins directly after Titania falls in love with Bottom ( the ass ). This is one of the more comedic elements in the play and therefore will set a relaxed and up-beat atmosphere for the next scene ( Act 3 Scene 2 ). Also after this scene I feel there is a lot more order and less confusion as Oberon and Puck sort out Titania and bottom. This places Act 3 Scene 2 at the forefront of the most exciting section of the play but also to emphasise this it is just after the laming effects on Act 3 Scene 1. The scene begins with Puck telling the audience what he has done in the previous scene. He uses lines such as, "my mistress with a monster is in love," and " an ass's nole I fixed on his head," and I think Shakespeare has used this to emphasise the comedic
Shakespeare - Midsummer Night's Dream "In what ways (and to what ends) does Shakespeare use metamorphosis?"
Shakespeare - Midsummer Night's Dream LT111-1 "In what ways (and to what ends) does Shakespeare use metamorphosis?" Throughout this play, Shakespeare employs the theme of metamorphosis (through the inclusion of the fairies and their magic) not only to further the story as an indirect plot device but also to highlight the play's other prevalent themes (e.g.: love, marriage, gender, jealousy, etc.). Despite the undertones of 'tragedy', the play is primarily concerned with comedy, the employment of both ideological and physical metamorphosis throughout providing the basis for the comedic elements. The majority of the comedy revolves around the derision and scorn of the craftsmen whose inclusion supplies the humour in their woeful attempt at writing a tragedy (a scene specifically calculated to amuse regular theatregoers and urban sophisticates) and the patronising tones by which they are addressed (regarded as 'hempen homespuns', III.1.70 and 'hard-handed men...which never laboured in their minds until now', V.1.72-3 by Robin and Philostrate respectively). On a more base comedic note, Bottoms physical metamorphosis also serving to belittle the craftsmen further as well as the humorous pun regarding his name coupled with the fact that he is transformed into an ass. A 'Midsummer Nights Dream' is, above all else, a play about metamorphosis, the alteration or change from
Are the four teenage lovers fools - A Midsummer nights dream
A Midsummer Nights Dream In Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the mortal teenage characters fall in love foolishly, and the character Bottom states, "O what fools these mortals be". They are foolish because they act like children. Although Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius, and Helena appear grown-up, when they are in love they act foolishly. The four teenage lovers are fools. Demetrius is a fool because he is unaware that his love changes through out the play. At the start of the play Demetrius does not love Helena. (II ii,line 188) Demetrius says, "I love thee not, therefore pursue me not." (II ii,line 194) "Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more." In III ii, Demetrius after being juiced begins to love Helena. (III ii,line 169-173) Demetrius says, "Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none. If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guest- wise sojourned, And now to Helen is it home returned, There to remain." This proves he is a fool, because he is not aware of his changing love for Helena. Helena is a fool because Demetrius does not love her but she still persists in chasing him. Demetrius shows no love for Helena. (II i,line 227-228) Demetrius says, "I'll run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts." (II i,line 199-201) "Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? Or rather do I not in plainest truth Tell
Explore the role of the fairies in 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'.
'A Midsummer Nights Dream' Title Explore the role of the fairies in 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'. Introduction In this assignment I will be exploring the role of the fairies in 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'. I will consider Elizabethan views about fairies, how fairies are presented in the play and the significance of the magical events. Background Many Elizabethans had strong beliefs that fairies, goblins, and sprites existed and came out at night to play tricks on innocent people. It was believed they could make people go insane, give them terrible nightmares, or even lure them into a devilish underworld. Fairies were a part of everyday life in Elizabethan times. The Fairy Setting The enchanted wood had circles of darker grass on lawns or meadows caused by the outer edge of the under ground toadstool or mushroom patch - they were believed to be formed by fairies dacing. Furthermore the enchanted wood also had yellow wild flowers that bloomed in late spring which were called Cowslips (at 10-15cm, they are not tall except to a fairy).Titania's bower in a leafy shelter and is her sleeping place. Summary Of Actions Oberon is angry with Titania because she refuses to give him the Indian boy she is raising they the go on to criticise each others, after that Oberon says this disaster will end if she gives up the Indian boy, but Titania refuses. Oberon thinks up a sneaky plan
Explain how the mechanicals bring humour into the play
Explain how the mechanicals bring humour into the play The mechanicals in A Midsummer Night's Dream are the group of actors that bring most of the comedy to the play. This is done by the mechanicals resembling the more unintelligent group out of the four featured in A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the book, the mechanicals are called the Clowns. This implies that they are always fooling around; never getting any work done and maybe making people laugh. Maybe Shakespeare called them the Clowns because they convey most of the humour towards the audience in A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, the mechanicals play near the end of A Midsummer Night's Dream is a serious play; where they do not mess around as they do in the rest of the book. This might suggest that the name Shakespeare gave to the actors (Clowns) does not imply all that it is supposed to. From the start we establish that Bottom takes his role as a leader and we notice that others look up to him as if they are respecting his authority. One of the characters names (Bottom) sounds rude now, but back when the play was first performed the word bottom meant courageous. Nick Bottom comes across in A Midsummer Night's Dream as thunderous, friendly, and a little over-confident. He comes across to the other actors in the mechanicals as dumb or dull, insecure and irritating (e.g. when Bottom wants to play all the parts
An Essay on "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
An Essay on "A Midsummer Night's Dream" "I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows". The basic plot of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is that there are four lovers, where two love each other, and the other two do not. They go into a wood where spells are cast. Also, actors are in the wood rehearsing, and later performing a play at the Duke of Athens' wedding. The characters, the setting and what the atmosphere was like are considered when discussing, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". There are many different characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", with various appearances and personalities. The main characters in the play are: the four lovers, the fairies, and the group of actors. One of the four lovers - Hermia, is a dark haired woman with a short temper. However, Helena, her friend, is an anxious blonde haired woman. There are two main fairies in the play, - Oberon and Titania. Oberon appears as a relatively reasonable fairy King, until he cannot get what he wants. He wears an intricate crown with sparkling expensive robes. He has black hair with a small beard. Titania, Queen of the fairies, is the opposite of Oberon; coming across as a friendly, gentle character. Her fairies are devoted to her and always look after Titania. Oberon's fairy - Puck - is a mischievous and cunning. He usually has a sly, cheeky grin. Peter
Midsummer nights Dream: How important is the character of Hippolyta in establishing the role of women within the play?
In order to answer this question we must look at Hippolyta in great detail, especially her dialogue, and how powerful her words are on perhaps the most important character in the play, Theseus. Theseus plays an extremely important role in the story, as it is his word that decides the destiny of almost all the other characters, as he is the Duke of Athens and the rest are essentially his subjects. The play opens with Theseus and Hippolyta exchanging words, Theseus makes his intentions obvious right from the beginning, letting the audience know immediately that he is besotted with Hippolyta and is finding it hard to endure the four more days and nights that he has to wait before he can wed her. Although he seems impatient, Hippolyta then shows that she has the ability to calm him down quite rapidly with just a few words, which demonstrates the power that she has over him almost as soon as the play has started, with Theseus's mood changing from a lustful impatience to a softer more romantic mood with just one response from Hippolyta. In this opening scene Theseus shows both his masculinity as he explains how he managed to win Hippolyta in battle, but also his loving and caring side, showing that he does understand the meaning of love to the audience, which is very important later on in the play. The quote below from Act 1 Scene 1 shows this: THESEUS: "Hippolyta, I woo'd thee
