Referring to at least two extracts in detail, explain why A Midsummer Night's Dream is still popular, 400 years after it was written. Comment on a production you have seen, or consider how you would like to produce the play.

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Deevya Sethi (10RW)

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Shakespeare Coursework

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

        Referring to at least two extracts in detail, explain why A Midsummer Night’s Dream is still popular, 400 years after it was written. Comment on a production you have seen, or consider how you would like to produce the play.

        A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is set in Athens in Greece.  It is a journey into a mid-night forest, where fairies put spells on people.

        The story begins with Hippolyta and Theseus (Duke of Athens), getting married and the events that surround it.  There are a group of workers who have decided to put on a play for the wedding. “Here is a scroll of every man’s name wish, is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our interlude before the Duke and the Duchess on his wedding-day at night.”

 In the play, a carpenter, called Peter Quince, gives this speech.  He is informing the workers about the play, they will be putting on. “The most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.” Bottom agrees with Peter Quince, that Pyramus and Thisbe is a great play to be putting on.

        Another main part of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is the quarrelling that has been going on between Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the fairies. They are arguing about a little Indian boy, who Titania has looked after, since he was a baby.  Oberon wants the boy to be his henchman, but Titania totally disagrees. “Give me that boy and I will go with thee,” says Oberon.  “Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away! We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.”  By this comment, Titania has made it clear, that, there is no chance of her giving the boy to Oberon.  Titania also says, she is going to go, otherwise things will become violent and out of control.

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        In Athens there was a law, that stated daughters had to, marry, whoever their father wanted.  Otherwise there were serious consequences, if the daughter refused.  The father could have his daughter put to death.  

This was the exact situation for a young lady named Hermia.  Hermia was in love with a young Athenian called Lysander, he was also besotted with her.  But her father Egeus had chosen another young Athenian called Demetrius, (who was from a very noble family) to marry his daughter, Hermia. Hermia’s best friend, Helena was frantically in love with Demetrius, however, he did not have ...

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