Richard Taylor
In What Ways Does Shakespeare Create Disorder
And Confusion in Act 3 Scene 2?
Here are many ways in which Shakespeare creates disorder and confusion in act 3 scene 2. One of the ways in which he does this is to bring in the supernatural aspect of the play into the scene. Such as the fact that an “outside force”, which are Oberon and Puck, interfere with and control the affairs of the players (Hermia, Helena, Demetrius and Lysander). He brings the supernatural in with the fairies. While asleep, Puck squeezes the juice of a flower into the eyes of Lysander, thus making him fall in love with the first person he sees. He is woken by Helena who he then falls in love with and this begins the havoc. Every time the couples encounter there is always more confusion with their arguing. Soon the fairies realise their mistake, so Puck squeezes the juice into Demetrius eyes which also makes him fall in love with Helena. This confusion continues to spiral out of control due to the fairies intervention and Puck’s mistake. Because Helena’s love for Demetrius has previously been in vain and he now loves her also as Lysander, she believes that they are both mocking her as they are both suddenly mysteriously and madly in love with her. I can tell that she believes they are all mocking her because in act 3 scene 2 – line 168, Helena says “Never did mockers waste more idle breathe.” She is annoyed with both the boys as they follow her around endlessly is filled with humour, this is ironic because she now has too much love instead of too little. Although confusing it is also comical, and contains much dramatic irony because the audience knows what is going on in the play but the players do not. She suspects Hermia of joining the two boys in humiliating her, this leads to misplaced anger and verbal abuse to them. The reversal of the situations in the play causes confusion and comedy and they play leads from one wrong situation to another. So it has gone from Helena being in love with Demetrius, but Demetrius being in love with Hermia who is in love with Lysander, and Lysander loves Hermia back. It has then gone to Helena being in love with Demetrius who is in love with Hermia, Hermia is in love with Lysander, but he is now in love with Helena, thus making it a circle with one loving the next in the circle. And then it is all turned on its head and Helena is loved by both Lysander and Demetrius, but Hermia still loves Lysander. So instead of one girl having both boys love her and the second girl being in love with one of the boys, now the second girl has the love of both boys and the first girl loves one of the boys. This is not how it should be because all of the previous love relationships have turned to hate and all of the hate relationships have turned to love (or friendship relationships such as Lysander to Helena, which he has fallen in love with her, and Helena to Hermia which she now hates her), but the hate relationship between Demetrius and Lysander has remained as they are both after the same girl. You can tell that the relationships have changed between many of the actors due to words which they have said, for example, you can tell Demetrius has suddenly fallen in love with Helena because in act 2 scene 1 – line 188, Demetrius says “I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.” But then in act 3 scene 2 – line 169-173, he 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 Helena is it home returned, There to remain.” This also shows Demetrius to be fool as he is not aware of the fact of his changing love for Helena and Hermia. The way this process goes through leading one situation into an even worse situation then to were it is completely turned on its head is very confusing, but also highly comical due to the dramatic irony that the audience and the two fairies know what is going on but the players do not.
