to fit your fancies to your fathers will,
Or else the law of Athens yields you up-
Which by no means we may extenuate-
To death, or to a vow of single life”.
Theseus is called upon to be a judge and guide because he is considered a wise and fair ruler who will uphold the law. His firmness is tempered by consideration for Hermia. He tells her that she must marry the man her father has chosen for her, but gives her time to think it over. Theseus therefore represents order in the world. He is the good and fair king, which was a very important concept to the Shakespearean audience. Theseus represents kindness and consideration, tolerance and forgiveness. This makes him opposite in nature to the selfish and mischievous Oberon who is the king of the powers of chaos. Theseus shows how power can be used wisely and responsibly in contrast to Oberon who meddles and makes mistakes. His mischievous spells go wrong and create unforeseen and hilarious consequences, for instance the Queen of the fairies Titania falling in love with Bottom who has been transformed into an ass. Theseus in contrast rules in such a way to maintain sanity order and enlightenment.
Theseus’ language is dignified and stately. His language to Hermia demonstrates this:
“Be advised fair maid
To you, your father should be as a god;
One that compos’d your beauties, yea, and one
To whom you are but as a form in wax
By him imprinted, and within his power
To leave the figure or disfigure it”.
Theseus acts with calmness and consideration but is decisive. He tells Hermia the law and also to choose to follow it or face the consequences. Theseus’ is a great and merciful Duke. He has a good relationship with Hippolyta and they treat each other with dignity and respect.
Shakespeare’s portrayal of Oberon reflects his position in the drama of the rational world of civilised man.
In contrast Shakespeare portrays Oberon as King of the fairies who are citizens of an opposite world in which the normal laws of society are turned upside down or ignored. Unlike Theseus Oberon has obvious weaknesses. He is jealous and not totally in control of what happens. He uses wayward spirits, mainly puck to help him spread mischief and chaos. His dramatic personality is vindictive. He is irrational, unpredictable and disordered. He uses potions and spirits to disrupt and confuse. In contrast to Theseus there is little dignity in his speech. His vindictive nature is reflected in his words to Titania
“Well, go thy way: thou shallt not from this grove
till I torment thee for this injury” (Act 2 scene 1 line 146-147)
In contrast to Theseus Oberons weaknesses are well known by his subjects. Puck knows that his master is jealous and subject to uncontrolled rage. He says:
“For Oberon is passing fell and wrath…”
and
“And jealous Oberon would have the child”(Act 2 scen 1 lines 20 and 24)
Oberon’s speech is not rational and is full of references to magical and amazing things. In a soliloquy Oberon tells how he will put the juice of a flower in Titania’s eyes so that her reason will be taken from her and she will fall in love with the first thing she sees. Contrast this to the way Theseus argues rationally with Hermia that she should choose a love according to the rules of the Athenian State.
In conclusion, Theseus and Oberon are dramatic opposites. At the end of the play order is restored and theseus says to the lovers
“Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.
Joy, gentle friends, joy and fresh days of love
Accompany your hearts!”(Act 5 scene 1 lines 28-30)
Oberon concludes his work with the lines
“May all to Athens back again repair
and think no more of this nights accidents
but as the fierce vexation of a dream”.(Act 4 scene 1
lines 67-69)
This illustrates that Theseus is pleased by the restoration of order and happiness whilst Oberon restores order through the lifting of his magic spell. Theseus represents order and Oberon represents discord. The Elizabethans believed that there should always be law and order in the world or chaos would reign. At the start of the play Theseus has to deal with a daughter who is rebelling against her fathers authority. Contrast this with the way that Oberon actually goes out to create disharmony and chaos. The action of the play moves from discord and chaos at the beginning to order and harmony at the conclusion. Oberon is the creator of the former and Theseus is the creator of the latter.
