A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay: The Identity of Characters

Identity of Characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream Where Shakespeargons tragedies will tell the story, chiefly, of a single read/write head character, this is rarely the case with his comedies. The comedies are more social and rent with groups of characters. In the case of A Midsummer Nights Dream, the principal groups are, at first, introduced severally. Though, one group may interact with another (as when Puck anoints Lysanders eyes, or Titania is in love with Bottom) they retain separate identities. While severally of the groups is separate, there are symmetries which appear among them Theseus and Oberon (and, in a way, Bottom) are rulers and figures of authority in their proper spheres. Hippolyta and Titania are consorts who defy their lords, but ultimately relinquish to their lordship. Often one pair is to be contrasted with another the well-matched lovers Lysander and Hermia contrast with the ill-matched Demetrius and Helena (they match Pyramus and Thisbe). Even Puck has his human counterpart in Philostrate. The serious contest of the young nobles contrasts with the good fellowship of the mechanicals while it resembles the contention of the fairy rulers. Complete picture of a complex character (as in Hamlet) is not attempted here, and would be wholly stunned of place. This is not a fault but reflects the different engross here of the playwright. nevertheless we do find very economical portrait of strong and vivid characters, in Puck, Bottom, Oberon, Titania, Theseus, Helena and Hermia. Of these, the first two stand bulge out as among the greatest of Shakespeares creations.   Puck first appears at the start of feat 2, and is rarely off the stage from this point. He is essential to the narrative he carries out his masters orders obe... ...ically as anything in the tragedies, his anti-greeting (Ill met by moonlight...) almost a snarl. But his occupy for the lovers, and his pity for the ridiculous dotage of Titania show how he is suffici ent of gentler feeling. Theseus obvious sympathy for Hermia in 1.1, has a parallel in his concern not to belittle the efforts of the mechanicals to celebrate his wedding The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them. His prose mouth here might indicate a concern that the workmen should understand him, to lessen their sentience of awe. In Theseus, Shakespeare brings dignity and humanity to the familiar mythical hero in Oberon, he embodies the most benign qualities of Elizabethan woodland sprites in a fairy king more vivid, concrete and passionate than any maestro of Oberon on whom he may have based his depiction.   A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay The Identity of CharactersIdentity of Characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream Where Shakespeares tragedies will tell the story, chiefly, of a single principal character, this is rarely the case with his comedies. The comedies are more social and deal with groups of characters . In the case of A Midsummer Nights Dream, the principal groups are, at first, introduced severally. Though, one group may interact with another (as when Puck anoints Lysanders eyes, or Titania is in love with Bottom) they retain separate identities. While each of the groups is separate, there are symmetries which appear among them Theseus and Oberon (and, in a way, Bottom) are rulers and figures of authority in their proper spheres. Hippolyta and Titania are consorts who defy their lords, but ultimately submit to their lordship. Often one pair is to be contrasted with another the well-matched lovers Lysander and Hermia contrast with the ill-matched Demetrius and Helena (they resemble Pyramus and Thisbe). Even Puck has his human counterpart in Philostrate. The serious strife of the young nobles contrasts with the good fellowship of the mechanicals while it resembles the contention of the fairy rulers. Complete depiction of a complex character (as in Hamlet) is not attempted here, a nd would be wholly out of place. This is not a fault but reflects the different concern here of the playwright. But we do find very economical portrayal of strong and vivid characters, in Puck, Bottom, Oberon, Titania, Theseus, Helena and Hermia. Of these, the first two stand out as among the greatest of Shakespeares creations.   Puck first appears at the start of Act 2, and is rarely off the stage from this point. He is essential to the narrative he carries out his masters orders obe... ...ically as anything in the tragedies, his anti-greeting (Ill met by moonlight...) almost a snarl. But his concern for the lovers, and his pity for the ridiculous dotage of Titania show how he is capable of gentler feeling. Theseus obvious sympathy for Hermia in 1.1, has a parallel in his concern not to belittle the efforts of the mechanicals to celebrate his wedding The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them. His prose speaking here might ind icate a concern that the workmen should understand him, to lessen their sense of awe. In Theseus, Shakespeare brings dignity and humanity to the familiar mythical hero in Oberon, he embodies the most benign qualities of Elizabethan woodland sprites in a fairy king more vivid, concrete and passionate than any original of Oberon on whom he may have based his depiction.