A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Why is there a fifth act to this play?

By end of Act IV, the narrative line of A Midsummer Night's Dream is essentially played out. Oberon and Titania are reconciled in their quarrel over the changeling, the young couples are paired correctly (Hermia with Lysander and Helena with Demetrius), Theseus has over-ruled Egeus, and a triple wedding awaits. Indeed, Acts I through IV of A Midsummer Night's Dream comprise a perfectly symmetrical pattern that moves from court to enchanted realm and then back to daylight world in which Theseus rules. The question naturally arises: Why is there a fifth act to the play. The...

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