A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: William Shakespeare
- First Published: 1600
- Type of Work:
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Subjects: Changelings or cuckoos, Folkloric or magical people, Love or romance, Supernatural, Marriage, Mistaken or secret identity, Greek or Roman times, Greece or Greek people, Fairies
- Locales: Athens, ancient, Greece, ancient
Four distinct circles of characters meet and overlap in this comedy of marriage, merriment, magic, and imagination. The occasion is the marriage of Duke Theseus of Athens to the Amazon Queen, Hippolyta. As lawgiver, Theseus must settle a romantic dispute. The young lovers Hermia and Lysander want to marry, but Hermia’s father wants her to wed Demetrius instead. Helena, Hermia’s dearest friend, loves Demetrius. Theseus supports the father’s stance: Hermia is told to marry Demetrius or else decide between a nunnery and death.
Rather than obey, Hermia flees with Lysander....
[The entire page is 601 words long]
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See Also:
William Shakespeare (Censorship--Ready Reference series)William Shakespeare (Cyclopedia of World Authors)William Shakespeare: The Poet (Poetry)William Shakespeare: The Dramatist (Magill’s Choice: Shakespeare)William Shakespeare: The Man (Magill’s Choice: Shakespeare)
See Also:
- - For teachers, the A Midsummer Night’s Dream Lesson Plan.
- - Read the A Midsummer Night’s Dream text online.
- - A Midsummer Night’s Dream summary and study guide in the eNotes.
- Add A Midsummer Night’s Dream to your favorites