A Midsummer Night’s Dream

As I was thinking about this play, I was reminded of its setting, or rather, its settingS. The magic of the play happens in the woods. It is what most people remember. It's certainly what I remember when I think about the play: Bottom with the ass's head, Titania, Oberon, etc. However, the first act starts in the city. Specifically, the play is supposedly set in Athens. Now, Athens was the birthplace of Western philosophy. It is easy enough to show a tension between these two settings: Athens/reason, the woods/magic and passion. However, to be honest, once the fairies show up, I forget about Athens entirely. In fact, I'm not sure I remember it before that. It seems sort of generic place of order for the kids to escape from. So, I ask all of you: what does the Athens setting do for the play?

Thanks.

Greg

I just got to see Midsummer last night at our local college theater (University of Idaho Hartung Theatre), and your question really made me think about that - What exactly is important about Athens?

I think the points you made in your question are spot on. It is the birthplace of reason, and so it is there that these supposedly "reasonable" adults live and carry out their daily lives, ordering about the futures of their children. But beyond that, why is it important? Why do we need this separate world, set apart from the fairies?

Personally, I see the final scene, back in Athens, as Shakespeare's way of giving the rest of the play a dream-like feel.  That motif flows through the entire play - Bottom thinks he's dreamt becoming an ass and being loved by Titania; the lovers think they've dreamt the entire bizarre situation with Lysander and Demetrius fighting over Helena; and Puck even hints at it in his final lines by saying, "That you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear."

The two settings act as foils for one another, much like opposing characters do, and in this case, I think one setting also makes us feel like we're awake, while the other gives us a dreamy, somnolent feel, allowing us to fully enjoy this world of fairies and love-potions.