A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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   luannw Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   The setting is one way in which Shakespeare created the dream-like setting, both the time and the place setting.  Night is when most people sleep and therefore, when most people dream.  By setting the play to occur mostly during the night, it is easy for the audience to relate to the ephemeral quality.  By putting most of the action in the forest, where there is much mystery because of the darkness and because of unseen creatures living there, Shakespeare further emphasizes the mystical quality.  The characters are another way Shakespeare gives the play a dream-like nature.  The fairy-folk characters of Oberon, Titania, Puck, and all the others give the play this quality.  These creatures aren't real, but many people of Shakespeare's day would have been unsure about whether or not fairies existed.  This doubt combined with the magic that the fairies can perform give the play a dream-like effect.  Finally, the action of the play itself gives the play the effect. 

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   http://www.enotes.com/midsummer/

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   Posted by luannw on Tuesday June 3, 2008 at 6:23 AM
   
   

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