A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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1. 
   ivanazovko Student
   College - Senior

   I also think that it has to do something with the boy. This is my essay question, and I'm confused because I see no relation of their behavior to mimetic desire. Could it be that the boy is the reason they fight? That her possession of the boy makes Oberon want the boy too?? and that being the only reason he wants him?
   

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   Posted by ivanazovko on Tuesday June 3, 2008 at 6:57 AM
   
   

2. 
   lit24 Teacher
   Doctorate

   The  French anthropological philosopher Rene Girard uses the term 'Mimetic Desire' in his book "Deceit, Desire and the Novel" (1961) to describe the triangular relationship of two people desiring the same object.

   Our desire for a certain  object is never autonomous (that is, we do not desire something merely because we desire it) but it is provoked by another person desiring that  same object: "Imitative desire" according to Rene Girard "is always a desire to be Another." Since from the beginning desire for a certain object is aroused by the other person desiring the same object the object itself is forgotten and a general antagonism sets in.

   Mimetic desire is evident in ActII sc1 of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

   Oberon: I do but beg a little changeling boy/To be my henchman.

   Titania: Set your heart at rest/The fairy land buys not the child of me.

   Consequently, general antagonism sets in and Oberon remarks:"Thou (Titania) shalt not from this grove/Till I torment thee for this injury." He "torments" her by making her fall in love with Bottom and only after he has gained his object of desire does he release her in ActIV sc.1 :"And now I have the boy, I will undo/This hateful imperfection of her eyes." 

              

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   Posted by lit24 on Thursday June 5, 2008 at 9:25 AM