Characters: Oberon
Oberon, the king of the fairies, first appears in II.ii. He is arguing with his queen, Titania, over a changeling (a child exchanged by fairies for another) who she possesses and he desires. When she refuses to give up the changeling, Oberon devises a plan to steal it from her. He sends Puck off to find a certain flower whose juices, when squeezed on the eyes of Titania, will make her fall in love with the next creature she sees. Oberon plans to take the child when Titania is so spellbound. After outlining this plan, Oberon observes Helena's pursuit of Demetrius and his scornful dismissal of her. Oberon decides to use the flower to make Demetrius love Helena, and instructs Puck to find a man wearing Athenian garments (Demetrius) and place the flower's juice on his eyes. Meanwhile, Oberon finds the sleeping Titania and squeezes the flower on her eyelids, hoping that she will ''Wake when some vile thing is near" (II.ii.34).
Oberon next appears in III.ii. He listens to Puck's report: Titania has fallen in love with a "monster" (III.ii.6) whom Puck has created. Puck then relates the tale of how he came upon Bottom and the others, and how he transformed Bottom. When asked about the Athenian, Puck replies that he has taken care of him as well. But Puck and Oberon almost immediately learn that Puck has not anointed Demetrius. Oberon resolves to fix the situation by placing some of the love juice on Demetrius's eyes. The four lovers together, Oberon sees that he must reverse the effect of the love juice on Lysander. Assessing the mess, Oberon accuses Puck, "This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st, / Or else commit'st thy knaveries willfully" (III.ii.345-46). Puck denies that he purposefully placed the love juice on Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius's. The two finally gather the lovers together and undo what Puck has done to Lysander, so that Lysander's love for Hermia is restored. Soon after, Oberon reveals to Puck how Titania gave up the changeling to him. Instructing Puck to remove the ass's head from Bottom, Oberon first restores Titania. The couple appears once more with the rest of the fairies and with Puck at the play's end as Oberon blesses Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena.
Oberon is usually seen by audiences to be a benevolent spirit, and critics have noted that he is associated in the play with light and with dawn even though, as Puck reminds him, he is part of the fairy world, and his activity is limited to the night. When Puck says that they must work quickly to complete their plans because morning is approaching, Oberon replies: "But we are spirits of another sort. / I with the Morning's love have oft made sport …" (III.ii.388-89), and goes on to affiliate himself with the rising sun. Other critics have cited Oberon's wish that Titania will awaken and fall in love with some "vile thing" (II.ii.34) as evidence that he does have some malevolent tendencies.
Additionally, Oberon is typically associated with order in the play. He resolves the play's disorder, and some critics note that this can only happen after his relationship with Titania is restored. It has also been argued that the reappearance of Oberon and the fairies at the play's end emphasizes their divine power as they bless the mortals, and that this providential order contrasts with the ineffectual nature of the mortals.
Expert Q&A
What powers does the "love-in-idleness" flower have in A Midsummer Night's Dream and how does Oberon use it?
The "love-in-idleness" flower in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been struck by Cupid's arrow, giving it the power to act as a love potion. When its juice is placed on a sleeper's eyelids, they fall in love with the first creature they see upon waking. Oberon uses it on Titania to distract her from the Indian boy she favors, hoping to regain her affection and obtain the boy for himself.
Why does Oberon want Titania to fall in love with a vile creature after waking from his spell?
Oberon wants Titania to fall in love with a vile creature due to a spell so he can distract her and take a young boy she refuses to share with him. This act also serves to embarrass Titania, illustrating Oberon's power and control over nature. The subplot highlights themes of love's irrationality versus societal norms, showing that human control over love is illusory and subjective.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, what is Oberon and Puck's plan, and is it successful?
Oberon and Puck plan to use a magic flower to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena, but Puck mistakenly enchants Lysander, leading to chaos. Oberon corrects this by enchanting Demetrius himself and instructs Puck to fix the situation by restoring Lysander's love for Hermia. Puck successfully resolves the confusion, aligning the lovers correctly, and apologizes to the audience. Ultimately, the plan succeeds, and the couples are happily united.
Why did Oberon feel compassion for Helena and what did he ask Puck to do to Demetrius?
Oberon feels compassion for Helena after witnessing Demetrius cruelly reject her despite his past affection. Moved by Helena's plight, Oberon instructs Puck to use a magic flower to cast a love spell on Demetrius, ensuring the next person he sees is Helena. The goal is to make Demetrius more fond of Helena than she is of him, thus reversing their relationship dynamics and alleviating Helena's suffering.
Which spells does Oberon undo and leave in place in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?
Oberon undoes several spells in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He reverses the effects on Lysander and Titania by applying an herb to their eyes, restoring their original affections. Oberon also removes the ass-head from Bottom. However, he leaves the spell on Demetrius intact, ensuring Demetrius remains in love with Helena, which resolves the romantic conflicts among the Athenian lovers.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, why has Oberon's attitude toward Titania softened?
Oberon's attitude toward Titania softens after he successfully tricks her into falling in love with a human, distracting her long enough to steal the young boy she was protecting. His initial conflict with Titania stemmed from his desire to train the boy as his henchman. Once Oberon achieves his goal by obtaining the boy, he releases Titania from the enchantment and reconciles with her, returning to a loving demeanor.
What does Oberon's use of a magic potion on Titania and the human lovers reveal about his character in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Oberon's use of a magic potion on Titania and the human lovers in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" reveals his manipulative and vengeful nature. He uses the potion to humiliate Titania and gain control over the young boy she refuses to give him. However, with the human lovers, Oberon's intentions are more benevolent, aiming to resolve their romantic conflicts. This duality highlights his complex character, capable of both spite and sympathy.
Oberon and Titania's Relationship in A Midsummer Night's Dream
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon and Titania are the king and queen of the fairies, whose marital discord significantly impacts the natural world. Their argument over an Indian boy, whom both wish to claim, disrupts nature and drives much of the play's action. Shakespeare depicts their relationship as tumultuous, with Oberon using magic to humiliate Titania in Act 4. Despite this manipulation, they reconcile, highlighting a power imbalance where Titania ultimately submits to Oberon's will.
Oberon's Character and Role in A Midsummer Night's Dream
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon, the King of the Fairies, is depicted as manipulative, jealous, and powerful. He orchestrates emotional manipulations for selfish gains, such as using a love potion to control Titania and influence the human lovers, showcasing his devious nature. Despite his negative traits, he is also shown to be sympathetic to humans, ultimately restoring harmony. Oberon is not an Athenian aristocrat but a fairy character created by Shakespeare to reflect Elizabethan society.
What solution does Oberon offer to restore order in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?
Oberon offers a solution to restore order by instructing Puck to separate the humans and apply the love potion to Lysander's eyes, ensuring he falls back in love with Hermia. Oberon also plans to lift the enchantment from Titania to return her to normal. These actions will correct the romantic entanglements caused by Puck's earlier mistakes, thus resolving the chaos among the characters.
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