Shakespeare employs antithesis thematically in his comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," giving audience members an opportunity to explore their own ideas about positive notions like love and attraction and negative ones like hatred and jealousy. The placement of these ideas in close proximity to each other creates a general sense of contrariness that generates much fodder for misunderstanding and humor. Both misunderstanding and humor characterize the play as a literary work, making it a perfect fit for the genre of comedy.

A specific example of antithesis can be examined in the connections between the love affair between Lysander and Hermia and the unrequited love between Helena and Demetrius. Though Demetrius once loved Helena, he has chosen Hermia as his true love, who just happens to be Helena's best friend. Demetrius's pursuit of Hermia must be painful to Helena; not only are the women close themselves, Demetrius has clearly expressed his preference for the one over the other, which suggests a close comparison where poor Helena has fallen short. Painfully, though one woman may be complimented by the attention of Demetrius, the other is ignored, which feels particularly hurtful because she was once adored.

The complex nature of these emotional entanglements are entertaining because of the antithetical nature of the emotions involved. Demetrius loves Hermia, who does not love him back. Helena loves Demetrius, but he loves someone else. Lysander loves Hermia, but Hermia's father does not love Lysander, so their love affair appears doomed, even though the success of their relationship would guarantee life-long happiness for his daughter Hermia. Without antithesis, drama would not exist, and it is Shakespeare's astute dramatization of human emotions that endures to this day.

Antithesis is a literary device in which two opposing ideas are expressed within close proximity. One good example of antithesis can be seen in Alexander Pope's famous line, "To err is human, to forgive, divine." Dr. Wheeler also uses as an example of antithesis in his definition, "I burn and I freeze" (Wheeler, "Literary Terms and Definitions").

One antithesis in A Midsummer Night's Dream can be found in the opening scene. Hermia uses antithesis in reply to the Duke who is trying to make her to submit to her father's will. When Duke Theseus reminds Hermia that she must learn to view things using her father's "judgement," Hermia begs her pardon, saying, "I know not by what power I am made bold, / Nor how it may concern my modesty" (I.i.61-62). To be bold, means to be brave, fearless, and even "flashy," and "showy" (Random House Dictionary). On the other hand, the word modesty refers to being moderate, simple, and humble, which is the exact opposite of being bold (Random House Dictionary). Since boldness and modesty are complete opposites, or antithetical, we see that this is a perfect example of antithesis.