Discussion Topic
Shakespeare's central argument and claim in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Summary:
Shakespeare's central argument in A Midsummer Night's Dream is the complexity of love and its transformative power. He explores how love can cause confusion, chaos, and even irrational behavior, yet ultimately leads to harmony and resolution. Through the interplay of the human and fairy worlds, Shakespeare illustrates the unpredictable and often humorous nature of romantic relationships.
What is Shakespeare's argument in A Midsummer Night's Dream, act 1, scene 1, lines 226–250?
Through these lines, Shakespeare presents an argument that love blinds people to the truth.
Helena is a bit bitter about love in these lines, and for pretty good reason. She explains that "ere Demetrius looked on Hermia's eyne," he swore that he would be Helena's forever. As it turns out, Demetrius's promises were lies; he abandoned Helena because of the "heat" he felt toward Hermia. Helena insists that people everywhere tell her that she's just as "fair" as Hermia, so there doesn't seem to be any justifiable reason for this change of heart.
Although she's been jilted, Helena can't quite give up on Demetrius; she realizes that she "errs" because she continues to "admire his qualities" despite being so easily discarded. She hopes that she can catch a mere "sight" of him as he journeys "thither and back again."
The core argument here is that love "looks not with the...
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eyes but with the mind." It refuses to see the truth and demonstrates an "unheedy haste" in its perceptions. Love is therefore "perjured" by those who who look at "base and vile" subjects and believe that their love is dignified and true.
What is the author's central claim in A Midsummer Night's Dream, act 4?
In act 4 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, many of the plot lines are resolved. The enchantments are removed, the lovers are united, and Bottom rejoins his fellow actors. One of William Shakespeare’s central messages is that true love will succeed no matter how many obstacles are placed in its way. More generally, the importance of authenticity and integrity are stressed: one should always be true to oneself.
As the act opens, the four lovers are still sleeping from the enchantment that was placed on them. Titania and Bottom, attended by several fairies, show their infatuation. Puck, as ordered by Oberon, releases the queen from the enchantment and her affection for the donkey-headed man disappears. Oberon and Titania recommit to their love and shared rule, and plan to attend the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta and the young couples. After they exit, Theseus, Hippolyta, and Hermia’s father enter. As the four young lovers awaken, the confusion of the pairings are resolved thanks to Theseus, who recommends that they also be married at his and Hippolyta’s wedding. Thus, all four couples are correctly matched up and harmony is restored.
Awakening from the enchantments, various characters comment on their visions and dreams. While Bottom is missing, his companions lamented his absence out of concern for his safety and because they cannot replace this unique actor in their play. When he returns, they are overjoyed, and rush off to finish preparing for their performance at the wedding banquet.
The lines Oberon speaks as he lifts the spell from Titania support Shakespeare’s message of being true to oneself: “Be as thou wast wont to be;/See as thou was wont to see.”
Demetrius compares his temporary change of heart and restored love to an illness that briefly affected his palate.
But, like a sickness, did I loathe this food;
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
Shakespeare indicates the difference between the change in Bottom caused by the spell, and his natural ability to transform himself as an actor. The latter is evidence of his true, talented self, as Flute and Quince comment.
FLUTE: No; he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens.
QUINCE: Yea, and the best person too; and he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.