Although it has its dark moments, A Midsummer Night's Dream fits the definition of an Elizabethan comedy.

First, despite a series of challenges and mishaps along the way—with Helena loving Demetrius while Demetrius loves Hermia, and Lysander, who was supposed to be in love with Hermia, suddenly falling in love with Helena—in the end, the foursome sort out into the correct couples: Hermia with Lysander, Demetrius with Helena. On top of that, the play ends with the joyous wedding celebration of Theseus and Hippolyta. Hippolyta, former queen of the Amazons, was once an unwilling bride, but now marries happily. Further, although they began the play married, Titania and Oberon heal their rift over the Indian boy.

Beyond the romantic lives of the characters, the play has a magical and madcap quality, as tiny fairies flit about, dropping love potions into human eyes. The madness and fickleness of love is played for laughs as Titania falls in love with a man with a donkey's head and Helena disbelieves the sudden mad passion of both Demetrius and Lysander. This is lighthearted comedy at its finest.