Themes of mid summer nights dream

detailed

1. Mid Summer Night’s Dream THEMES Presented to: Ma’am Khola Presented by: Maria, Hafsa , Wajiha and Asif

2. Theme of Magic

3. The use and misuse of magic has an important role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a reoccurring theme. Puck’s use of magic creates –humor, conflict, balance in the play.

4. Act II, Scenes 1-2: "Night, A wood near Athens" & "Another part of the wood" Magic 1: Puck is introduced, epitomizing the very nature of magic in the play. Puck –fairy with special powers transform his voice and appearance so that he may "lurk in gossip bowls" and cause mischief. His conversation with the fairy is very magical and fantastical and sets the scene for the rest of the play.

5. Magic 2: Titania's story of the origin of the Indian boy is very fantastical in nature. She talks about magical events in nature and immortality. Immortality is a magical characteristic that only the fairies possess.

6. Magic 3: Oberon tells Puck of the magic flower juice that when placed on sleeping eyelids, makes that person fall in love with the first creature it sees upon awakening. The flower is magical because it was hit by one of Cupid's arrows Contains this fantastical love-transforming juice.

7. Magic 4 Oberon places the magic juice on Titania's eyes to play a trick on her. Here, magic is used as a tool for him to get what he wants: the Indian boy.

8. Magic 5: transformation When Lysander awakens, he falls in love magically with Helena, fantastically forgetting Hermia . This transformation is only due to the magic flower juice mistakenly placed on his eyelids by Puck.

9. Act III, Scenes 1-2: "The same spot in the wood" & "Another part of the wood" Magic 6: to cause mischief Puck sees the silly production of Pyramus and Thisbe and plans to cause mischief.

10. He follows Puck and transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey. This transformation scares away the other players; however, Bottom is unaware of his change.

11. Magic 7: for correction Puck is ordered to correct the wrong done because of the magical mistakes. He uses his magical powers of voice transformation and invisibility to trick the Athenian men into a slumber. He then places more magic juice in the eyes of Lysander in order to correct the wrongs.

12. Act IV, Scenes 1-2: "The same portion of the wood" & "Athens, A room in Quince's house" Magic 8: Oberon rids Titania of the magic spell and she awakens thinking she was dreaming. Puck removes the donkey head from Bottom by magic, as well. Everything goes back to normal, after everything has been mended because of the fairies and magic.

13. Act V: "Athens, The great hall in the palace of Theseus " Magic 9: The play concludes with the fairies singing and Puck addressing the audience. The ending is magical and leaves the audience with a fantastical sentiment. Their mystical presence is magical as they bless the newlyweds.

14. Conclusion Shakespeare uses magic both to embody the almost supernatural power of love (symbolized by the love potion) and to create a surreal world. Although the misuses of magic causes chaos, ,magic ultimately resolves the play’s tensions by restoring love to balance among the quarter of Athenian youths.

15. Theme of order and disorder

16. Symbolism Disorder in the beginning of play Night symbolize disorder and irrationality Day symbolizes order and rationality The migration of characters in the woods leads to disorder and their return to city leads to order.

17. Revolt against the established order In the start hermia’s revolt against her father creates disorder in the play Accepted canons of social behavior are disrupted when the two lovers( lysander and Hermia ) flee to the forest.

18. Confusion and disorder in the forest “Senseless things begin to do them wrong” The confusion caused by the effects of the misapplied love juice. Magic juice causes illusions and distracted them

19. Topsy turvydom Full of sharp contradictions The comic and contradictory placing of Demetrius when he said “o Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine,” Lysander’s exaggerated praise for Helena The confusion, the contradictions increase in intensity

20. Establishment of order Supernatural intervention Oberon gave commands to restore order and indicating that Tiania also will be released from delusion

21. All disorders end in concord With the dawn of day, order is again established Lovers return to the city happily married Events of night seem to be a mere midsummer night’s dream.

22. Well marked contrasts Contrasts of character, mood and language Colors chasing as well as blending Light standing out against the shade Full of visual contrasts Night and day City and woods Human and superhuman

23. Appearance vs Reality or Dreams Not necessarily what they seem to be Explained through title Created by Shakespeare consciously - Set at night in woods - Moonlight; changes appearances - Characters frequently fall asleep - Under a spell – dreamlike state - Fairies

24. Perceptions of Reality Different perceptions of reality Extend to the characters Perceives reality according to his circumstances - Puck – world full of fools - Theseus – fairies are not real - Lysander – love without fight isn’t true

25. Shakespeare’s interest in Dreams Interest in working of dreams - events without explanation - loss of sense of time - occurrence of impossible Wants to recreate – imaginations, reflections, dreams. Take readers away from reality

26. The Characters Start of the play “I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was .” - Bottom C haracters talk about it as ‘dreams’

27. End of the play   “ If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended: That you have but slumbered here, While these visions did appear ” - Robin I f offended – should consider it as a dream

28. Conclusion Dreams and imaginations – useful as reason Everyone’s sense of reality – different

29. Gender Gender tensions- familial and romantic. Young woman fights father.( Hermia-Egeus ) King and the queen of fairies.( Oberan – Titania ) Stereotypes about the gender roles. Man-aggressive, woman-passive.

30. Gendered argument. Lysander and Demetrius- valid madness. Women – different view of reality. Tale of triumphant and enduring love. Powerful male characters.

31. Male reign supreme. Woman subhuman status. Theseus and Hippolyta - act of violance , superior strength and warrior minded tactics. “wooed thy my sword”. Property-less like people- want dutiful daughter.( Egeus’s ) “turned her obedience which is due to me..” Interchangeable names- similar sounding names – women all same and substitutable. ( Titania , Hermia , Helena)

32. Emphasis on physical attributes by women-no more value. “Call you me fair? That fair again unsay. Demetrius loves you fair.” Women pettily insulting each other- Hermia had small stature. Hypolyta - female pwer , independence. Conqured by Theseus -female subdued.

33. Stronger female character. Female complaints to each other. End- marry happily – gendered stereotype is secure. Women’s role negotiated. Castle – masculine world, forest- female gossip.

34. Transformation Bottom’s head in to of ass. Physical and emotional changes. Fall in and out of love Love can transform anyone into a blind fool. Transformation- human beings are foolish.

35. Bottom behaving like a donkey. Transformation effects our perception of reality. Transformation in love due to gender differences. Transformation from the real worked to the world of fairies. Only men change, women just get angry.

36. Thank You! ANY QUESTIONS??