For the Love of For the Love of ShakespeareShakespeare

A look at A Midsummer Night’s DreamA look at A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Love looks not with the eyes, but with Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid

painted blind.painted blind.--Helena, Act 1, Scene I--Helena, Act 1, Scene I

Colleen O’NeillColleen O’Neill

The ConnectionThe Connection

What Shakespeare Referenced in the play

Greek MythologyEnglish Country Fairy

loreTheatrical Practices

How How

Greek Mythology-Greek Mythology- Theseus is loosely based on the Theseus is loosely based on the Greek hero of the same name. Greek hero of the same name.

English Country Fairy lore-English Country Fairy lore- The character of Puck The character of Puck was a popular figure in 16was a popular figure in 16thth century stories. century stories.

Theatrical Practices-Theatrical Practices- parodies many conventions of parodies many conventions of English Renaissance theater, such as men playing the roles English Renaissance theater, such as men playing the roles of women of women

PuckPuck

The most important character in the play. The most important character in the play. Plays delilibrate pranks on humans that set the Plays delilibrate pranks on humans that set the

play in motion.play in motion. He turns Bottom’s head into an ass.He turns Bottom’s head into an ass. He smears love potion over Lysander’s eyelids.He smears love potion over Lysander’s eyelids. He contrast against the conventions of English He contrast against the conventions of English

Renaissance theater.Renaissance theater. His character creates humor in a His character creates humor in a different way then the human’s.different way then the human’s.Ex: Puck is prankster whereasEx: Puck is prankster whereasBottom’s the brunt of the joke. Bottom’s the brunt of the joke.

Nick BottomNick Bottom

He’s overconfident in his ability to act.He’s overconfident in his ability to act. The humor that surrounds his character stems The humor that surrounds his character stems

from his inability to see his ridiculousness. from his inability to see his ridiculousness. His speeches are often over dramatized and he His speeches are often over dramatized and he

believes everyone takes him as seriously as he believes everyone takes him as seriously as he does himself. does himself.

He never realizes that his head had been He never realizes that his head had been magicallymagically

altered to that of an altered to that of an ass.ass.

HelenaHelena

She’s in love with Demetrius who in She’s in love with Demetrius who in

turn is in love with Hermia.turn is in love with Hermia.

She’s not included in the love triangle—She’s not included in the love triangle—

Demetrius + Lysander= HermiaDemetrius + Lysander= Hermia

She’s one of the most personable She’s one of the most personable

Characters in the play because shesCharacters in the play because shes

Involved in the invents that occur.Involved in the invents that occur.

She’s the character that thinks She’s the character that thinks

About the nature of love in the play.About the nature of love in the play.

Themes

Loves Difficulty Dreams Magic

Loves Difficulty Loves Difficulty

““The course of true love never did run smoothThe course of true love never did run smooth”” -- Lysander -- Lysander

The play pokes fun at the The play pokes fun at the

tortures one suffers from tortures one suffers from

being in love. being in love.

It has a number of It has a number of romanticromantic

elements in it, but itselements in it, but its

not only a romantic not only a romantic comedy; it distances itself from the emotions of comedy; it distances itself from the emotions of the characters.the characters.

DreamsDreams

The Dreams the characters have lead to the The Dreams the characters have lead to the magical mishaps that occur in the play. magical mishaps that occur in the play.

Dreams often occur when a character tries to Dreams often occur when a character tries to rationalize bizarre events.rationalize bizarre events.

Shakespeare was interested in workings of Shakespeare was interested in workings of dreams; how events occur with no explanation, dreams; how events occur with no explanation, time loses its normal sense, and how the time loses its normal sense, and how the impossible can occur.impossible can occur.

He creates this dream-like environment in the He creates this dream-like environment in the play through the use of fairies and a magical play through the use of fairies and a magical forest.forest.

MagicMagic

The fairies magic help create the bizarre events The fairies magic help create the bizarre events that occur in the playthat occur in the play

Shakespeare uses magic to embody the Shakespeare uses magic to embody the supernatural aspect of love.supernatural aspect of love.

The use of accidental magic help move along the The use of accidental magic help move along the events in the play.events in the play.

MotifsMotifs

The contrast between character’s was the motif The contrast between character’s was the motif of this play.of this play.

Ex: Helena was tall. Hermia was short. Puck plays Ex: Helena was tall. Hermia was short. Puck plays pranks. Bottom is the victim of those pranks. pranks. Bottom is the victim of those pranks. Titania is beautiful. Bottom is rather ugly. Titania is beautiful. Bottom is rather ugly.

The differences between the characters and the The differences between the characters and the setting help create the surreal atmosphere that setting help create the surreal atmosphere that the reader experiences while reading the play. the reader experiences while reading the play.

Symbols

The love Potion

The Craftsmen’s play

The Love PotionThe Love Potion

It was made from the juice of the flower that had It was made from the juice of the flower that had been struck by one of Cupids misfired arrows.been struck by one of Cupids misfired arrows.

Puck had used the potion on Titania under the Puck had used the potion on Titania under the request of Oberon. She in turn fell in love with request of Oberon. She in turn fell in love with Bottom who had the head of an ass. Bottom who had the head of an ass.

The Craftsmen PlayThe Craftsmen Play

A play-within – a play. A play-within – a play. Shakespeare uses this to satirize the Shakespeare uses this to satirize the

melodramatic Athenian lovers.melodramatic Athenian lovers. This adds to the humor of the play.This adds to the humor of the play.

Presenting…Presenting…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i8unA3hBdUv=3i8unA3hBdU