There is however a wider opposition that is created in the play between the world of the fairies in the forest and the world of humans set in Athens. The world of the fairies in the forest is characterised by magic, adventure and a lack of reason. Puck, for example, could be considered the chief mascot of this chaotic world, and he has the magical ability to transform himself into any shape he wants, as his taunts of the Mechanicals in Act III scene 1 demonstrate: Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound, A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire; And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. By contrast, the world of Athens is one that is defined in Act I scene 1 by the harshness and severity of the law, which could lead to the loss of Hermia's life if she does not agree to her father's demands to marry the man he would have her marry. If Athens is characterised by reason, the world of fairies is characterised by a kind of topsy-turvy chaos that impacts all who enter it. Interestingly, many productions have the characters of Hipolyta and Theseus play the characters of Titania and Oberon as well, drawing an interesting contrast between these two sets of lovers. Both at the beginning of the play have problems in their relationship, but both by the end are reconciled. There are two types of worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the human world and the pas toral magical world. The fairy world has all manner of sprites, nymphs, fairies...They have their own social codes, often being mischievous. They can fly around, use potions, trick and be tricked... Humans in the fairy world let go of their inhibitions. They frequently, with the "help" of fairies, explore repressed desires. The fairy world has the same jealousies and lust at the
There is however a wider opposition that is created in the play
between the world of the fairies in the forest and the world of
humans set in Athens. The world of the fairies in the forest is
characterised by magic, adventure and a lack of reason. Puck, for
example, could be considered the chief mascot of this chaotic
world, and he has the magical ability to transform himself into any
shape he wants, as his taunts of the Mechanicals in Act III scene 1
demonstrate:Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound,A hog, a
headless bear, sometime a fire;And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and
roar, and burn,Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.By
contrast, the world of Athens is one that is defined in Act I scene
1 by the harshness and severity of the law, which could lead to the
loss of Hermia's life if she does not agree to her father's demands
to marry the man he would have her marry. If Athens is
characterised by reason, the world of fairies is characterised by a
kind of topsy-turvy chaos that impacts all who enter it.
Interestingly, many productions have the characters of Hipolyta and
Theseus play the characters of Titania and Oberon as well, drawing
an interesting contrast between these two sets of lovers. Both at
the beginning of the play have problems in their relationship, but
both by the end are reconciled.
There are two types of worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the
human world and the pastoral magical world. The fairy world has all
manner of sprites, nymphs, fairies...They have their own social
codes, often being mischievous. They can fly around, use potions,
trick and be tricked... Humans in the fairy world let go of their
inhibitions. They frequently, with the "help" of fairies, explore
repressed desires. The fairy world has the same jealousies and lust
at the human world, Oberon and Tatiana being an example. They
however don't follow the same cause and effect circumstances as the
human world.
