Analysis of A Midsummer Night´s Dream

The idea of Puck's character is a lovely one. One can't help but be attracted to him and his innocent, little pranks. He is also known by the name Robin Goodfellow. The audience can only see this ‘Robin Goodfellow' side of Puck when he is trying to fix something he disrupted, hence the name Goodfellow. When compared to Oberon, King of the Fairies and Titania, Queen of the Fairies and the remaining fairies of the play, Puck does not seem to fit in as well.

Unseen, he and Oberon pull the strings that control what the characters act and say. Finally, Shakespeare is like Puck, standing back from the other characters, acutely aware of their weaknesses and mocks them, relishing in mischief at their expense. With these three characters and some play-within-a-play enchantment, Shakespeare mocks himself and his plays as much as he does the young lovers and the mechanicals onstage. This genius playwright who is capable of writing serious dramas such as Hamlet and Julius Caesar is still able to laugh at himself just as he does at his characters. With the help of Bottom, Oberon, and Puck, Shakespeare shows us that theatre, and even life itself, are illusions that one should remember to laugh at.

(G. J. Thomas R. Arp) In Shakespeare's time the Puck was a mischievous nature sprite or fairy (Teller). As a result, the audience was deceived into believing that the story was a dream. Many stanzas were merged into the plot that contained deep thoughts behind them that made the scenario of the scenes complex and deceptive. Puck's important role contributed to these situations is obvious in the unfolding of his character to seem unreal and ... ... middle of paper ... ... the type of enjoyment Shakespeare had his characters go through so that he could express a point, as a consequence he had to make other characters such as Puck help contribute to these activities. Therefore, the deep meaning of the play is much more intricate than the eye can see, and because of Pucks actions these meanings came out.

Although there is no definitive protagonist, Puck stands out as a character who steers the direction of the plot and gives movement to the actions that occur throughout the story. His character plays an extremely significant role in the play, since the plot and atmosphere of the play seem to revolve around all of his mischievous endeavors. Also, ironically known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is described as a “shrewd and knavish sprite” (II.i.33). His character serves to remind the audience that the world of magic and fairies does not always consist of good deeds and saintly creatures. In addition, his character always puts a twist on the plot for comedic effect, admitting that, “As this their jangling I esteem a sport” (III.ii.353).

His ambition for power causes him to lose sight of himself and betrays his king along with his country. The a... ... middle of paper ... ...ing can happen. The three apparitions warn Macbeth of potential threat, but his abrupt response foreshadows his downfall. Throughout the tragedy, the witches were never wrong. The paradox is essentially the foundation of the entire drama by causing one to question the truth.

This links to the other main theme of the play, that of entertainment and comic characters. This is illustrated through Sir Toby Belch; who is quite clever and enjoys playing tricks on people such as Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio who are less intelligent and more unaware of their humorous characteristics. The scene in which Sir Toby and Maria trick Malvolio into thinking that Olivia is in love with him is a good example of a humorous and entertaining scene. "Observe him, for the love of mockery, for I know this letter will make a complete idiot of him" Malvolio, although he is a servant, often looks down on Sir Toby as if he is better than him. "Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time in you?"

Passion in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream may come off as a simple comedy but is a complex play with many interesting aspects. Passion, a significant characteristic, is often expressed through the play. Characters in the play show passion for different reasons; Puck passions for mischief, Helena for Demetrius’ love and Bottom for theatrics, are a few of the many examples. Passion shows much significance, being the most important characteristic in the play. Puck is a mischievous sprite, involved with most magical events in the play.

In Shakespeare’s plays Othello, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the villains share the characteristics of greed, clever and conniving ways, and recklessness; however, they all bring their own features to the table. The first of the villains is Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; he is clever, reckless, and very mischievous, these characteristics tend to get him into trouble. Sometimes referred to as Robin or Robing Goodfellow, Puck is a trickster by nature and loves to play pranks on others, by this, he and Bottom actually progress the three central stories of the play. Puck is introduced first and creates drama in the lovers’ story by messing up who loves whom. Puck also turns Bottoms head into an ass and makes Titania fall in love with him so he might bring the Indian boy/slave for Oberon, the fairy king.

The death of Mercutio provokes a change from comedy to tragedy but it is Romeo's actions that sustain the tragedy. Although Tybalt's murder reinforces the tragedy, it results in another change in the play. His death changes the course of the play as the family feud becomes increasingly serious. This further complicates the situation for Romeo and Juliet since now their love is forbidden even more than it was before. They cannot reveal their marriage, thus, their attempt to reconcile the families fail.

One of William Shakespeare’s best remembered plays for its comical and ironic tone is A Midnight’s Summer Dream. There were characters designed to be humorous and that alone. Puck and Bottom behave very much alike, and have similar roles for different people. Both Puck and Bottom are comic relief characters in one way or the other. Both of them are needed for the play, because Puck’s spirits controls the whole story, which sets the tone for it and Bottoms comic relief for the audience and play.