How Does Shakespeare Use Similes In A Midsummer Night's Dream

Throughout Shakespeare’s numerous works it is very clear to see why he is considered one of, if not, the greatest writer in recorded history. The way in which he uses his words to paint vivid pictures and scenes is truly remarkable. One way in which he is able to do so with such great aptitude can be seen through the way Shakespeare uses metaphors and similes throughout his works. A simile is defined as a figure of speech that makes a comparison, while a metaphor is defined as a simile that uses the word like or as in order to connect the things being compared. In Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, many uses of both similes and metaphors can be seen being put to masterful use by Shakespeare and on many occasions they help

But, rather than just overtly stating that, he uses a simile in order to get his point across to Hermia. In the first part of the simile, Theseus is first stating that Hermia is basically just her father but in a different form. Theseus does this by comparing Hermia to a “form of wax” of her father, thus using a simile to get across the point that she is her father’s child and is therefore made by and of him. In a way, Theseus uses this to then preface the idea that Egeus is allowed to make Hermia do whatever he pleases and therefore she should have to marry whoever he choses. The use of Hermia being a wax figure does not end there though, it continues into the next two lines. Theseus then goes onto say that since Egeus has imprinted, or made, Hermia he has the right to do with her what he pleases. Rather than just saying this, though, Shakespeare uses another simile by saying that Egeus can choose to leave the wax figure or disfigure it if he chooses to do so. This continued the simile that Hermia is a wax figure made by her father, and also in a different way continued to show that Theseus is siding with Egeus in the matter of what Hermia has to