The Theme of Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

The Theme of Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

In the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ many aspects of love are

explored. In this essay I will be exploring how Shakespeare conveys

the theme of love including illusion, confusion, escape, harmony and

lust.

Historically, it has been suggested that ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

was written for a wedding, signifying the importance of love in this

play, however there is no real evidence to prove this myth. Rather,

the Lord Chamberlain’s men performed ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ on

the London stage.

Shakespeare creates a situation in which two pairs of young lovers,

Lysander and Hermia, are forced to elope from the oppressive authority

of their Elders, here we see Lysander asking Hermia to flee to the

woods, “there gentle Hermia may I marry thee; and to that place the

sharp Athenian law cannot pursue us”

Freedom is not permitted in Athens, therefore the two lovers plan to

escape into the woods. Hermia has two options given from her

oppressive father, ‘either to die the death, or to abjure for ever in

society of men’. She disobeys his commands.

Shakespeare uses images to reflect Athens, and to magnify and to

solidify Lysander and Hermia’s love for each other, which is strong

and cannot be broken, without the use of magic. ‘Withering on a virgin

thorn, grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness’. Shakespeare uses

the symbol of rose to reflect the oppressive tradition of Athens.

There is a contrast between the nobility and the working class.

Theseus, the Duke, speaks in a sophisticated way, ‘now, fair

Hyppolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace’. The ...

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..., suggests that Shakespeare’s

exploration of the theme of love is to bring us closer to the nature

of the reconciliation harmony which it embodies. This is because

everyone is peacefully engaging with each other and enjoying the play,

since the conflict has been resolved. Not only this, but different

social classes emerge together. This is paralleled with, the

relationship between Titaina and Oberon.

Shakespeare explores the theme of love by the tensions built up to

create comic resolutions, therefore helping to diffuse possibly

unpleasant impact of themes. Since it turns out to be a dream, the

audience will not feel offended by the aspects Shakespeare explored.

Finally, Shakespeare’s exploration of love is an acknowledgement of

its complex and powerful nature. Potentially both tragic and comic but

never dull.