drama analysis: A Midsummer Night's Dream

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Even though, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy and not a romantic play, with love as the main theme. In the end, there is a happy conclusion as the lovers marry each other however, Shakespeare does not depict the journey of love as smooth sailing, but lovers go through many challenges. Love seems to cause jealousy among the lovers and friends, women fight over men and men fight against themselves all in the name of love. Among all the characters, none can control their emotions on love and the spell compounds their love and feelings. Even without, the magic, the lovers seek to find love even when it seems that it is an illusion. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare depicts true love as an illusion, with the journey of love fraught with many challenges
Following a magic spell, Titania falls in love with Bottom a working class Mechanical whose head is turned into that of an ass. The flower juice makes Titania’s eyes to be blinded by her thoughts and she instantly thinks that Bottom is attractive following a magic spell gone wrong. Titania tells Bottom “Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,” (4.1.41). Thus, love is blind as Titania falls in love with a donkey like being, and someone who she could not ordinarily fall in love with a commoner like Bottom. “What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?”(4.1.42) Titania is the Queen of the Fairies, and it is expected that she would not fall in love with Oberon, the King of the Fairies. Titania overlooks Bottom’s appearance because of the nectar in her eyes, but this in not really love it is the work of magic. Bottom states “I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch,” (4.1.42)
Even though, marriage is the epitome of love as represented in the end of the play, love does not necessarily make the lovers happy. It is because of love, that characters have conflicts among themselves. Hermia promises to love Lysander unconditionally, but she seems to have in fallen in love with Demetrius later on “My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid’s strongest bow,” ( 1.1.8). Equally, Lysander promised to love Hernia, but he also has feelings for Helena. After falling in love with Helena, Lysander becomes verbally abusive to Hernia, and goes against his promise to protect her and maker her life pleasant. Lysander states, “Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out!” (3.2. 35). Hernia is amazed at how things quickly turnaround, and she sees love as cruel and hurtful. Hermia is doubtful about Lysander’s love for her, “What love could press Lysander from my side? (3.2.33)
Shakespeare alludes to the notion that love is selfish and cruel in the relationship between Oberon and Titania. The couple is in a tussle over an Indian boy, whom Titania has brought up, but is being claimed by Oberon. Oberon states “I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her char...