“. . . I never may believe / these antique fables, nor these fairy toys. The lunatic, the lover, and the poet / are of imagination all compact.” — THESEUS

(MND 5.1.15-18)

Write a professional essay in which you identify an important theme in MND and discuss how the the play explores that theme by comparing two scenes. Consider imagery, symbols, allusions, references, indications of tone, hints at stage directions, verse forms, ect.

The essay should be at least three full pages and follow MLA style (see the Readings page for references on MLA style). Use quotes from the text and research smartly—to highlight your original ideas and not to establish plot points.

It can be helpful to have a digital edition of the text when you’re writing. It makes finding quotes and words much easier.

Theme ideas

This is a list of ideas only. It’s in no particular order or preference. Some are my own, some are ideas students have written about in the past. You are free, even encouraged, to make your own connections and come up with your own theme.

One good way to generate themes is to dip into scenes here and there without reading the whole play. Re-read the scenes in different contexts (different words hit you when you’re reading on the subway versus in the stacks at the Rosenthal library). You’ll make non-linear connections across the play, too. You may want to view a particular scene in at least three versions of the play (one of my suggestions or any from this site which has interesting productions, including this by a South Korean troupe). By repeated and comparative readings, you’ll move past the literal meaning of the words and the plot, and start thinking critically about the language in the text.

Themes

Pairs/Doubles/Interchangeability – Are Lysander and Demetrius really that different or are they essentially interchangeable? How about Hermia and Helena? What does it mean that pairs keep switching? Is there anything important about all of the other kinds of pairs: a play within a play; actors playing a role; multiple sets of stories; etc.?

Metamorphoses – Why do people morph and change so often in the play? (their minds, heads, hearts, married status, age, location)

Dreams – Why are people always waking up from dreams or feeling as if they are in a dream? What is important about dreams in this play? Is the play actually all a dream? What’s the relationship between dreaming and plays? How is love like dreaming? Are all of the loves in this play “dream-like”? What happened to Bottom’s Dream? What is it and why don’t we hear it in the play (or do we)? (Many of ideas also relate to sleep as a theme. Much of the actual plot progression happens as people are either going to sleep or waking up. Everything is resolved during sleep, so is the moral that problems can be solved by taking a nap?)

Rights to Bodies/Hearts – Much of this play is concerned with rights, titles, and inheritances. What is the language used when discussion them? What do these discussion reveal about the roles of men/women, lovers, husband/wife, etc.? Is Hippolyta marrying Theseus by choice or is she a political prisoner? Is Hermia? Why does the law seem to affect women so negatively? Does Shakespeare’s play seem to critique that (if so how?), or does it ridicule the women who seem to speak out? Do the women find ways to resist or are they at the mercy of others, always? Why are the men often working together or seeking help from each other to change a woman’s mind?

Voyeurism – Why are characters so often being observed or or watched (sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly)? How is this similar to the experience of watching a play? What could that mean?

Cheating/Infidelity – We hear of nearly every character being spotted, inconstant, rash, or wanton. Pairs and lovers frequently exchange. How are these issues dealt with by the couples? Who takes them more seriously? Why do you think Shakespeare would have so much cheating in a supposedly romantic play (written for a wedding, in fact)? How does Shakespeare’s depiction of people’s love life compare to today?

Fools – Puck famously says “what fools these mortals be.” How are the mortals foolish? Are the fairies foolish in the same way? Are fools, in the end, to be laughed at or are they the heros?

Theater/theater stereotypes – Why is the play so much about being an actor and playing a role? Are there are “roles” people are playing (lover, fool, duke, angry father)? What does the play seem to think is the purpose of plays? Of the theater in general? What does comparing Pyramus and Thisbe with MND reveal about what’s required?

Foreignness/Exoticism/Race – Is Hippolyta a foreign and exotic presence (both as an Amazon and female leader)? Does she mention experiences in faraway lands? Theseus must have been to her land to defeat her, so does he show any worldliness? Of what importance is it that Oberon and Titania have recently to India? Of what importance is the Indian boy? Why does Lysander use racial slurs against Hermia while under the fairy spell? In what ways might the forest be like another world or country, especially for Bottom?

Gender/Gender roles – Flute obviously plays a a woman in MND, but all the women would have been played by men in  Shakespeare’s time (Hermia, Helena, Hippolyta, Titania). Is it possible that Shakespeare has an awareness of gender different then our own which might complicate the messages the play communicates about gender? Helena complains her sex is not meant to woo, and then she spends the play doing it. She reverses a list of stories to have the woman in pursuit. How about the other characters? Do they tend to confirm or resist neat gender categories? When a character is non-conformist, does the play mock them? When someone conforms are they celebrated or is irony used employed? Are the boys manly men fighting got love, or weak-willed and overconfident naive youths? Does Helen “impeach her modesty too much” in her pursuit of Demetrius? Is Titania too desiring of Bottom? How about Egeus? How does his model of fatherhood fare? Are there any models of motherhood?

A Note of Caution

People have been critiquing Shakespeare for over hundreds of years. His cultural status means many people have been shamed for not knowing enough about him or his works (especially students). As a result, there is a lot of information out there to help you decipher the language, make sense of the action, and pass evaluations. Unfortunately it’s also of uneven quality, relevance, and credibility. You don’t need to do any research for this essay because it’s just your interpretation, but if you choose to do research, be discerning in your choices. A theme you identify yourself, rather than one you get from a website, is more likely to interest both of us more.