William Shakespeare is one of the most important English authors, his plays are well known today although he lived in the 16th century. Especially his love dramas enjoy great popularity. This paper deals with his comedy „A Midsummer Night's Dream“. Nearly everybody knows the famous sentence Lysander says to Hermia: „The course of true love never did run smooth“ (MND I.i.134).
Love is the main theme in this play and this sentence mirrors the love between the four Athenian lovers very well. The flower 'love-in-idleness' screws up the whole love constellation as well as Egeus, Hermia's father, who does not allow his daughter to marry the man she loves. Throughout the play love is presented with a huge range of metaphors and it acquires new shapes.
It is notable that those metaphors who describe the love in the play are metaphors of nature. The moon, the image of inconstancy is often used to show the inconstancy of love between the four Athenian lovers caused by the magic flower. Furthermore, love is linked to the eyes, but it is misleading, however, to conclude that there is a simple association between love and beauty, just because the eyes are linked to love. Besides Shakespeare shows the power of love between the protagonists. Love is not only a feeling, it changes the perception.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The change of the love pairs
2.1 Magic flower 'love-in-idleness'
2.1.1 The role of Puck
2.2. Inconstancy of love
3. Different metaphors for Love
3.1 Love and nature
3.2 The power of love
3.2.1 Love seems to be a sickness
3.3 Love and eyes
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines how the theme of love in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is represented through various metaphors and explores the influence of Elizabethan psychology on these depictions. It specifically investigates the roles of nature, magic, and the human perception of love throughout the play.
- The transformative power of love and its impact on human perception.
- The symbolic function of the 'love-in-idleness' flower.
- The association between love, physical sight, and the "eye" motif.
- Love as a form of sickness or madness within the characters' experiences.
- The contrast between natural love and magic-induced infatuation.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The change of the love pairs
The love between the four Athenian lovers has different stages. First, at the beginning of the play, Hermia and Lysander love each other. But Demetrius is also in love with Hermia, but his affection is not returned. Instead, Helena loves him. But with her, Demetrius was betrothed before the play begins. Hermia has two lovers and Helena has none. With the entrance in the wood, everything changes. After the application of the love-juice, Lysander awakes and suddenly he is in love with Helena: “Not Hermia, but Helena I love” (MND II.ii.112) The constellation is now as follows: Lysander loves Helena, Helena loves Demetrius, Demetrius loves Hermia and Hermia loves Lysander. When the juice is used the second time, Demetrius also falls in love with Helena. Now, the two men battle over Helena as they earlier did over Hermia. The disorder causes that the love is hopeless. But Lysander is given the juice-antidote, he returns to Hermia. Demetrius love to Helena rests and its the perfect match of the four Athenian lovers. (c.f. Berry 94)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the significance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and sets the stage for exploring its central theme of love through various metaphors.
2. The change of the love pairs: This chapter analyzes the shifting romantic dynamics between the four Athenian lovers and how these changes occur during the play.
2.1 Magic flower 'love-in-idleness': This section details the origin and effect of the magical flower used by Oberon, which serves as a catalyst for the play's romantic conflicts.
2.1.1 The role of Puck: This subsection focuses on Puck's role as the bearer of the magical juice and his influence on the characters' interactions.
2.2. Inconstancy of love: This section examines the fickle behavior of the men in the play, contrasting their instability with the constancy of the female characters.
3. Different metaphors for Love: This chapter discusses how love is described through different symbolic categories in the play.
3.1 Love and nature: This section explores how Shakespeare employs natural imagery, such as roses and cherries, to articulate the complexities of romantic relationships.
3.2 The power of love: This section investigates love as a formidable force that can override societal authority and alter the protagonists' perceptions.
3.2.1 Love seems to be a sickness: This subsection analyzes the conceptualization of love as an illness within Elizabethan psychology.
3.3 Love and eyes: This section details the recurring motif of the eye, exploring how love enters the body and how it is connected to perception.
4. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings regarding the metaphors and the role of Elizabethan psychology in understanding love in the play.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, love, metaphors, Elizabethan psychology, love-in-idleness, Puck, inconstancy, nature, power of love, sickness, eye motif, perception, magic, Athenian lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the central theme of love in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," specifically how it is expressed through various metaphors and interpreted through the lens of Elizabethan psychology.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the work?
The study covers the shifting nature of romantic pairs, the use of magical elements like the 'love-in-idleness' flower, the power of love to change perception, and the recurring motif of the eye.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The objective is to demonstrate that love is the central theme of the comedy and to explain the various symbolic shapes it takes, such as a force, a sickness, or a result of magic.
Which scientific approach or methodology is utilized?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, drawing upon research literature and Elizabethan psychological theories to interpret the symbolic meaning of metaphors and character actions.
What topics are addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body focuses on the mechanics of the changing love pairs, the role of Puck, the inconsistency of the male characters, and the specific use of nature and eye metaphors.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Shakespeare, love-in-idleness, eye motif, inconstancy, Elizabethan psychology, and metaphors of love.
How does the role of the 'love-in-idleness' flower specifically affect the play's structure?
The flower acts as the primary device for parodying the conditions of love and creating the comedy's necessary chaos; without it, the play would not function as a comedy but could have become a tragedy.
Why does the author argue that the "eye" is the most significant motif?
The eye is analyzed as the primary entry point for love in Elizabethan times, serving as a gateway for both "sickness" and the transfer of affection, and is referenced nearly 20 times in the play.
- Quote paper
- Clarissa Benning (Author), 2015, The Concept of Love in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/334579
