Fairies Midsummer Night’s Dream

Fairies midsummer night's dream

The fairies in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream are responsible for much of the progression and comedy that occurs in the story. These magical creatures are able to provide a reason for the erratic behavior of the four lovers in the forest. They also help to point out that the actions of these characters are not actually occurring.

Oberon, the king of the fairies, quarrels with his queen Titania over an Indian changeling that she refuses to give him. To punish her, he orders his mischievous servant Puck to drop magic juice into her eyes while she sleeps. This will cause her to fall hopelessly in love with the first person she sees upon awakening. Knowing that Hermia and Lysander are in love with each other, Oberon also commands Puck to drop the love juice into Demetrius’ eyes instead. Because the two young men look so similar, he misunderstands and administers it to Lysander.

During this time, Bottom and the other workers from Quince’s workshop venture into the woods for rehearsals of their play about Pyramus and Thisbe. While there, they are spotted by Puck who transforms his head into that of a donkey. The other workmen run screaming in fear that they are being haunted. Puck, however, assures them that the fairies have nothing to do with it and that everything that happens in the forest is simply a dream.

It is at this point that the fairy story really begins to unravel. The mischief that the fairies get up to is a reflection of human emotions and behaviors. The jealousy that Oberon displays toward Titania is a common feeling among people. He is upset that she won’t give him her Indian boy, and he wants to retaliate against her.

The way that the fairies interact with the couples is indicative of the way that Shakespeare changes the image of fairy beliefs during his time. He took the naive, innocent qualities that were attributed to fairies at the time and gave them a more adult and sophisticated quality. As a result, the fairies are seen as being more relatable. They seem to be almost human in their behavior, and the way that they interact with the characters in the story makes the play a lot more enjoyable. This is the type of play that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. It is a tale that should not be missed by anyone who has an interest in Shakespeare or fairy stories. It is a play that will be remembered and treasured for its comical, but ultimately touching story. The play was adapted into a ballet in 1984 by Georges Bizet and an opera in 1994 by Giuseppe Verdi. In addition, a number of films have been based on it. The most notable adaptation is the 1981 BBC Television Shakespeare production, starring Helen Mirren as Titania, Peter McEnery as Oberon, Phil Daniels as Lysander and Geoffrey Palmer as Bottom.