Being the third and final post on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

"Titania, High Queen of the Faeries" by Howard David Johnson

I am glad I own a copy of Shakespeare’s works in which I don’t mind penciling in thoughts and opinions in the column! I find it easy to refer back to these notes.

A quick summary of the latter three acts reminds us of the pompous Bottom’s head being turned into the head of an ass; of Titania’s succumbing to the power of the cupid-struck flower and falling in love with Bottom; of the confusion brought about by Puck’s mistake where the young pairs of lovers are concerned, and the eventual righting up of all mistakes/wrongs by Oberon, the fairy king, once he gets his Indian boy.

I would like to begin with my thoughts on the whole Oberon-Titania affair. In his dealings with the young lovers, Oberon comes across as a compassionate fairy. But what he does to Titania is quite miserable. The fact that he pities Titania towards the end of his prank is quite completely cancelled out, in my opinion, by his having acquired her Indian boy anyway. I find the dynamics between them rather off; even as I do the dynamics between Theseus and Hyppolyta. If I hadn’t known that Hyppolyta was an Amazon princess, I would never have realised that she was a warrior from all that takes place in the play. She could so easily have been an older version of a very complying Helena. Perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration, because she really never seems to posses an opinion save for some quite useless remark on our giftless actors in the play at the end of this play. Titania too, seems to submit quite tamely to Oberon’s ‘conquest’. I’m not sure that this really says anything about Shakespeare’s opinion about women. I have heard/read that Shakespeare was a  writer who knew how to portray his women as the real thing(s). Having read The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth I suspect that ‘perhaps’ it is true. But, I’m beginning to wonder if I should reserve that opinion until I re-read these plays, for in A Midsummer Night’s Dream the women come out as being completely tame and submissive toward their men, and quite catty towards their own sex.

Consider Hermia. She seems quite the fire-cat when Lysander starts abusing her and proclaiming that he is in love with Helena. She is all geared to tear Helena’s eyes out. But come morning, everything is as a dream, and all is forgotten quite easily by these two women toward their swain. And talking of the swain, does it disturb any of you that Demetrius is still in love with Helena only because of the love dew? It makes me feel quite uneasy, and sorry for Helena. It’s disturbing, isn’t it, when love is forced and not a choice?

At this point someone could stop me and tell me that I was quite missing the point with Shakespeare, and did I enjoy his poetry? Hmmm… I can’t say I enjoyed it all of the time. In fact, I found a few parts just a bit tedious to read…especially the quarrel between the young men over Helena. However, it struck me how the ‘speech’ of the fairies were so different from that of the nobility, not to mention the rather obvious difference between these two sets and the poor actors’ guild. There is something so light and tripping about Puck’s speeches, don’t you think?

And what did you guys think of the last scene in the play? I felt quite sorry for Quince & Co. …but it was also so very amusing. I think it was the place where I chuckled the most. I have to admit that the remarks by Theseus, Demetrius and Lysander annoyed me. But I had to try and imagine the scene as it would be played and couldn’t help thinking of a bunch of friends and me going to the cinema and having fun critiquing what we would consider a silly movie; and at the end of it all coming out having had more fun at the movie’s expense because of the opportunity to make fun of something ridiculous. Still, I liked their (Quince & Co’s) play… especially the part of Wall! Lol! I can imagine the Elizabethan spectators rolling off their chairs or on the ground, clutching their sides and laughing hysterically at this comedy (tragedy!) of Pyramus and Thisby.

In these final acts I recognised only one other sentence that is quite well-known today –

Lord, what fools these mortals be! (Act III, Sc II)

Did any of you recognise any other phrase/sentence that is commonly known today, though might not be understood to be from Shakespeare?

I also spotted a verse that seemed to describe the title of this play so aptly!

And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream. (Act IV Sc I lines 68-70)

And just another quote that struck me…I believe it is quite a famous/oft quoted Shakespearean passage:

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet,
Are of imagination all compact:
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold;
That is the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen’s beauty in a brow of Egypt;
The poet’s eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And, as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Such tricks hath strong imagination
That, if it would but apprenhend some joy,
It comprehends some bringer of that joy:
Or in the night, imagining some fear,
How easy is a bush suppos’d a bear?

So now, I open the floor to you guys.

1. What is your opinion of Oberon’s prank and that of Puck’s?
2. Do you think Demetrius is still under the influence of the love dew when he wakes up in the morning and is still in love with Helena? What is your opinion about this?
3. What do you think of the portrayal of the women characters in general?
4. Do you have a favourite character in this play? If so, who and why?
5. Which is your favourite part of this play? Why?
6. Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?
7. Anything else that the above questions and my post have not considered?

Act Two of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Discussion)

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Howard David Johnson

A brief summary of Act II
This Act takes place in the woods beginning with a chance meeting between Puck and another fairy. From their brief conversation we learn that the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, are having a big fight. Titania has a little Indian boy that Oberon wants desperately as his page. Now, both the king’s court and the queen’s are heading toward each other, on their way to attend the marriage of Theseus and Hyppolyta.

Then come in Oberon and Titania, and we further learn why Titania is unwilling to give the boy up. He is apparently the son of a dear friend that she has taken under her protection. We also learn, that because of the fight between her and Oberon, the elements are going haywire. The queen is willing to call a truce but Oberon is determined to have the boy. So, once they part, Oberon hatches a plan to humiliate his queen. He sends Puck out for a special flower whose juice, when squeezed into the eyes of one causes a deep love in the person for the first living thing that comes its way.

With Puck off to collect this flower, Oberon witnesses the scene with Demetrius and Helena. The former declares his absolute hatred for the latter, but that latter follows him around like an abused puppy. Feeling sorry for her Oberon asks Puck (when Puck returns) to squeeze some of that love juice into Demetrius’ eyes while the girl is near, so that she is the first thing he sees.

Oberon completes his business with Titania, and Puck goes looking for this “Athenien” lad, and comes across Lysander and Hermia who are fast asleep at a short distance from each other. Thinking Lysander is the one, Puck squeezed the juice into his eyes. Demetrius and Helena pass by, and Helena espies Lysander. Thinking him dead, she shakes him awake. As soon as he opens his eyes and sees Helena, he begins declaring his love for her. Feeling scorned and humiliated, for she is sure Lysander is making fun of her inability to attract Demetrius, she turns and runs. Lysander follows and Hermia wakes up feeling alone and frightened.

Discussion questions:

1. What is your opinion about the quarrel between Oberon and Titania?
2. What do you think about Helena’s state of mind?
3. Where the young pairs of lovers are concerned two points of ‘virtue’ are touched upon — that of maidens not being out on their own and that of sex after marriage. What do you think of how these themes are dealt with within the context of the story?
4. If you compare and contrast the relationship between Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania, what would you say?
5. Have you come across any other allusions to famous myths? Could you tell us what they are and give us a bit of background if possible?
6. Are there any lines, passages that struck you (either negatively or positively)?
7. Have you made any other observation that you would like to share?

Act One of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Discussion)

Lysander and Hermia

A brief summary of Act I.
Act I, Sc I begins with Theseus and Hippolyta talking about their wedding which is to happen four days from then. Enter Egeus with his daughter and the two men who are in love with her. Egeus wants daughter, Hermia, to marry Demetrius, but Hermia and Lysander are in love. Egeus comes to Theseus hoping that the Duke might persuade his daughter to marry the man he’s chosen for her or to inflict on her punishment for her disobedience. Theseus tells Hermia she has only one of two choices — to marry Demetrius or to become a nun. He allows her time to think about it. Then everyone leaves save for Hermia and Lysander. While alone they quickly map out a plan to elope the following night. Hermia’s best friend, at that moment, walks in. Helena is in love with Demetrius and bewails the fact that he cannot bare to look at her and has eyes only for Hermia. Hermia then tells her that she might have a chance at having Demetrius for she and Lysander are eloping. Together they inform Helena of their intention to meet each other in the woods the next night. Then they leave. Sc I ends with Helena decided to let Demetrius know of their plan, because she cannot bare that he be made unhappy.

Act I, Sc II is a humorous section with a troupe of labourers having come together to work on a play for the duke’s wedding. The troupe is lead by a Quince, a carpenter, and he calls out the names of those present and the roles they will be playing. Among them is Bottom, a weaver, who thinks himself a great and worthy actor, and if allowed his own way would no doubt play every single role in the play. The scene ends with Quince deciding the place and time for their first rehearsal — the following night in the woods.

A little something I want to say before I type out the questions.
I had no idea, when I opened my copy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and began reading, that I would enjoy this so much! I have read this play twice before, and studied it for an exam. Yet, this time round seemed different. Perhaps, I understood the verse and language better? It is highly likely. I found myself chuckling at ridiculous Bottom, and was generally involved with the play. However, I was also quite amused about something else. I am currently reading Tolstoy on Shakespeare, where Tolstoy expresses his inability to understand what is so great about Shakespeare. He suspects that his greatness lies in the multitudes being psychologically influenced to believe him the greatest writer of all time. Tolstoy takes the case of King Lear, tearing it apart in his attempt to prove that Shakespeare was a rather bad poet with no real skill and with not much of the sublime in his verse. He says that one of the things that struck as plain ridiculous was the many lines that a character would use in order to state something so simple, especially when time is of the essence.

Now, in case you’re wondering what all this has to say to anything, it’s just that Leander’s speech while informing Helena of his and Hermia’s flight from Athens, seems a bit too long. Really, it was amusing and it made me laugh to think of Tolstoy would have said. However, when thinking about it within the context of the stage, I figured it really could work given the right speed, and of course, the acting.

Anyway, I hadn’t intended to ramble. I have here a few questions for us all to consider and act as a guideline to further discussion on this Act. May I request that you please answer these questions within the comment section even if you post the answers on your own blog. I ask so that the discussion will not be thinly spread out, and everyone taking part will be on the same page. Thank you.

Discussion questions:

1. What is your opinion about the young pairs of lovers, Egeus and the Duke?
2. There is constant mention of the moon, fantasy and dreams. If you are reading this play for the first time, what do you think these elements suggest? If you have read this play before, how do you think mention of these elements prepare us for what is to come?
3. What do you make of Bottom, the weaver?
4. Do you perceive any allusions to myths and/or other works? If so, what are they and give us a brief background story if you can for those of us who aren’t aware of these myths/stories/legends/works etc..
5. Shakespeare is known to have added a great deal to the English language. In this act, have you come across any sentences and/or phrases often used these days?
6. Have you any quote/quotes that has/have struck you as interesting in some way?
7. Have you any other observations/questions/so on that are not covered by the above discussion points?

Let the discussion begin!

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: January Sign-up Post

We’re already past the half-way point of December 2011, and I’m keenly looking forward to January 2012 so that I might begin reading…Shakespeare! I’m so excited I can barely contain myself. I’m happy I get to start announcing the first play we’re doing. Come January 1, 2012, be ready to take the plunge into A Mid-summer Night’s Dream.

I apologise for the repetitiveness of what I’m about to type, but this is really for the uninformed. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the first play of twelve to be read in the year 2012. A list of the plays we’ll be reading and the months in which we’ll be reading them can be found here along with details of this project — Reading Shakespeare: a Play a Month. Sign-up posts for each play will be put up on the 20th of the previous month — long enough, I hope, for folk to be able to acquire a copy of the up-coming play.

Now to the nitty-gritties.

How the sign-up works.
I won’t be having any of those link-up gadgets. Instead, just state your interest in the comments section of this post. I’m looking at making a master list of participants on each play’s sign-up post — just so that all this info isn’t lost among all the discussions and comments.

How the read-along schedule works.
You are welcome to begin reading the play any time you like. However, on this blog, the read-along posts that follow each act in the play will be found on the following dates:

• 15 January 2012 — Act I
• 18 January 2012 — Act II
• 21 January 2012 — Act III
• 24 January 2012 — Act IV
• 27 January 2012 — Act V
• 30 January 2012 — Summary of Discussions/Wrap-up Post

How the discussion works.
The first five discussion posts will contain brief summaries of the corresponding act followed by questions to provoke discussion. The sixth and final post will be a summary of the discussions we’ve had in the previous posts, mapping out various subjects like characterisation, themes, symbols and motifs — anything that comes up during the course of the discussions.

Remember:

• You don’t have to be a blogger to participate.
• Even if you are not able to finish reading the play within the assigned month, you are welcome to join in on the discussions at any time. There is NO time limit for discussions.

A request to bloggers.
I would like to request bloggers, who intend posting the answers to the discussion questions on their blog, to please post their answers in the comments section as well so that all participants will find it easy to take part in the discussion. Thank you.

Now that we are done with the instructions, let’s get out our copies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and get ready for a surreal world of love and adventure!

Update — a piece of interesting information for those who might be interested.
Nicki from Every Book and Cranny has been kind to bring to our attention that the American Shakespeare Center is touring quite a few places with their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream between January and March 2012. Among these places are Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and Alabama. For more information on where and when and how go here.