Midsummer Night’s Dream, Essay Example

Literary Elements in A Midsummer Night’s Dream that help Develop the Action and a Major Theme

The development of a captivating literary work is guided by how the author articulates the themes through the utilization of various stylistic elements. Here, the understanding of the audience and the alignment of relevant features with the text’s main themes form the basis for precision and clarity in the message. In the case of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the overall set up of the work is centred on the message presented by the author. The overall setting of the work concerning themes and literary aspects inform the outlook of the tone. While Shakespeare is renowned for the creation of widely accepted works due to the precision in the message and the ability to sustain the audiences’ entertainment, the case in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is specific and modified to suit the play’s message. Both entertainment and the depiction of the realities guiding everyday society are evident in the work. The actions in the play are primarily informed by the need to create humour for audience entertainment and the communication of the central themes reflecting a typical society. In this regard, three literary elements present in A Midsummer Night’s Dream that help develop the actions of the play and the varieties of reality as a major theme include the tone, genre and allegory in the work.

The articulation of a tone in any given text is critical in establishing the audiences’’ targeted reactions and the intended ambience of reading. The play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is marked by an interplay of a lighthearted and a sombre tone. The actions in the play as portrayed by the characters automatically set the tone of the work, which in turn elicit the reader’s perception of the work. The use of tone by Shakespeare reflects the major theme of the play, which include the varieties of societal reality. Sombre situations and lighthearted experiences are typical in an individual’s or collective experiences. In the initial stages of the play, the tone established by Shakespeare depicts an aspect of darkness in the society at hand. The case of Hermia does not elicit any aspect of joy or admiration from the readers. The idea of forceful acceptance into becoming a nun or subjection to the death penalty elicits criticism on the societal morals and treatment of individuals. The facing of situations that can be deemed as unfair forms one version of reality in a typical society. Here, the dark (sombre) tone adopted by Shakespeare, in this case, aligns with the overall theme of reality. While the situation at hand is undesirable, it reflects the situation in everyday life. The reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is marked by in-depth engagement of the reader’s emotional appeals and the call to relate with the character’s experiences. While Hermia is a generated character, Shakespeare establishes a precise tone that allows the audience to link the play’s framework and everyday life. As a way of representing satisfaction and contend as another reality of life, Shakespeare incorporates a lighthearted tone in the subsequent stages of the play. Here, the major actions depicting humor and the lack of continued seriousness in human life is reflected. While the lighthearted tone in the play does not necessarily involve desirable experiences, the articulation sets the action for humor and general entertainment of the readers. In the work, instances including the experience of individuals with the magic love juice reflect the fun in human experiences. The action for a complete human experience is reflected in the tone of the work. As opposed to a one-sided narration of human life, Shakespeare creates a holistic view of societal experiences by incorporating sombre and lighthearted tones. The actions of the play are set in motion while sustaining the play’s motive of representing various versions of reality within the society.

The genre of A Midsummer Night’s Dream creates the primary element that guides the sequence of actions and the interaction of characters in the play. Here, Shakespeare utilizes the genre to determine the overall outlook of action and the allocation of traits to the various characters. The overall assessment of the play indicates the adopted genre as a comedy. The adoption of a comical genre allows Shakespeare to communicate the main theme of various realities within the society while ensuring the audiences’ engagement through humor while linking the message to typical social occurrences. Instances in the play, including Oberon’s love potion, create the platform for humor while depicting the society’s situation when emotional states are compromised. While one aspect of reality calls for the development of reason in addressing romantic relationships, the play also reveals the usual cases of extreme and rather unlogic approach to relationships by individuals. The use of genre as a literary element creates the environment for major actions characterized by significant humor within the play’s main themes. Besides the evidence of humor, the idea of comedy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is evidenced by the dialogues between characters and the use of aspects, including disguise. Conversations between Titania and Oberon reflect in-depth comedy, while the actions of Lysander and Hermia indicate disguise as part of a comedy set. In the given instances, Shakespeare establishes the grounds for reflecting the various forms of reality and their accompanying meanings to different people.

Allegory as a literary element in A Midsummer Night’s Dream also establishes the basis for major actions in the play and the continued development of different forms of reality as the major theme. The use of various ideas and substances in the work allow the audience to deduct hidden meanings that reflect the realities surrounding society’s perceptions or moral grounds. The instance of love juice calls for further assessment to reflect the extended meaning intended by Shakespeare. Here, the effect of the potion on individuals within the play can reflect the inexplicable and unpredictable nature of human emotions in some instances. In any given case, individuals are bound to have different views that hamper the perceptions of reality and use of reason. Another instance of allegory is evident in Theseus assertions of ‘lithering on the virgin thorn’ (1.1.79). Here, Shakespeare communicates society’s perception of human virginity. However, the message is hidden and calls for further scrutiny. The situation calls for the evaluation of the reality surrounding virginity. Since the views on the given issue are bound to be divided, Shakespeare is critical in developing the major theme of representing different forms of reality.

The outlook of a literary work’s characters and flow of actions inform the communication of the main themes. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the use of genre, allegory and tone facilitate the development of actions and the main theme, various forms of reality. The actions of the characters ensure that the readers are accorded the necessary platform to develop own assessments and identify the different realities inherent in society. Here, Shakespeare represents the everyday life of individuals and groups while sustaining the entertainment of the audience.

Reference

Shakespeare, W. (1605). A Midsummer Night’s Dream.