Approaching Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream
Nov 5, 2012
Delve into the complexities of love and rivalry in Shakespeare's play, where dreams intermingle with reality. Discover the provocative themes of sexual desire and coercion, as characters navigate the chaos of their relationships. The discussion critiques sanitized interpretations, revealing the raw tension between societal norms and personal longing. Explore the darker and comedic elements that highlight desire's power, all set against the enchanting backdrop of the woods and a playful performance of Pyramus and Thisbe.
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Sex, Not Marriage
- A Midsummer Night's Dream satirizes romantic love and explores sexual desire.
- The play's focus on interchangeability of lovers emphasizes this.
Doubling and Double Vision
- Doubling and double vision extend throughout the play, from character pairings to language.
- The lovers' similarity, not their distinctiveness, is emphasized.
Rhyme and Rhetoric
- The play's heavy use of rhyme and repetitive rhetorical structures, like isocolon, reinforces the doubling theme.
- This formal quality makes it suitable for non-verbal art forms like ballet and opera.