A Midsummer Night's Dream: Greek Love Triangle

Introduction to A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy written by William Shakespeare around 1595, with its protagonists Hermia and Lysander. The couple is deeply in love and must overcome adversity to be together. The story unfolds in an ancient Greek setting, where a love triangle develops in the forest, aided by fairies and forest dwellers. This magical intervention leads all the characters to believe that the events in the forest were merely a dream. Shakespeare's work highlights how society is governed by laws, as seen in Hermia's struggle to defy her father Egeus's wishes to marry someone she does not love. The play serves as an example of moral philosophy, exploring themes of love, obedience, and societal expectations.

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Greek Love Triangle

Human beings are governed by principles from birth that help achieve a stable life filled with happiness, satisfaction, and victories. Ethics plays a crucial role in guiding individuals on how to act correctly, as these values are instilled in us as we grow, shaping us into stable individuals. Ethics, as a discipline of philosophy, studies human behavior and helps us differentiate between what is right and wrong. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hermia is in love with Lysander but refuses to marry Demetrius, the suitor chosen by her father Egeus. According to Athenian laws, Duke Theseus declares that a daughter's duty is to obey her father's will, threatening Hermia with the choice of marrying Demetrius or entering a convent.

Faced with this dilemma, Lysander and Hermia decide to secretly flee Athens and marry where the law cannot reach them. They confide their plan to Helena, who is madly in love with Demetrius. Hoping he will change his mind about Hermia, Helena reveals the couple's plan to Demetrius. He follows Hermia into the forest, with Helena trailing behind him, leading all four into the forest that night. The forest becomes a magical setting where the characters' emotions and desires are manipulated by the fairies, creating comedic and chaotic situations.

The performance I attended was staged at the California Stage Co in Sacramento, CA, a small theater that accommodates around 50 people. The intimate setting allowed me to feel more connected to the actors' performances, enhancing my experience of the play. It was a pleasant experience attending such a familiar theater for the first time. The energy and development of the actors made the play even more enjoyable, with two hours filled with laughter and good memories. Having read the book in a literature class, attending this play with actors as versatile and humorous made the experience memorable for me.

Conclusion

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of William Shakespeare's most popular works. While it contains elements of comedy and magic, it also underscores the importance of adhering to the laws and regulations of Athens, highlighting the consequences of defying societal expectations. This performance illuminated the complex interplay between doing what is right and pursuing personal happiness, showing that sometimes doing the right thing does not always lead to fulfillment.

References

Shakespeare, W. (1595). A Midsummer Night's Dream.

California Stage Co. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.calstage.org/