Contrasting Settings in A Midsummer Nights Dream :: comparison compare contrast essays

Contrasting Settings in A Midsummer Nights Dream William Shakespeares play, A Midsummer Nights Dream offers awonderful contrast in gentle mentality. Shakespeare provides insight into mansconflict with the rational versus the stirred characteristics of our behaviorthrough his settings. The rational, dianoetic side is represented by capital of Greece, withits flourishing government and society. The wilder emotional side isrepresented by the fairy woods. Here things do non make sense, and mysticalmagic takes the place of human logic. Every proclivity may be acted upon withouta forethought to there outcome. The city of Athens represents the epitome of civilized man. Ruled bythe jurisprudences of man and kept in check by societys own norms. The human struggle tosuppress its insane and irrational tendencies, still being undertakentoday, discourages the civilized man from making rash and stupid actions.Thus every action should let a sound and pellucid purpose, found on the social norms. In the play, Egeus, the father of Hermia, has thoughtfully elect whathe considers an acceptable mate to wed his daughter. Egeus most likely basedhis decision on economic, political, and social factors in his choosing ofDemetrius. He is making a reasonable decision based on Hermias future in theirsociety. regrettably Hermia is smitten by Lysander and vice versa. Althoughher father may have make his decision with every good intension, keeping withthe traditional customs of his day, and pull down perhaps taking into considerationsuch things as attractiveness, he failed to foreclose the desires of his daughter.The young Lysander, who like most young men, cares little for the rules ofsociety, is willing to expose tradition and flee Athens to obtain Hermia.Therefore they must fall in the rational Athens to enjoy their irrational love. Theseus, the king of Athens, is the highest symbol of law and order inhis kingdom. After winning a war with other kingdom, he chooses to marryth eir queen, Hippolyta. His decision may very well have been inspired by love,but the political ramifications of their marriage is a more than plausible rationale.In fact Theseus apparent love for Hippolyta seems almost as an added reward toan already beneficial partnership. Whether any attraction was there or notprobably would not have made a difference. As king, Theseus must place thekingdom before his own feelings. It simply comes with the position. In short Athens represents the desire to suppress feelings and impulsesand to make decisions based on logic. Thus it does not give the power of rawemotion the authorized respect it requires, for man is both emotional and rational.