The play Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is a very interesting play. I have never read it before and after reading, watching the play, and doing a bit of my own research to understand it more. Shakespeare involves a huge part of gender roles. Men are expected to be aggressive and dominant. Meanwhile, the women are passive and docile. A scene that begins focuses on Hermia’s father who argues with him to let her chose her own mate. It doesn’t meet Egeus’s standards of who is Hermia’s father. In the part itself, it demonstrates how women in that time had no control over their life. They were to marry the man that the father had chosen for them for their liking, not the daughters. If the daughter is to disobey her father she would be sentenced to death or live as a nun. Another scene that shows deeply how gender role is high is when Helena demonstrates her love deeply for Demetrius and he ignores her and tells her to go away that he wants nothing to do with her at all. Helena speaks on Act 2 “I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius. The more you beat me. I will fawn on you. Use me as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me, Only give me leave. Unworthy as I am, to follow you”. In this quote, Helena shows subjugation towards Demetrius. Demetrius wants nothing to do with her, but because if a woman does not marry a man she will be less valued. During a scene at the beginning of the play. A father strikes her daughter for talking back to her. Arguing saying that she will marry Demetrius because it’s to his liking and not hers. Continuing in the play Hermia says if he like him that much why not go with him. Both the play and reading the play were good I enjoyed them both very much. All of Shakespeare’s work is incredible on how gender roles played in his time compared to now in the present.
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It’s incredible that now Juneteenth is a holiday. I honestly feel proud that there is being change made and errors being recognized. Everyone should be treated fairly and not differently because of the color of their skin. After all the years they have been mistreated there now is a holiday to celebrate and remember the loved ones of friends and family. From the holiday having many names and being celebrated widely. Joe Biden signs Juneteenth Holiday into a law. Years of slavery having many people suffer. It’s all being recognized bit by bit what is wrong. I am proud that Juneteenth has become a holiday.
Hi Everyone,
 I have completed reviewing your letters on a current issue (Assignment #2). After reviewing my edits and suggestions, please revise these letters (using the same document).
We finish the summer session in high style and grand fun. I ask that you read (and then watch) William Shakespeare’s extraordinary play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Written in 1596 (one year after “Romeo and Juliet”), the play is a brilliant and zany exploration of true love, true hate, and the arbitrariness of human emotions. As Puck, the mischievous spirit, famously says: “What Fools These Mortals Be”!
I. Watch my video lecture “Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age,” which introduces the play.
II. Read William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1596)
If you prefer, here is a modern text translation of the play. You can read the modern translation next to Shakespeare’s original text.
III. View: Film adaptation of the play (1968) by the Royal Shakespeare Company (on Amazon Prime). I recommend watching the film with the SUBTITLES to fully enjoy Shakespeare’s magnificent language.
I also recommend the NYC “Shakespeare in the Park” production (1982): (Midsummer Night’s Dream Part I, PART TWO  . This is free.
IV. Post a Response to a speech, scene, character, theme, or other dramatic element that you find particularly intriguing. I’m also very interested to hear your thoughts on the fantastic film (and/or play) version of the work. Did you enjoy the film (or play as it was acted)? What scenes/which actors did you like the best? BE SURE YOU DON’T REPEAT WHAT A PREVIOUS STUDENT HAS WRITTEN. DON’T USE OUTSIDE SOURCES FOR THIS. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK. The modern text translation of the play may be helpful here.
REMINDER: To post a comment, simply click on “comments” (above), write comment, and “post”
Possible themes and topics to consider (be sure to provide quotes to support your assertions):
- The challenges (frustrations and humiliations) of love
- The role of dreams (and the forest) as representative of the human subconscious
- Puck’s love of mischievousness (the role of the troublemaker or “trickster” figure)
- Transformation (theatre/art as chance to view alternative possibilities) (human fickleness)
- Reason vs. unreason (desire) as opposing forces
- The natural world (of chaos and play) set against the urban world (of laws and obedience)
- Gender/power issues in the play (how is power over others played out?)
- Analysis of the play-within-the-play (what’s so funny about Bottom’s group of actors? What role does it play?)
- The moon as a symbol of “lunacy” – Night vs. Day as symbolism
- Inconstancy vs. constancy (who stays true to themselves? who changes affections regularly?)
- Illusion vs. reality (how does the play help viewers distinguish between each?)
- There’s some intriguing “climate issues” in the play. When Titania and Oberon do not get along, their negative energy has disastrous effects on the weather (storms, droughts, and floods). See Act 2, Scene 1 lines 90-100 especially.
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