Why the play is called "A Midsummer Night's Dream"? How and where in the play is this addressed and by whom?
The play is called “A Midsummer Night’s dream” because it was directed on Midsummer Night; the shortest night of the year. The play's title is suitable since most of the action occurs around the eve of May. Now the question is where and how the play is addressed and by whom? The answer of this question lies in play as all the four lovers (lysander, helena, hermia and demetrius) believed that they are dreaming and when they were awake they started loving each other. Also, the four lovers are further made to believe that they were actually dreaming about what took place in the forest. This is the place where the actual play's title "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is addressed. Furthermore, in the end of the play (Act 5 scene 1) Puck delivered a speech through which he dealt with the viewers directly, apologizing for most things that probably have offended them. This is another place where the play's title is more visible and is addressed in much detail.
Discuss Shakespeare's use of a play within a play. Why is this play being done? What is Shakespeare's reason for the play, and how is it significant to the overall story?
A typical approach in Shakespeare as well as other playwrights is to develop a play within a play. The most famous example of this approach is in Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet. However, with regards to the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", it is evident that the play is literally staged as the most scenes of the play are actually taken from the part of Pyramus and Thisbe performance, in Ovid's Metamorphoses, which is actually a Latin epic poem that was originally written some 1500 years ago.
The story of Ovid's story is completely a tragic one that had actually influenced the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but Shakespeare’s used the last speech in the context of Midsummer Nights’ Dream, that significant to the overall story of the plant. Also, this is a comedy play that ends with the marriage of three couples and their lovemaking. The main reason for the play is to link the Ovid’s Metamorphoses with the actual play. Therefore, in Shakespeare’s plays, we can easily identify two different types of plays within a play. Some plays are literal one like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the other plays are the figurative ones such as “Twelfth Night." There is another type of play within a play that is sometimes referred as meta-theater.
Discuss the "Comedia del Arte" elements that Shakespeare uses in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
The term Commedia dell'Arte, also referred to as "Italian comedy," was a humorous theatrical performance by professional artists. However, we can see the elements of "Commedia dell'Arte" in Shakespeare’s play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". From the play, it is evident that the interweaving of various stories is presenting the different elements of "Commedia dell'Arte". In the play we have the top classes, the young lovers and the rude mechanicals along with the fairy world, all connected collectively to create a completely balanced whole.
Moreover, within this play, the characters are also recognizable. We can see the elements of "Commedia dell'Arte" in all the characters as it is apparent that Nick Bottom and the Puck share attributes that recognize them with Arlecchino. Puck is really a mischievous fairy who often does pranks. However, the Nick Bottom is extremely witty, reckless, and has a good sense of humor. It is apparent that the Puck developed a love potion to made people fall in love with wrong people. On the other hand, Helena appeared to be a wise young lady, who thought rationally in everyday life, including lovemaking. She is sometimes worried about her physical looks. Even though, Helena is deeply in love with Demetrius, she isn't in the love triangle inside the play. Shakespeare blended Philosophy, Christianity and mythology in almost all of his plays, particularly in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We can also see the ingredients of Commedia Delle’ Arte, in entertainment such as in comic stories, cartoons, TV shows, music, art and fashion.
