Structure and Summary (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

This section provides an Introduction to the Structure and a summary of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a five-act play, structured according to the conventions of Elizabethan drama. The play’s structure helps to shape its key themes, including love, confusion, and transformation, while maintaining a balance between order and disorder. The interplay between the different settings, characters, and subplots reflects the complexity and fluidity of the narrative.

The Five-Act Structure

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows the traditional five-act structure common in Elizabethan plays. Each act plays a distinct role in the development of the plot and themes:

Act 1: Exposition

The first act introduces the main characters and sets up the central conflicts, particularly around love and authority. We are introduced to the setting of Athens, where Duke Theseus is preparing for his wedding to Hippolyta. The conflict between Hermia and her father, Egeus, regarding her choice of husband is established. The lovers' plan to escape to the forest is revealed, along with the humorous subplot of the mechanicals preparing to perform a play.

Act 2: Rising Action

The second act moves the action to the enchanted forest, where magical events start to unfold. We meet Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, who are quarrelling. Puck is introduced, and Oberon orders him to use the magical love potion, setting the stage for the confusion and misunderstandings that follow. The lovers enter the forest, and Puck's mistaken use of the potion begins to complicate their relationships.

Act 3: Climax

The third act is the play’s turning point, where the lovers’ relationships reach their peak confusion. Puck’s mistake leads to both Lysander and Demetrius falling in love with Helena, leaving Hermia distraught. The tension between the lovers builds, creating conflict and jealousy. In the fairy world, Titania, under the influence of the love potion, falls in love with Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey by Puck. This act is marked by the greatest chaos, both in the human and fairy worlds.

Act 4: Falling Action

In the fourth act, order begins to be restored. Oberon reverses the magic on Titania, and the lovers' affections are corrected as Puck uses the love potion again to return Lysander’s love to Hermia. Bottom is also returned to his human form. Theseus and Hippolyta, along with Egeus, find the lovers in the forest and decide to override Egeus' demands, allowing Lysander and Hermia to marry. Demetrius remains under the influence of the potion, now happily in love with Helena. This act resolves the main conflicts and paves the way for the final act of celebration.

Act 5: Resolution (Denouement)

The fifth act takes place back in Athens and serves as the play’s resolution. It features the triple wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena. The mechanicals perform their comical play, Pyramus and Thisbe, providing a humorous conclusion. The fairies also bless the marriages, and Puck delivers a closing monologue, inviting the audience to think of the events of the play as a dream.

Subplots and Interwoven Stories

The structure of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is notable for its multiple interwoven subplots, which are intricately connected to the central themes of love, magic, and transformation. There are three main plot strands:

The Athenian Lovers (Main Plot)

The central storyline revolves around the four lovers – Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena. Their romantic entanglements, misunderstandings, and eventual resolution form the heart of the play.

The Fairy World (Supernatural Plot)

The subplot involving Oberon, Titania, and Puck provides a magical backdrop to the main action. Their quarrel and use of magic influence the events in the forest, particularly the love potion that causes confusion among the lovers.

The Mechanicals (Comic Subplot)

The group of amateur actors, led by Bottom, provides comic relief throughout the play. Their subplot, which focuses on rehearsing and performing the play Pyramus and Thisbe, mirrors the main theme of love but in a farcical way. Their play also serves as a commentary on the nature of performance and illusion.

These subplots intersect at key moments, particularly in the forest, where the worlds of the lovers, fairies, and mechanicals collide. By the end of the play, all three strands are neatly tied together, creating a satisfying resolution.

Contrast Between Settings

The structure of the play is closely tied to its contrasting settings, which reflect the play’s themes of order vs. chaos and reality vs. illusion:

Athens

Athens represents order, authority, and societal expectations. The laws of Athens, particularly those governing marriage, provide the conflict at the beginning of the play. The structure in Athens is rigid, with characters like Theseus and Egeus enforcing rules and traditions.

The Forest

The enchanted forest is the opposite of Athens. It is a place of magic, dreams, and transformation, where the usual rules do not apply. The structure of the play becomes more chaotic in the forest, reflecting the characters' emotional turmoil and confusion. The forest allows for the subversion of social norms, with love becoming fluid and unpredictable under the influence of magic. However, by the end of the play, order is restored, and the characters return to Athens, having resolved their conflicts.

Symmetry and Balance in the Play

Shakespeare creates a sense of symmetry and balance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream through the structure of the play:

Balanced Relationships

By the play’s conclusion, the romantic relationships are neatly paired off, with both Hermia and Helena married to the men they love, resolving the initial imbalance.

Mirroring of the Play-Within-the-Play

The mechanicals’ performance of Pyramus and Thisbe in Act 5 serves as a comic reflection of the main plot. Just as the lovers in the main plot experience confusion, miscommunication, and near-tragic outcomes, so do the characters in the mechanicals' play. However, the farcical nature of Pyramus and Thisbe allows the audience to laugh at the misfortunes of love, underscoring the play’s comedic tone.

Reversal and Restoration

The play’s structure is built around a reversal of order. The chaos in the forest, where identities and emotions are confused, is resolved by the return to Athens, where harmony is restored. This creates a circular structure, as the play begins and ends in Athens with the theme of marriage.

Use of Dramatic Irony and Parallels

Dramatic Irony

Throughout the play, the audience is aware of the magical interference that the characters themselves do not understand. For example, the audience knows that Puck has mistakenly applied the love potion to the wrong person, causing confusion among the lovers. This creates tension and humour, as the characters react to situations they cannot fully comprehend.

Parallels Between Characters

The relationships between the characters are often mirrored or contrasted. For example, Theseus and Hippolyta’s relationship, which is based on conquest and power, contrasts with the emotional turmoil of the younger lovers. Similarly, Titania’s temporary infatuation with Bottom highlights the absurdity of love, while also paralleling the confusion among the human lovers.

Conclusion

The structure of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is carefully crafted to enhance the play’s exploration of love, confusion, and transformation. Through its five-act structure, interwoven subplots, and contrasting settings, Shakespeare creates a sense of balance and resolution, while also highlighting the fluid nature of love and reality. The play’s symmetry, use of dramatic irony, and the blending of the real and supernatural worlds contribute to its enduring appeal as both a comedy and a reflection on human relationships.