Essay Four

INTRODUCTION

Love is a complex and powerful emotion which has deeply transformative effects, both for the lover and the beloved. William Shakespeare’s comedic play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, explores the nature of love and the transformations it can catalyse. Shakespeare portrays the transformative journey of the four lovers in the wood to explore the sheer inexplicability of love as well as its fickleness and subjectivity to sudden change. However, the recurring motifs of metatheatre and deception complicate the audience’s views of the characters. Ultimately, though, A Midsummer Night’s Dream uses the transformative power of emotions to examine the intricacies of its characters’ identities and desires.

1. This is quite a complex prompt, but at its core, we are still examining the central theme of love. Hence, beginning an introduction by unpacking this thematic idea in relation to the text can be a good starting point before untangling the more complicated premises in the question.

2. Unlike the other essays, in this essay, I slightly argue against the question. While I mostly agree with the statement, I also believe that the reflection on theatre and the play’s metatheatrical elements add some complexity to the discussion, so I’ve incorporated that into my thesis. When playing the devil’s advocate, it is crucial to not sit on the fence, so as you can see, I have made a clear judgement about where I sit in terms of the phrase, “to what extent.”

PARAGRAPH 1

Love is easily transformed and subject to rapid change throughout Midsummer. While the play begins with Hermia so demonstrably confident in her and Lysander’s relationship that she is willing to face any repercussions for pursuing it, their relationship quickly deteriorates as Lysander’s affections change under Puck’s influence. Lysander is deeply transformed by his newfound love for Helena, as indicated by his hypophora, “Content with Hermia? No! I do repent / The tedious minutes I with her have spent.” This rapid transformation invites the audience to consider whether or not anyone can be completely secure in their love for another person, because even though Hermia was willing to “either die the death, or to abjure / For ever the society of men,” Lysander’s abrupt abandoning of her for her best friend undermines her certainty.³ Analogously, Demetrius also experiences an unstable love for Helena and Hermia – in Helena’s words, “For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, / He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.” Thus, when Demetrius claims in Act 4 Scene 1 that “All the faith, the virtue of my heart, / The object and the pleasure of mine eye, / Is only Helena,” the audience hold reasonable doubts about his affection. Hence, through this exploration of transformation of love, Shakespeare opens a dialogue with the audience about whether love can ever be relied upon or considered stable, and elicits a sense of scepticism about the characters’ true wishes.

PARAGRAPH 2

While love is easily transformed, its effects also enable the transformation of the beloved in the lover’s eyes⁴ – this idea is paramount in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and forms part of Shakespeare’s critique of the characters’ motives. This is especially evident in Titania’s subjection to the effects of the love flower, which causes her to transform Bottom from a mere mortal with an ass’ head to a desirable being in her eyes. Her synecdochic imagery, such as “Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note; / So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape,” suggests that Titania is so completely in love with Bottom that she transforms his poor singing and unattractive appearance into their opposites.⁵ While the transformation is not as extreme in Helena’s case, her idolisation of Demetrius despite his vindictive behaviour towards her intimates that love has powerful transformative effects. Even Helena is aware of the fact that she has transformed Demetrius in her eyes, as reflected in her adage, “Things base and vile, holding no quantity, / Love can transpose to form and dignity.” Thus, by exploring the transformative effects of love, Shakespeare reflects upon the extent to which his characters are at the mercy of their emotions, and consequently alters the audience’s views of them.

4. Here, I have written a sentence that clearly links the previous discussion with the next sub-argument, and (more importantly) links this paragraph with the prompt and its central premise.

5. The meaning of this quote might seem pretty obvious to you, if you’re already familiar with the text. And it will be obvious to the assessor too. But that doesn’t mean you can skip the explanation! Your marker wants to see that you understand the meaning, and it’s not enough to just include the quote and say ‘this imagery is an example of my point.’ You need to explain the significance of the quote in a step-by-step manner like this, in order to secure a high mark!

PARAGRAPH 3

Although the exploration of transformation is a highly important element of Midsummer, the play’s ability to reflect on the nature of theatre through metatheatrical devices is also responsible for influencing audience perceptions.⁶ The play-withinthe- play in Act 5 Scene 1, performed by the Mechanicals, reflects the alternate plot which could have unfolded for Lysander and Hermia were it not for the intervention of the fairies. By portraying this possibility through melodramatic language such as Pyramus’ line, “O Fates, come, come, / Cut thread and thrum, / Quail, crush, conclude, and quell,” Shakespeare is able to humorously suggests that truth can reside in both ridicule and in theatre. This is furthered in Bottom’s proclamation that there should be a play called “Bottom’s Dream” which captures the experiences that he believes to be part of a dream, but the audience know to be real. Thus, through dramatic irony and the play-withina- play, Shakespeare poignantly suggests that theatre can be imbued with fundamental truths about reality, no matter how absurd or fantastical the elements it possesses. In doing this, Shakespeare is also able to enhance the meaning of the exploration of transformation, as Midsummer’s fantastical elements thus hold real significance for the characters too. Consequently, while Shakespeare’s investigation of transformation in the play is undoubtedly intrinsically powerful for audiences, Shakespeare’s use of metatheatre also impacts the perception of the text.⁷

6. Here comes the part where I slightly disagree with the topic and challenge its absolutes. However, when doing this, it’s vital that you still base your discussion on the question (rather than just arguing whatever you want to argue!). Take particular note of my continuous linking back to the question.

7. Here, I have clearly brought my argument back to the question. If you want to disagree with the question slightly (or totally) make sure you still do this at the end of your paragraph.

CONCLUSION

Thus, to a high extent, Shakespeare’s study of the transformative nature of love, both for the lover and the beloved provides a powerful lens through which audiences view A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ultimately, through his representation of the potential for rapid change in affection as well as the transformation which individuals can undergo in the eyes of their lover, Shakespeare invites the audience to reflect on the meaning of love, and the true desires of the characters. To this end, Shakespeare contends that audiences should look beyond the superficial or impulsive manifestations of love, and examine the underlying emotions that govern our thoughts, feelings, and even our dreams.⁸