Midsummer Night’s Dream Theme Essay

One of the plays main themes is the difference amidst cognition and receivedity. The idea that things atomic number 18 not of necessity what they seem to be is at the heart of A Midsummer wickednesss inspiration, and in the very title itself. Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persistent unrivaled. These words were spoken by Albert Einstein who, among the legion(predicate) other things he thought ab out(a), considered the very thin line among what we see and feel and what is echt. Many great destineers urinate pondered the relationship between the senses and reality. How much of the world truly exists and how much of it is just now what is in unitarys mind? Among these thinkers was one particular writer named William Shakespeare. A human being who enjoyed pointing out the gullibility of mankind, sometimes tragically and sometimes playfully, wrote a chef-doeuvre of theater exploring that very concept. A Midsummer Nights Dream directly confronts the separ ation between reality and what one perceives to be real.This is examined in Titanias interactions with chip make Bottom, in the adventures of the Athenian hunch overrs, and, most famously, in Pucks closing monologue. It is in this way that Shakespeare forces us to think What is reality? If anything indicates how perception and reality sack sometimes fail to coexist it is the situation between Titania and prick Bottom. The reality of the situation is that Nick wasnt a highly attractive man to begin with, and has immediately been given an ass head. Titania has been drugged to believe that she is madly in love with this man, under Oberons orders. Here is the tricky question secluded in this situation What is love? Love is a feeling. Feelings are another(prenominal) type of perception, a type that are impossible to ground in physical reality. One stoolnot place that Titanias love is fake, though it may be. The very tiptop used to fill the fairy business leader with this lov e was supposed to have been hit with one of Cupids arrow, the arrows which capture true love.It cannot be argued that the love is not true, barely it is not of her drop out will. Does this make the love unreal? Surely Titania perceives it to be real hardly what makes love or any emotion truly real? This situation also does a good deal to show how ones perception of reality can be altered by a powerful feeling same(p) love. Titania is suddenly altogether in love with him, with hisbody, his voice, and everything. Surely she would not normally be attracted to these features but it can be almost universally agreed upon that love can alter ones perception of things. Nick Bottom himself state thatreason and love keep little company. Given the knowledge that something like emotion can alter ones perception, who can say that reality is truly real? The Athenians love situations show that they had little grasp of reality to begin with, making them all the much susceptible toward the me ddling of the fairies, which is a true test of reality versus perception.They statute title to be each equal to each other in looks, constitution and strength. Even their names, Helena and Hermia are quite similar. They are nearly identical in character and mannerisms and for good reason. It is to show how powerfully love can alter the perception of a person. For Hermia, there can be no comparison between Lysander and Demetrius. This is all mixed up when the fairies become involved. Hermia, previously loved by both men, suddenly finds herself scorned and disregard. Likewise, Helena, previously ignored by both men suddenly becomes the supreme object of their desire. What is worse is that she perceives this to be nothing but a cruel joke. All of this is caused by the same flower-struck by cupids arrow-that had equally altered Titanias thoughts on Nick Bottom. This begs to question, are feelings caused by substances real? There are feelings of happiness, euphoria, relaxation, and any number of things that can be caused by mind holdfast drugs but can these feelings be described as being real? Some would argue not, but is the argument truly that simple?What are feelings when boiled down to a science? They are no more than than chemical reactions in the mind. Also, what about mood stabilizing drugs given to those depress or suffering from bipolar disorder? Are the new feelings of wholesome being and peace also not real? The effect of the flower is similar. Who can say how much of what is felt and what is real and how much is brought out by the flower? What of the sentiments that were brought to light by the fairys bow? The feelings of jealousy and distrust that were brought up in Helena were quite evidently always somewhat present so are these feelings unreal or merely highlighted by the actions of the fairies? These are all a matter of perception versus reality-something that Shakespeare clearly desireed us to think about.The final and most brusk ques tion on reality is of course, the ending speech by Puck. If we shadowshave offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here bandage these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding than a dream. To kickoff there is calling the actors all shadows, something that questions how real they truly are. Not only are they playing roles and pretending to be other passel, but on top of that, how real are they or anyone really? Think but this and all is mended simply brings to light how easy it is to alter ones perception of things. Its as simple as changing how you want to see things.Then there is the big question, what is the difference between reality and a dream? If ones perceptions are so easily changed, what is the difference between dreaming and reality? Shakespeare was a master of writing. It is the finish of any artist to change how a person feels and views things. Shakespeare takes his readers and watchers a graduation further by questioning feelings and perception altogether. In showing how love can so powerfully alter perceptions in Titania and Nicks events, by showing how frequently changing the sentiments of the Athenians were, and by openly questioning how real reality is in Pucks speech, Shakespeare challenges us to question how much of what people see and feel is real. How much of what people see and feel can simply be written off as a Midsummer Nights Dream.