Saturday, January 30, 2016

What are some traits of the major and minor characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Okay, character traits:


Theseus - Noble, formal of speech, passionate under his noble exterior, an intellectual, and basically kind


Hippolyta - Also noble, however a virtual captive of Theseus from a war between them that he won. She and Theseus are the human versions of Oberon and Titania. Their human-ness makes them more restrained than the Fairy pair in their actions and speech. Also they are post-war, where as the Fairy King and Queen are...

Okay, character traits:


Theseus - Noble, formal of speech, passionate under his noble exterior, an intellectual, and basically kind


Hippolyta - Also noble, however a virtual captive of Theseus from a war between them that he won. She and Theseus are the human versions of Oberon and Titania. Their human-ness makes them more restrained than the Fairy pair in their actions and speech. Also they are post-war, where as the Fairy King and Queen are AT war in the beginning of the play.


Egeus - A stubborn, man, insistent upon tradition, which allows for no freedom for daughters and the absolute rule of fathers.


Hermia - Rebellious daughter and mad with passion for Lysander


Lysander - Rebellious youth and mad with passion for Hermia


Demetrius - Willful youth and fickle, having once professed to love Helena, but now is mad with love for Hermia


Helena - Mad with love for Demetrius


The four lovers above are virtually interchangeable, expressing Shakespeare's intention to show the kind of mindless passion that is one aspect of Love.


Oberon - The Male Archetype, regal, powerful, passionate, and willful.


Titania - The Female Archetype, also regal, powerful, passionate, and willful.


Puck - The spirit of mischief and play


The Workmen, or Mechanicals, as they are called - These are the representatives of the common people, or that aspect of humanity that is in us all. They are uncomplicated and literal,


Bottom - A Mechanical, yet different from the others. He has true poetic enthusiasm, and a poetic heart. He is the ONLY human who is able to comprehend both the Fairy world and the human one. He is an example of The Holy Innocent.

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