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'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Mr Williams 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was written at the end of the 16th century. Womens lives and roles were different in shakespeares time, and even though the play is set in ancient Greece it deals with contemporay problems. Juring this time women could not choose their husbands and they were controlled by men. Women's thoughts were not considered and fathers would choose husbands depending on wealth status in society. This is shown in 'A Midsummers Nights Dream' were Theseus declares Hermia must marry Demetrius, or choose between death or joining a nunnery. Hermia does not want to marry Demetrius because she is in love with lysander. Other examples of other shakepearen plays that deal with the problemsof love and parental control is Romeo and Juilet and Jew of Malta (written by Ben Johnson). These are about people wanting to buy love. Theseus announces he will marry Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons in four days. He hears Egeus' complaint that his daughter Hermia refuses to marry his chosen suitor, Demetrius, since she's in love with Lysander, who Egeus dislikes. Theseus declares Hermia must marry Demetrius, or choose between death or joining a nunnery. In the forest, Oberon argues with Titania that he should have her orphan child as his page. Titania objects, asserting she is queen. Puck arrives with the flower, and Oberon orders Puck to anoint Demetrius with it so he'll love Helena rather than Hermia. Oberon then anoints Titania with the flower. In the forest, Lysander and Hermia lie down to rest. Puck, thinking Lysander is Demetrius, anoints him with the flower. Helena appears and awakes Lysander, who immediately falls in love with her. Puck appears and transforms Bottom to have an ass' head. Puck observes that Demetrius chases Hermia, yet she accuses him of murdering Lysander, and realizes he gave the flower to the wrong man. Oberon tries to remedy this by anointing Lysander with the flower so he'll fall in love with Helena, and he does. However, now both men love Helena, while she believes both are false. Hermia arrives and Helena accuses her of conspiring with the men to tease her. Oberon, realizing Puck has caused these problems, orders him to make a thick fog to separate the four people and force them into a deep sleep, so the spell can wear off. Oberon awakes Titania and transforms Bottom back to a human. Oberon and Titania then make up and love each other again. In the woods, Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus appear and awake the four.
Approximate Word count = 1683 Approximate Pages = 6.7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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