Use of Puck to Explore Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream...

Love is a timeless topic. It will forever be the theme of popular entertainment and source of confusion for men and women alike. No one understands this better than William Shakespeare, and he frequently explores this complex emotion in his plays. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare cleverly reveals the fickle and inebriating aspects of love through his mischievous character Puck. Though Puck adds much humor to the play while tormenting and drugging the lovers in the forest, he also acts as a catalyst in redirecting their devotions among one-another, thus demonstrating the fickle nature of love. For example, Lysander, who in one instant is blindly in love with his fair Hermia, will suddenly wake to find himself obsessed with†¦show more content†¦Once again Shakespeare has beautifully illustrated the bi-polar nature of human emotions. Although the character Puck was an impish fellow, he certainly knew how to develop a study in falling in and out of love. Puck’s serial drugging-spree serves to draw the readers’ attention to another important aspect in human behavior: love is intoxicating and can diminish all powers of reasoning. Seemingly sober people can act in the most foolish ways when under the influence of love, which is illustrated when poor Helena chases after Demetrius proclaiming â€Å"I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius, /The more you beat me I will fawn on you† (II.i.210-11). Like a drunken woman, Helena’s mind is clouded causing her to behave like a complete moron. A reader will cringe while reading about Helena’s pathetic pursuit of Demetrius, but part of that discomfort will usually stem from an equally pathetic memory of stupidity committed while under the influence of emotion. Another example of judgment gone awry while high on love is Hermia and Lysander’s rash decision to run away together despite the fact they both risk a punishment of death from Theseus if they are caught. Th ey feel strengthened by the mere thought of ‘togetherness’ and are willing to take risks that they would not normally think of taking. Any synthetic chemical is likely make a person feel brave, or even invincible, and the natural endorphins that rush with love are no different in effect. Although Puck has had noShow MoreRelatedWeathering the Storms of True Love1159 Words   |  5 Pages Sitting on a porch swing with ones true love hugging and kissing as the moon smiles down upon them, seems like the perfect situation for true love. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Shakespeare presents the truth about true love in his comical tragedy A Midsummer Nights Dream. Lysander clearly stated loves situation when he told Hermia the course of true love never did run smooth (Griffiths 94). In some ways Lysanders declaration becomes the plays structuralRead MoreA Midsummer Nights Dream - Bottom and Puck. 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