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A Midsummer Night's Dream Moon Essay

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The moon, a symbol of femininity and romance while simultaneously representing the rhythm of time, is a reoccurring image used within Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This image is also used to embody the magical world of the supernatural. With so many roles, the moon fails to be just an item in the background. The moons many meanings help shape the play into the classic that it is. The title of the Shakespeare play automatically references the moon suggesting that it is not just part of background but is crucial to the plot of the play. The moon often has an intoxicating effect on many of the characters. Their behaviors are always more bizarre and erratic in the presence of the luminous light of the moon. Much of the dramatic …show more content…

Theseus is complains saying, “Four nights will quickly dream away the time / And then the moon, like to a silver bow / New- bent in heaven, shall behold the night / Of our solemnities.” The couple conjure the moon to observe their pleasures that will occur on their wedding night. The use of the moon in these lines suggests that the moon is connected to marriage and the consummation of said marriage. Ironically, marriage is associated with fertility, of which the moon symbolizes …show more content…

The lovers are often dreamier and easily captivated by idea of love. They fawn over their love interests and seem to be in a enchanted by passions that cannot be explained. When Helena marvels over Hermia, she says, “Your eyes are lode-starts”. Although this does not directly involve the mood, Helena is ultimately saying that Hermia’s eyes literally have starts. Lode-stars are illustrious stars that are noted for guiding and attracting those who wander; it proposes the idea that Hermia has celestial qualities about her. Hence, why Theseus and Demetrius are in love with her. This starry imagery hints at the night which connects to the moon and the hypnotizing affect the moon

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