Thursday, 24 July 2014

A Midsummer Nights Dream Synopsis

The plot of AMSND revolves around three parallel stories; two sets of lovers where their love becomes entangled and twisted; the enchanted forest where lives the Fairy King and Queen dealing with their own domestic dispute; a group of rough craftsmen (also know as the fools) trying to secretly rehearse a badly-written play of Pyramus and Thisby also in the enchanted forest to perform on The Duke of Athens wedding day.

The four lovers' love quadrangle consist of Hermia and Lysander who love each other and run away to the enchanted forest due to Hermia's father being insistant of her marrying Demetrius. Demetrius pursues the two lovers to the forest with Helena at his heels for she 'nurses an unrequited passion for him'. The famous line 'The course of love never did run smooth' best describes the climatic plot of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The love quadrangle is further complicated when Oberon commands Puck, (The kings hand help) to use the drop of a magic flower aid their love lives. The magic accidentally turns in Helena's favor with both men falling for her under the influence of magic, yet she thinks all three of them 'have conjoined all three to fashion this false sport in spite of [her]'. All the lovers quarrel and become confused and aggressive under Puck's smog of magic.

Manwhile, Oberon and Titania are estranged after arriving in the forest to attend Theseus' and Hippolyta's wedding becasue Titania refuses to give up her Indian page-boy to Oberon for use of his henchman because she has looked after him since the child's mother (one of her worshipers) died.

As the plot unfolds more magical enchantment is bestowed upon the mechanicals and Titania.
However, in the ruins of Athens. as the end draws near, the play is performed in front of the Duke and Duchess and all magic is removed from the lovers and thus they decide it must have all been a dream. Yet, the magic is allowed to be left upon Demetrius so that he may return Helena's love and all discord is removed. A double wedding occurs and all ends in resolution.

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