A Midsummer Night’s Dream: cultural context

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Cultural Context

Overview:

Composed between 1590 and 1597 by William Shakespeare.
Set in Athens, Greece, and in an enchanted forest near the city, encompassing Greek mythology.
The play is a comedy in the tradition of the time, filled with slapstick and farce, as well as elements of dramatic irony.

Cultural Dichotomy and Gender Roles:

The dichotomy of Athens and the enchanted forest reflects a key cultural tension in the Elizabethan era between rules and order, represented by the city, and desire and freedom, represented by the forest.
Characters adhere to gender norms of the Elizabethan era, for instance, women are primarily viewed as commodities for marriage.
However, this notion is challenged in the play, notably through Hermia who rejects her father’s demands to marry Demetrius, exhibiting early feminist ideals.

Influence of Folklore and Love Conventions:

The portrayal of Puck or “Robin Goodfellow” draws on traditional folklore. Puck’s mischievous nature embodies the spirit of English folklore.
The four young Athenians: Demetrius, Lysander, Hermia, and Helena are crafted based on the Elizabethan love conventions, where love is depicted as a tumultuous and confusing passion.

Use of Fairies and the Lower Class Characters:

Fairies were a common feature in Elizabethan folklore and literature. In this play, they symbolize a chaotic and magical world, entirely separated from the human one.
The “Rude Mechanicals”, a group of lower-class craftsmen signifies ordinary, working-class citizens. Their comic misadventures add a distinctly light-hearted flavor to the play.

Familiar Cultural Context:

The Athenian court and the mystical woodland settings were both very familiar to Shakespeare’s audiences and helped to place the story within a cultural context that would be understood easily by viewers.