Week 2 Response: A Midsummer Night’s Idea

Give a detailed explanation of where the idea of Midsummer Night comes from. Avoid simply cutting and pasting from Google sources. Do some research and try to write down what you understand to be important about this event and why Shakespeare my have chosen the idea as the focus for his drama.

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a turning point from the rest of his works, as well as other works within the English Renaissance, showing off his creativity, imagination, humour and knowledge.  It is hard to pinpoint the exact inspirations and influences that helped Shakespeare write this play, but some of the obvious are Greek mythology (the name of Theseus and the mention of Greek gods and goddesses), folklore (Puck), and the happenings of theatre in Shakespeare’s times. Although, unlike many of Shakespeare’s plays, the plot of the play seems to be original by having no influences of historical and/or actual events. It is believed that Shakespeare had written and put on the play for a wedding or for the Queen in celebration of St. John. Both of these seem to make sense for the motive of the play since the play includes and emphasises comedic, romantic and tragic themes that would entertain guests at a wedding or a festival. Although, it does seem odd to include a love tragedy in a play for a wedding so I wonder if Shakespeare was trying to portray some sort of anti-love attitude or if he just did so to receive controversial feedback. I would have liked to witness that!