Analysis of Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Essay Sample)

Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream is relatable to tons of people because everyone has a mischievous or crazy side. He is a servant of the fairy king Oberon. He will do whatever king Oberon asks no matter what the command. He lives in the fairy forest with all types of fairies. Also is a joker and likes playing jokes on people. He has done things such as turning someone's head into the head of a donkey and causing people to have fake love interests. He is portrayed to look like a goblin-type creature with horns and wings but, after examining Puck in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it is clear that his character is playful, adherent, and mischievous.

Of three of Puck's characteristics, playful is his less advertised one. Pucks' playful side is shown by making funny jokes and making people laugh, but sometimes that's not always the case. One of the things he does that shows his playful side is that he turned a human's head into a donkey's head. The name of this character is Nick Bottom, and his opinion was negative on this matter but it was hilarious to Puck. It states “Why do they run away? This is a knavery to make me afraid.”(1.5. 78-79) He means he is afraid of what is going on because people have run away from him and he doesn't know what is going on and he is frightened by this idea.

Let’s talk about how Puck is adherent. Adherent means someone who supports a particular party, person or set of ideas. The way that Puck is adherent is he listens and does everything King Oberon asks of him. Puck says “My fairy lord, this must be done with haste, For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast.”(1.6. 114-115) In this quote Puck says that he will get what King Oberon has asked him which is to undo the love potion.

The last of the three traits is mischievous. Puck is mischievous in many ways, one of the reasons is he was playing with people's feelings for one another. For example, Lysander and Hermia had feelings for each other and Helena loves Demetrius but Demetrius loves Hermia. Puck made it so that Lysander and Demetrius loved Helena and hated Hermia. In act one Lysander is in love with Hermia and they are all romantic together. It states “O hell! To choose love by another’s eyes. / I have an aunt, From here is her house seven leagues; There Hermia, may I marry you; And to that place, the sharp law cannot pursue us. Steal forth your father’s house tomorrow night; And in the woods, I will stay for you. / they kiss.” (1.1. 29-36). Later on, in the play, they are saying mean things to each other due to Puck. Lysander says “Get gone, you dwarf.”(1.6. 98) I would say Puck is mischievous because he does things just to be mean and spite people. If he wanted to hurt someone I would describe him as evil but because he doesn't have any really bad intentions mischievous describes him perfectly.

Puck has played a very important role in Midsummer Night’s Dream and is a very unique and special character. Even though Puck was a little crazy he entertained me and gave me a lot to think about while writing this essay. In conclusion, in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it is clear that Puck is playful, adherent, and mischievous.