Language in Settings of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Free Essay Sample)

Shakespeare is known for his distinct novels and plays. He uses English in different ways, which is why he became so famous and recognized. He incorporates different “languages” in his stories that fit the setting. Such as he does in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play novel by William Shakespeare which consists of two Athenians running away to the forest after being denied the wish of marriage, also being followed by two other Athenians that want to catch them. Oberon gives an order to Puck to make one of the boys fall in love with Helena and to play a trick on the queen of fairies, Titania. Mistakenly, Puck makes both boys fall in love with Helena, but later on, reverts the magic and both couples marry. Each of the settings in AMND uses complex language specific to each setting. The court uses language which is iambic-Pentameter, the town uses prosaic language, and the forest uses comedic language. Shakespeare uses different languages in his novels and plays that fit the setting. For example, in The Court, all scenes consist of iambic-pentameter language. One of the main characters in court is Theseus, and he always speaks with iambic-pentameter, which gives him a more formal and powerful image. The court has a more serious feeling, which iambic-pentameter helps with. For example, when Theseus says, “Four days will quickly steep themselves in the night;/ Four night will quickly dream away the night,” he has a poetic and serious tone. (1.1.7). This quote supports my claim because it shows how poetic and parallels this setting is. It also gives it a serious tone. As I previously said, the court also has dramatic scenes. I believe the iambic-pentameter makes it more dramatic and interesting and makes it fit the theme. For example, in act 1 he says, “Upon that day either prepare to die/ For disobedience of your fathers will/ Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would” (1.1.88). This quote mentions that death is an inevitable destination that Hermia must meet if her given instructions are not followed. The iambic-pentameter gives it a dramatic and serious feel. Just as the court has its language that fits the theme and feel of the setting, the town also has one. The town follows a less poetic language. They talk in more standard English, such as the one we use today. The town is a more prosaic and natural setting. They don't speak as poetically as in the other settings and it is less serious. When Bottom says, “Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any man’s heart good to hear me.” It sounds more natural than other characters. (1.2.68). This quote supports my language used to claim prosaic as it shows a natural sentence, it doesn’t sound poetic. The town does have poetic sentences, but they are not used as often as in other settings. Most of their sentences lack “poetic beauty.” For example in act 1, scene 2, it's said, “Is all our company here? You were best to call them generally, a man by a man, according to the script.” (1.2.1) This quote is not poetic as it's something that you would be able to hear daily. The forest also has a language that fits its setting. Even though the forest is also has poetic and somehow serious, it also has a comedic and playful feeling. The forest has a lot of comedic scenes because the fairies seem to be more playful characters, also the magic of the setting helps. “My Oberon, what visions have I seen!/ Methought I was enamored of an ass.” (4.1.77). This quote is part of a comedic scene, which is when Titania fell in love with Bottom. That at that moment was an ass. This supports my claim because it shows the playfulness of the story. One of the main reasons the forest is comedic and humorous is because of the magic. The power of the flower created a lot of humorous scenes. “Transparent Helena! Nature shows art, / That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.” (2.2.110). In this quote, Lysander fell in love with Helena because of the flower's magic. The quote supports my claim because it shows a comedic situation since they start falling in love with each other. These are just a few examples of how Shakespeare uses different languages that fit the idea of his settings. Even though Shakespeare uses different languages, these are the ones I believe fit the theme more. The court is serious and powerful, and the iambic-pentameter gives it a more poetic and dramatic feeling. The town is not as serious or dramatic as the court because it follows a more prosaic or natural language. Lastly, the forest is magical and comedic, most of the humorous scenes occurred there.