SUMMARY OF THE PLOT STRUCTURE OF MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S
DREAM
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a five-act play, structured according to the
conventions of Elizabethan drama. The play’s structure helps to shape its
key themes, including love, confusion, and transformation, while
maintaining a balance between order and disorder. The interplay between
the different settings, characters, and subplots reflects the complexity and
fluidity of the narrative.
The Five-Act Structure
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows the traditional five-act
structure common in Elizabethan plays. Each act plays a distinct role in the
development of the plot and themes:
Act 1: Exposition
The first act introduces the main characters and sets up the central
conflicts, particularly around love and authority. We are introduced to the
setting of Athens, where Duke Theseus is preparing for his wedding to
Hippolyta. The conflict between Hermia and her father, Egeus, regarding
her choice of husband is established. The lovers' plan to escape to the
forest is revealed, along with the humorous subplot of the mechanicals
preparing to perform a play.
Act 2: Rising Action
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Act 3: Climax
The third act is the play’s turning point, where the lovers’ relationships
reach their peak confusion. Puck’s mistake leads to both Lysander and
Demetrius falling in love with Helena, leaving Hermia distraught. The
tension between the lovers builds, creating conflict and jealousy. In the fairy
world, Titania, under the influence of the love potion, falls in love with
Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey by Puck. This act is
marked by the greatest chaos, both in the human and fairy worlds.
Act 4: Falling Action
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Act 5: Resolution (Denouement)
The fifth act takes place back in Athens and serves as the play’s resolution.
It features the triple wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and
Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena. The mechanicals perform their comical
play, Pyramus and Thisbe, providing a humorous conclusion. The fairies
also bless the marriages, and Puck delivers a closing monologue, inviting
the audience to think of the events of the play as a dream.
Subplots and Interwoven Stories
The structure of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is notable for its multiple
interwoven subplots, which are intricately connected to the central themes
of love, magic, and transformation. There are three main plot strands:
The Athenian Lovers (Main Plot)
The central storyline revolves around the four lovers – Hermia, Lysander,
Demetrius, and Helena. Their romantic entanglements, misunderstandings,
and eventual resolution form the heart of the play.
The Fairy World (Supernatural Plot)
The subplot involving Oberon, Titania, and Puck provides a magical
backdrop to the main action. Their quarrel and use of magic influence the
events in the forest, particularly the love potion that causes confusion
among the lovers.
The Mechanicals (Comic Subplot)
The group of amateur actors, led by Bottom, provides comic relief
throughout the play. Their subplot, which focuses on rehearsing and
performing the play Pyramus and Thisbe, mirrors the main theme of love
but in a farcical way. Their play also serves as a commentary on the nature
of performance and illusion.
These subplots intersect at key moments, particularly in the forest, where
the worlds of the lovers, fairies, and mechanicals collide. By the end of the
play, all three strands are neatly tied together, creating a satisfying
resolution.
Contrast Between Settings
The structure of the play is closely tied to its contrasting settings, which
reflect the play’s themes of order vs. chaos and reality vs. illusion:
Athens
Athens represents order, authority, and societal expectations. The laws of
Athens, particularly those governing marriage, provide the conflict at the
beginning of the play. The structure in Athens is rigid, with characters like
Theseus and Egeus enforcing rules and traditions.
The Forest
The enchanted forest is the opposite of Athens. It is a place of magic,
dreams, and transformation, where the usual rules do not apply. The
structure of the play becomes more chaotic in the forest, reflecting the
characters' emotional turmoil and confusion. The forest allows for the
subversion of social norms, with love becoming fluid and unpredictable
under the influence of magic. However, by the end of the play, order is
restored, and the characters return to Athens, having resolved their
conflicts.
Symmetry and Balance in the Play
Shakespeare creates a sense of symmetry and balance in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream through the structure of the play:
Balanced Relationships
By the play’s conclusion, the romantic relationships are neatly paired off,
with both Hermia and Helena married to the men they love, resolving the
initial imbalance.
Mirroring of the Play-Within-the-Play
The mechanicals’ performance of Pyramus and Thisbe in Act 5 serves as a
comic reflection of the main plot. Just as the lovers in the main plot
experience confusion, miscommunication, and near-tragic outcomes, so do
the characters in the mechanicals' play. However, the farcical nature of
Pyramus and Thisbe allows the audience to laugh at the misfortunes of
love, underscoring the play’s comedic tone.
Reversal and Restoration
The play’s structure is built around a reversal of order. The chaos in the
forest, where identities and emotions are confused, is resolved by the
return to Athens, where harmony is restored. This creates a circular
structure, as the play begins and ends in Athens with the theme of
marriage.
Use of Dramatic Irony and Parallels
Dramatic Irony
Throughout the play, the audience is aware of the magical interference that
the characters themselves do not understand. For example, the audience
knows that Puck has mistakenly applied the love potion to the wrong
person, causing confusion among the lovers. This creates tension and
humour, as the characters react to situations they cannot fully comprehend.
Parallels Between Characters
The relationships between the characters are often mirrored or contrasted.
For example, Theseus and Hippolyta’s relationship, which is based on
conquest and power, contrasts with the emotional turmoil of the younger
lovers. Similarly, Titania’s temporary infatuation with Bottom highlights the
absurdity of love, while also paralleling the confusion among the human
lovers.
Conclusion
The structure of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is carefully crafted to
enhance the play’s exploration of love, confusion, and transformation.
Through its five-act structure, interwoven subplots, and contrasting
settings, Shakespeare creates a sense of balance and resolution, while
also highlighting the fluid nature of love and reality. The play’s symmetry,
use of dramatic irony, and the blending of the real and supernatural worlds
contribute to its enduring appeal as both a comedy and a reflection on
human relationships.
