Shakespeare's Midsummer Night’s Dream: an article by B. J. Rahn

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

Sex, Satire and the Supernatural by B. J. Rahn

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595) is many people's favorite Shakespeare comedy.  The whole world likes this play, and it is often used in schools to introduce children to the Bard because its fairies are perceived as charming and considered harmless . . .   People think of  A Midsummer Night's Dream as light-hearted and funny, full of amusing fairy high jinks, enchantments, and moonlight romance . . .   However,  a  deep ironic contrast exists between manner and matter, between style and content, between the way people are behaving and what the words are actually saying.  A close reading reveals that most of the laughs are generated by someone's pain or humiliation . . .    Since it contains so much unhappiness, why do people find A Midsummer Night's Dream so amusing?  Should it even be considered a comedy?  .  .  .

Using the analytic skills she usually applies to writing about detective fiction, Professor Rahn focuses her lens on one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. Is it really mere light entertainment?  Read the complete article by Professor B.J. Rahn in London Grip the international online cultural magazine

at http://www.londongrip.com/LondonGrip/Literature_BJ_Rahn_Midsummer_Nights_Dream.html

www.londongrip.com

London Grip:  the international online cultural magazine