Who Is Puck In A Midsummer Night's Dream

Did you know that another name for Puck ( Oberon's right-hand man) was Robin Good-fellow but to some of the meaner fairies. He was known as a Hobgoblin because of his bizarre figure. Puck the mischievous, quick-witted fairy that makes many of the play’s events relevant to the modern world. Such as, the uncanny ability to cause mischief and mayhem with the common folk of Athens and especially the main characters of the story. However, there is also many issues and problems with the characters in Midsummer Night's Dream. For example, Puck arguably the most important character in Midsummer Night's Dream, has little character development and there is no true protagonist. Even though many people thought that Puck should be one of the main protagonists of this story.

Dreams are referenced quite frequently in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. These references––along with the title of the play––are inklings that the play, or a portion of the play, is all just a strange dream that the characters are having while the play is taking place, but this is not so. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is, in reality, a recollection and description of a dream and events that transpired in the past rather than a narration of those happening in the present. It is a portrayal of a ballad written by Peter Quince about a long and complex dream that Bottom had, including the events that transpired after.

Although Shakespeare wrote many well-received plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most popular by far, and its engaging love story and comedic tone are undoubtedly the biggest factors contributing to the production’s success. However, while the love square between the four young Athenians is the central plotline of the play, Shakespeare included many humorous elements that alter the story’s course drastically. The misunderstanding between Oberon and Puck over the Athenians accounts for well over half of the play, and if not for the Mechanicals’ production of Pyramus and Thisbe, audiences never would have been introduced to the wonderfully bombastic Bottom. Beyond the purely utilitarian purpose for the fairies and Mechanicals, though, is an excellent and unlikely comedic partnership between Robin Goodfellow and Nick Bottom. Both characters, while radically different, strengthen the play through their assorted antics and interactions.

In order for any piece of literature to be successful, there must be diversity amongst the characters. This diversity creates conflict, which makes the piece more interesting and adds humour as well as suspense for the audience. This is the case in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and he does a great job of it. Without the different characters in the play, the confusion and conflict that happens would not be the same.

A fool shows up in Act ll scene I, named Puck. He has a notoriety amongst the fairies. He is one of the more critical characters all through the play. He is best

Love is a timeless topic. It will forever be the theme of popular entertainment and source of confusion for men and women alike. No one understands this better than William Shakespeare, and he frequently explores this complex emotion in his plays. In "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" Shakespeare cleverly reveals the fickle and inebriating aspects of love through his mischievous character Puck.

Although Puck and Bottom may stand out as two of the main characters they aren't involved in the main conflict. Helena, who is desperately in love with Demetrius, may be the most drawn out character. Helena is he one lover who thinks more about the nature of love than the actual thing. She is extremely unsure about herself and thinks about her appearance a lot and

This argument is clearly supported when Puck says, “Did you not tell me I should know the man/ by the Athenian garments he had on?/ And so far blameless proves my enterprise/ that I have ‘nointed an Athenian’s eyes” (III. ii, 369-372). This quote reveals Puck’s innate characteristics by showing his utter lack of guilt even after he made the lives of the four lovers worse off by putting the flower’s nectar on the wrong person. Although, he is correct in stating how Oberon’s instructions were not entirely clear, he still fails to apologize for his mistake. It is also important to note that Puck is not oblivious to the outcomes of his mistakes. He notices his faults have implications on the lives of Hermia, Helena, Lysander, Demetrius and those around them, and yet he sits back, laughs, and watches the scenes play out. This claim is also supported when Puck declares, “Cupid is a knavish lad/ thus to make poor females mad” (III.ii. 469-470). In this quote, Puck states that Cupid is the cause of the quarrels between Helena and Hermia due to the fact that it was Cupid’s arrow that shot the flower used to anoint the eyes of Lysander. He uses this as a sort of excuse or way to back out of taking responsibility for his actions and mistakes. However, it was Puck who used that flower on Lysander which caused the

Although there is no definitive protagonist, Puck stands out as a character who steers the direction of the plot and gives movement to the actions that occur throughout the story. His

The human race could be greatly reduced with the number of casualties that the expected World War III. The character Puck in “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare quotes, “ Lord, what fools these mortals be!” which means without thinking problems out, humans jump to conclusions. Could you imagine yourself having to risk your life every time you use the technology which lies in the comforts of your own home? For example, in 1961 NASA launched a rocket to the moon, that same technology is being used for combat arsenal. Humans are the smartest mammals of the world but use the knowledge to go against one another.

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, manipulation is the overall theme of the story, where a “love juice” is utilized to manipulate the love of the characters within the play. Early on, it is determined the path of love for each of the characters, until the manipulation occurs to cause characters to fall in love with others that they would not normally love. Perhaps the most aggressive form of manipulation comes from Oberon, as he instructs Puck to place the love juice on the eyes of Titania, and commands “The next thing then she waking looks upon, Be it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, On meddling monkey, or busy ape, She shall pursue it with the soul of love” (Bevington, 2014, p. 53 Act: 2 Scene 1, Lines 80-83). Here Oberon manipulates Titania into falling in love with Bottom, who has the head of a donkey.

Thus the order Oberon gives to Puck is in contrast to Cupid’s concept of being blinded by love, Fetch me that flower; the herb I show’d thee once: The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid will make or man or woman madly dote Upon the next live creature that it sees. (2. 2.169-172). Puck, being the mischievous of fairies, had not correctly done what he was ordered to do by Oberon. In which, lead the chaos of making Lysander and Demetrius blinded by love towards Helena, whom was initially madly in love with Lysander without any love potion confused and betrayed. The setting and the concept of a dream like play due to the prevalence of the fairy world, which also creates an aspect of illusions. Which also is prevalent in the concept of blind love, and how it can be an illusion to those that are entrapped due to the love potion. Another important victim of the love potion was Titania, the Queen of Fairies by Oberon:

From Puck the trickster fairy, to Bottom the bumbling novice actor, many intriguing characters are introduced in Acts I and II of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Each character has an important role and a unique personality to go along with that role. I would have to say that my favorite character to show up in the play so far is Helena, mainly for the reason that I can relate to her. I find characters that much more likeable as soon as what they are going through, or how their personality is becomes something that I understand well. Helena is in love with Demetrius, head over heels. Yet he has eyes only for her friend Hermia. This situation is one that I can relate to well, and therefore I can empathize with what Helena is going through. Helena is my favorite character so far in MSND because she is a character I can relate to.

A Midsummer’s Night Dream’s Hidden Protagonist Chaos and mischief are some of the most important factors of a play. They cause excitement, comedy, amusement, and makes the story being told much more interesting. Typically, you’ll see stories and even modern day shows with a character that causes chaos and trouble for the main characters. These pranksters are known as some of the most liked characters most often by the audience because of there ability to make one laugh and create funny and intriguing situations. In A Midsummer’s Night Dream by William Shakespeare, Robin Goodfellow (better known as Puck), takes on that role.

“Fetch me that flower, the herb I show’d thee once; the juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid will make or man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees”, commands Oberon to Puck. Oberon sees Demetrius and Helena fighting and to unite them he asks puck to spread the juice on Demetrius’s eyes. But Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and drops the juice on his eyelids which resulted in him falling in love with Helena leaving poor Hermia confused and heart-broken. ”Stay, gentle Helena: hear my excuse, my love, my life, my soul, fair Helena!” says Lysander to Helena. Another example was when Puck realizes his mistakes and he tries to undo it by spreading the juice on Demetrius’s eyes which then later resulted in both Demetrius and Lysander falling in love with the same woman, which was Helena.