John Vincent Fabreag

English 1B

Professor Jennifeer Worley

03/26/2024

“Love's Folly: Manipulation in Shakespeare's Comedy”

In William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream showing an Interplay on bringing of a

supernatural that impel an Illusion between humans and fairies until they had an encounter which

then leads to confusion and complexity. Within the play comprehend the characters' differences from

their social status within the play and how manipulation is linked to Internalized Oppression.

Midsummer Night's Dream delivers an amusement play that addresses the character transformation

but also how in depths of Manipulation that embody the character that lead to Internalized

Oppression

The Argument between Oberon, The Fairy King, desires and Titania, The Fairy Queen,

protection on the changeling boy caused the two lovers to quarrel.

In the play of the "Midsummer Night's Dream," Oberon, the Fairy King, desires the

changeling boy to serve him as one of his lackeys, while Titania, the Fairy Queen, wants to protect

and keep the boy because of his loss. This conflict over the changeling boy causes a tension between

Oberon and Titania, leading to their quarrel. The point that I'm trying to articulate is that we saw

Oberon wanted to take advantage and control him as one of his henchmen while Titania wanted the

opposite to give him an option to live and allow him more freedom which Oberon, speaks to his

troublesome servant, Puck and about his desire to obtain the changeling boy from Titania. As
Oberon was explaining his plan to use a magical flower to enchant Titania and make her give up on

the boy.

As she confronts keeping the changeling boy as her substitute for the sake of the boys lost,

In which Oberon provokes her in this passage; “OBERON: Ill met by moonlight, proud

Titania.” (14) As titania replies: “What, jealous Oberon? Fairy, skip hence; I have forsworn

his bed and company.”(14) She was addressed sarcastically by Oberon, and which scene

calling her "proud Titania."(14) Which then she accuses Oberon of being envious in her

defensive response.

In Oberon's desire it demonstrates the power struggle between him and Titania, considering the

dynamics of their relationship. Regardless of the situation it causes chaos and problems for other

lovers due to Oberon action where he sends his fairy servant, Puck, to “Fetch me that flower; the

herb I showed 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” (16) which Oberon want fetch a purple flower with

juice that makes people fall in love with the next creature they see. Which Oberon intended to use

the flower on Titania affection for, forcing her to give him the channeling boy.

Oberon reminiscent witnessing the Cupid arrow that cause romantic entanglements

that Implies manipulations.

Oberon reminisces about the Cupid's arrow that causes romantic entanglements, indicating

his awareness of the power of love and its potential for manipulation. This implies to Oberon the

same method as we know that he uses in Titatia, the enchantments are like love potions, to

manipulate the romantic lives of others. Oberon understands the manipulative potential of love, as

evidenced by his reminiscence of witnessing Cupid's arrow causing romantic entanglements.

Oberon, the Fairy King, is speaking to his mischievous fairy servant, Puck, as in this passage state

that “Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: It fell upon a little western flower,Before milk-white,

now purple with love's wound,And maidens call it love-in-idleness."(16) where Oberon tells about

witnessing Cupid's arrow causing romantic entanglements. Oberon is reflecting on the

transformative power of love and the potential for manipulation which holds within the play.

After Titania leaves along with the changeling boy, Oberon become dramatically sentimental

after leaving him behind so he called his trusty servant puck and which he reminisce the past

where he encounter a mermaid singing in the dolphin back which he describe it the sound

“dulcet and harmonious”(16) he must be suggesting that it was incredibly beautiful and

enchanting was, after he witnessed the god of love, Cupid, shoot an arrow at a "fair

vestal"(16) who dwells in the western sky. However, the moon's rays deflect the Cupid's

arrow from its intended aim and prevent it from having any effect on the vestal. Then Oberon

sees where the arrow lands on "love-in-idleness,"(16) a little flower. In which he orders Puck

to retrieve the flower and he explains the juice of the flower applied to a person's eyes will

cause them to be madly in love with the first person they see.

The connection of Oberon reminiscing about witnessing Cupid's arrow showcases that he

understands the love's manipulative potential, aligning with the point that love can be used as a tool

for manipulation within the play. The words such as "Cupid's arrow," "romantic entanglements," and

"manipulations" in the quoted passage directly relate to the claim about Oberon's awareness of love's

manipulative nature.

The magical forest's mortal and fairy lives become entangled as a result of Puck's

mischievous pranks, which set off hilarious and chaotic occurrences.

 Due to Puck's mischievous pranks it serves as evidence of manipulation within the play. For

instance, when Puck mistakenly applies the love potion to Lysander instead of Demetrius, he

manipulates the emotions and affections of the characters, leading to chaos and confusion in their

relationships. Additionally, Puck's transformation of Bottom's head into that of a donkey manipulates

the perceptions and reactions of those around him, creating comedic yet manipulative situations.

These instances showcase how Puck's actions disrupt the natural order and manipulate the lives of

both mortals and fairies.

In this passage "Churl, upon thy eyes I throw all the power this charm doth owe," (21) it tells

that he mistakenly applies the love potion to Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius. How do

we know? As we see Lysander awaking “And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.

Transparent Helena! Nature shows art, that though thy bosom makes me see thy heart.” (21)

this shows that Lysander has been manipulated. The Context that we need to understand is

that due to Puck action he processed to cause more conflict, As we saw Puck transforms

Bottom's head into that of a donkey. As Titania woke up and the first thing he saw was

bottom waking up “What angel woke me from my flowery bed?” (27) Due to Oberon Spell

where he dropped it in Titania's eyes while she was asleep, she was manipulated, driving her

to love Bottom.

Puck's mischievous pranks also contribute to my theme of manipulation by Puck showcasing how

magical interventions can disrupt and manipulate the lives of both mortals and fairies. Driven by

Oberon's orders, Puck's actions lead to manipulation of the characters' emotions and perceptions,

even though it’s hilarious but yet chaotic at the same time. as the key words such as "Puck's

mischievous pranks," "manipulation," were colletared correspond to the claim about manipulation

within the play. Puck's actions serve as examples of manipulation within As we know Puck's actions
represent the manipulative power of magic within the play, illustrating how manipulation can arise

from both consciousness and unpredictable consequences.

Under the influence of a love potion, both Lysander and Demetrius profess their love for

Helena instead of Hermia, transforming the enchanted forest into a labyrinth of romantic confusion

that reflects themes of internalized oppression.

The evidence of this claim lies where Lysander and Demetrius, under the influence of a love

potion, both profess their love for Helena instead of Hermia. create a confusion of romantic turmoil

that complicates their relationships between the characters, turning the enchanted forest into some

kind of labyrinth. It also illustrates the theme of internalized oppression showcasing how external

influences, such as magical manipulation, can lead individuals to betray their true feelings and

perpetuate harm against themselves and others within their own social or romantic circles. When

Lysander and Demetrius, both under the influence of the love potion, profess their love for Helena

instead of Hermia. Specifically, Lysander says, "Not Hermia, but Helena I love,"(22) and Demetrius

follows with, "O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine

eyne? Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting

grow!"(32)These lines demonstrate the confusion and turmoil created by the magic interference

within the enchanted forest.

Under the influence of the love potion, declares, "Not Hermia, but Helena I love." (22) which

Lysander proclaims in his words and Demetrius, affected by the potion, expresses his love for

Helena "O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine

eyne? Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting

grow!"(32) In This confusion it showcases how external influences, such as the love potion,
 disrupt the characters' emotions but also in this passage “Lysander! what, removed?

Lysander! lord! What, out of hearing? gone? no sound, no word? Alack, where are you

speak, an if you hear; Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear. No? then I well perceive

you all not nigh Either death or you I’ll find immediately.” (23) portraying betrayal spoken

by Hermia when she realizes that Lysander is no longer by her side and that he seems to have

disappeared. She expresses her concern and fear, feeling abandoned and betrayed by his

absence. Which their true feelings, contributing to the theme of internalized oppression

within the play.

When Lysander and Demetrius profess their love for Helena instead of Hermia, impelled by the love

potion demonstrates how its structure manipulation disrupts the characters' emotions and actions,

leading to a betrayal of their true feelings. The key words "love potion," "manipulation," and

"betrayal" about internalized oppression, as we seen characters are persuade into acting against their

genuine desires This connection reinforces the thesis that impel, whether magical or societal, can

lead to internal conflict and oppression, aligning with the broader exploration of power dynamics

within the play.

In my conclusion "A Midsummer Night's Dream," by Shakespeare employs themes of

manipulation and internalized oppression within a comedic framework to explore the absurdity and

unpredictability of love and human behavior. Which I think Shakespeare within the play tries to

show us to control love is a silly idea and can lead to a big mess. When people try to force others to

love them or make love happen in a certain way, things get chaotic and confusing. The play teaches

us that love can't be controlled or forced; it's better to let it happen naturally. It's a powerful force

that operates on its own. When people try to manipulate or oppress love, it leads to funny and crazy
situations. By mixing serious ideas about power and society with comedy, Shakespeare makes us

think about these issues in a fun and enjoyable way. That's my perspective of it.