Essay on the Social Structure in Midsummer Night’s Dream

It is during the summer solstice that A Midsummer Night’s Dream takes place. Generally, this time of year falls on the summer’s eve around 21^st June. Typically, it involves celebrations. For example, there would be performances, songs, and other types of entertainment. It was a time when classes would mix. For the time, the mixing of classes was unheard of because there was quite a clear distinction between all classes and it was also not socially adequate for classes to mix. In a similar manner, the plays of Shakespeare were viewed by people belonging to different classes. It was one of the only few times when classes would mix. This idea of mingling of classes is explored by Shakespeare by setting up three classes or groups within the play.

The ruling class can be observed in different characters like Egeus, Demetrius, Lysander, Helena, Hermia, and Theseus. The working class is represented in the form of artisans. Lastly, there is a supernatural class or group including people such as Titania, Oberon, and Puck. A space is inhabited by these people that is both within and outside the natural world. These supernatural characters seem to serve as a reflection of class structure in the world. Meanwhile, in the world of fairies, there are queens and kings, Titania and Oberon, and servants, Puck. In the play, the ruling class is determined to be more refined but people of this class are also portrayed as being idle with no serious issues other than their own issues. For example, an interaction between Helena and Hermia in Act I regarding the love of Helena for Demetrius and his love for Hermia seems to demonstrate the commentary of Shakespeare on this class.

Hermia says, “I frown upon him, yet he loves me still” (I. 193). In addition to it, there are several comments of this type made by her. Hermia complains about the unwanted attention and affection that she gets from Demetrius. Meanwhile, Helene presumes that it is because of Hermia’s beauty that Demetrius loves her and no Helena. She also believes that it Hermia is more beautiful than her and Demetrius loves her only because of her beauty. This scene tends to depict the young women as self-absorbed, shallow, and vain.

On the other hand, the working class is portrayed as crass and unintelligent. It can be observed in the Act V when there is a performance of Thisbe and Pyramus. The play is nonsensical and they also fumble over their lines. The view of other class regarding workmen is apparent through the comment by Theseus to Hippolyta that they should continue to watch the play in spite of the errors and mistakes. When it comes to the working class, he takes a patriarchal stance and he believes that it is his duty to ensure that the lower class gets a chance. In addition to it, he also believes that their lack of talent should be overlooked and they should be given a chance to show what they possess. He seems to believe that he is doing them a significant favour by ignoring their mistakes and attending their shows.  

It would not be wrong to say that the actions and personalities of characters are meant to reflect their specific social standing. The decision of Shakespeare about characterising in this manner appears to indicate an attempt of commenting on the structure of class in his own life. The idea of culture structure is challenged by Shakespeare by indicating that both sides seem to have their own specific faults and mistakes. He also indicates that no class is better than the other. Although the upper class is more refined, it does not mean that this class does not have any issues or faults. Readers and viewers of A Midsummer Night’s Dream would probably notice that there is a significant social divide in Athens, where individuals are divided or separated into hierarchical groups. There are commoners including craftsmen and mechanicals who perform a play at the wedding of Hippolyta and Theseus, nobility including Egeus, Helena, Demtrius, Lysander, and Hermia, and lastly royalty including Hippolyta and Theseus. It is quite obvious that people at the top possess a lot more power in comparison with the characters at the bottom of society.

As it has been explained above, characters at the upper-class area lot more educated and it is suggested by the play that this enables them to better appreciate culture and art unlike the mechanicals who seem to bumble their way through the classic story’s performance. It is also important to note that the division of power within the play is not limited to Athens. Even in the fairy world, the royalties are elevated above the normal or regular old sprites and fairies who spend their lives only to serve them. To a specific extent, this is nothing but a reflection of social hierarchy of England at the time of Shakespeare that consisted of commoners, nobles, and royals. Different speech styles are utilised by Shakespeare for differentiating between different classes and types of characters. Mechanicals tend to speak in old prose while the educated or noble figures tend to speak in poetic manner or in verses. For differentiating the characters of upper-class from commoners, Shakespeare made noble people speak in blank verse. In this manner, classes were differentiated (Shakespeare, 1996).

Overall, it can be said that it is during the summer solstice that A Midsummer Night’s Dream takes place. Generally, this time of year falls on the summer’s eve around 21^st June. Typically, it involves celebrations. The ruling class can be observed in different characters like Egeus, Demetrius, Lysander, Helena, Hermia, and Theseus. The working class is represented in the form of artisans. Lastly, there is a supernatural class or group including people such as Titania, Oberon, and Puck. Different speech styles are also utilised by Shakespeare for differentiating between different classes and types of characters. Mechanicals tend to speak in old prose while the educated or noble figures tend to speak in poetic manner or in verses.

References of Social Structure in Midsummer Night’s Dream

Shakespeare, W. (1996). A midsummer night's dream. Cambridge University Press.