A Bit of Fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GQ61ydpYnw&feature=related#watch-main-area

The above clip is the second part of Disney's MouseTales version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
It is very cute, with some plot elements left out (Theseus marrying Hippolyta, Titania).

Cast List:
Donald - Demetrius
Mickey - Lysander
Minnie - Hermia
Donald's Girlfriend - Helena
Goofy - Puck



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXMfMID3VaA

This clip is the Animaniacs version of Puck's famous last speech. It's hilarious!



Enjoy!

The Poet

The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from Heaven to Earth, from Earth to Heaven.
And, as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Such tricks hath strong imagination,
That if it would but apprehend some joy
It comprehends some bringer of that joy.

(V, I, 10-20).

In this quote by Theseus, Shakespeare shares his apparent philosophy on the poet's purpose.
The poet is supposed to bring joy to the lives of others by giving the imagination an outlet. The poet's pen "gives airy nothing a local habitation and a name." Shakespeare certainly accomplished that in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He connected the fanciful with reality, by writing about fairies and other fantasies coexisting in the same world as us. Fairy folk and mortals alike shared the same anxieties about love, and struggled with similar problems. I think that Shakespeare's ultimate goal in writing A Midsummer Night's Dream was to bring cheerfulness into the lives of the watchers, as shared in this quote.

It is impossible to be sad or angry while reading or watching A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare writes about pure human emotion and its effects in a way that connects splendidly to each reader.

Favorite Quotes from Act IV

Oberon

May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night's accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.

(IV, I, 66-68).

Have you ever had a dream where it felt real, and then when you woke up for an instant you thought the dream was reality, but then you remembered it was just a dream? I think those dreams are "fierce vexations of a dream." If the dream was horrible, you feel elated that it was not real, and if the dream was fabulous, you feel incredibly disappointed and disturbed. When Titantia wakes she is ashamed that she loved Bottom. The two pairs of lovers are confused, but happy that they have "found" their true loves. Lysander and Hermia are back to being in love with each other, and Demetrius finally acknowledges his love for Helena. They may not know the logistics behind such revelations, but they are too happy to care too much.



Demetrius

But, my good lord, I wot not by what power
(But by some power it is) my love to Hermia,
melted as snow, seems to be now
As the rememberance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon;
And all the faith, with the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena.

(IV, I, 163-170).

I love this confession. I did not like Demetrius previously, but in this quote his is overflowing with sincerity and love. I think it is very touching, especially how he describes how strong his love is, and then finally names Helena as his love. By using a periodic sentence, Shakespeare makes the reader to hold their breath with anticipation until the final line of the confession.

Act III - Favorite Quotes

Oberon:

We are spirits of another sort.
I with the morning's love have oft made sport,
And like a forester the groves may tread
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams.

(III, II, 388-393).

In this quote, Oberon is distinguishing himself and the other fairies from evil ghosts. Oberon and his fairies mostly do good, and sometimes make jests. I also love the imagery of Oberon wandering the forests until the sunrise "turns into yellow gold [Neptune's] salt green streams." I think that is beautiful.



Puck

Cupid is a knavish lad
Thus to make poor females mad.

Hermia

Never so weary, never so in woe,
Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers,
I can not further crawl, no further go.
My legs can keep no pace with my desires.

(III, II, 440-445).

I like how Shakespeare followed a generally light-hearted quote by Puck about Cupid's knavery, with a quote by Hermia, describing her sad defeat in love. It shows how people place such an importance on relationships, and are frequently disappointed. Hermia is devastated because she devoted so much energy to chasing after her love, but her "legs can keep no pace with [her] desires." I think Shakespeare is trying to point out the humor in how we are so quick to fall in love, even though we know it may be short-lived. However, I do not think Shakespeare thinks that such a chase is a complete waste of time, because even though the happiness may not last forever, a relationship provides a sense of well-being and completeness, which is always good while it lasts.