MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
ROLE OF PASTORAL IN MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM(Answer)
In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest plays a multifaceted role, serving as a space for escape, transformation, disorder, magical intervention, symbolism, and reflection.
DEFINITION OF PASTORAL LITERATURE
Pastoral literature is sort of a style of writing where the writer makes life seem easier and extra non violent than it surely is.
It often talks approximately nature in a humble and nice way. This form of writing can be located in extraordinary styles of literature, like poems and performs, and in exclusive varieties of stories, just like the pastoral elegy, that’s a form of poem that displays at the beauty of nature and existence.
According to Paul Alpers, when he talks about pastoral literature, he sees it more as a style or way of writing (a mode) rather than a specific category (a genre). He makes this distinction based on a common theme he notices: the way pastoral literature looks at power. In pastoral works, there is a recurring idea of being humble and respectful towards nature. So, he’s saying that the key thing that defines pastoral literature is its humble and positive attitude towards nature, and that’s why he calls it a mode rather than a genre.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF PASTORAL
Long in the past in Ancient Greece, humans commenced writing stories about shepherds and their simple, non violent lives. They known as this form of literature “pastoral,” which comes from the Latin word for “shepherd.” These stories painted a photo of the calm and glad lives of shepherds.
As time went on, the meaning of pastoral testimonies modified a piece. Now, it would not just suggest testimonies about shepherds. It also consists of tales in which a simple and non violent existence is examined through a extra complicated and tough manner of living. This exchange made the tales greater exciting by introducing conflicts for the main characters in those literary works.
TERRY GIFFORD’S DEFINITION OF PASTORAL
Terry Gifford, a well-known expert in literary theory, explains pastoral in three ways in his important book called “Pastoral.”
Firstly, he talks about the historical perspective of pastoral literature. This means that in this type of writing, authors focus on and talk about life in the countryside, especially the life of a shepherd. A simple way to put it is, “No shepherd, no pastoral.”
Secondly, there’s another kind of pastoral literature that describes rural life by comparing it, either directly or indirectly, to city life. It highlights the differences between the peaceful countryside and the busy urban areas.
Lastly, the third type of pastoral writing shows country life in a not-so-positive way. It uses derogatory or negative words to classify or describe things about rural life.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PASTORAL IN MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM?
1. Escape and Transformation
In Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest serves as a place of escape and transformation for the characters. When the lovers, Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius, enter the forest, they seek refuge from the constraints and conflicts of the Athenian court. In the forest, the characters undergo a transformative experience, where their emotions and relationships are tested and reshaped. The magical and otherworldly nature of the forest allows for a sense of freedom and liberation, enabling the characters to explore their true desires and emotions without the societal pressures of Athens.
2. Disorder and Chaos
In Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest is portrayed as a place of disorder and chaos, contrasting with the structured and hierarchical society of Athens. Within the forest, the natural order is disrupted, and the characters’ relationships become entangled in a web of confusion and misdirection. The king and queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titania, are embroiled in a quarrel, reflecting the discord that permeates the forest. Additionally, the lovers experience a tumultuous journey, marked by misunderstandings, unrequited love, and shifting affections. This chaotic environment underscores the theme of disorder and the unpredictable nature of human emotions.
3. Magical Intervention
The forest serves as a realm where magical intervention and enchantment are prevalent. The mischievous fairy, Puck, and the powerful fairy king, Oberon, manipulate the events within the forest through Love potion spells and enchantments. Oberon’s use of magic to influence the romantic entanglements of the lovers and his deception to obtain the Indian boy from Titania exemplify the supernatural elements at play in the forest. The presence of magic adds an element of whimsy and unpredictability to the narrative, contributing to the fantastical nature of the play.
4. Symbolism of the Natural World
The forest, as a pastoral setting, symbolizes the natural world and its untamed beauty. It represents a departure from the constraints of civilization and the embrace of the wild and untamed aspects of existence. The lush greenery, the moonlit nights, and the mysterious atmosphere of the forest evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment. Furthermore, the forest serves as a backdrop for the interactions between the mortal and fairy realms, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
5. Reflection of Inner Turmoil
The forest acts as a reflection of the characters’ inner turmoil and emotional upheaval. As the characters navigate the complexities of love, jealousy, and desire, the forest becomes a metaphor for the tangled and intricate nature of human emotions. The disorientation and confusion experienced by the characters within the forest mirror their internal struggles and the complexities of their relationships. The forest becomes a canvas for the characters to confront their inner conflicts and undergo personal growth and revelation.
COMPARING WITH “AS YOU LIKE IT”
Similarities
- Both plays depict the forest as an idyllic escape from the harshness of the real world.
- Nature is seen as a source of beauty, peace, and harmony.
- The characters find solace and renewal in the natural world.
- The forest offers a simpler way of life, free from the pressures of court life.
- The natural setting fosters love and romance.
Differences
- As You Like It presents a more realistic view of the pastoral world, with characters facing challenges and hardships. For example, Rosalind and Celia must cope with being exiled from their home and living in the forest without the comforts they are accustomed to.
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream offers a more fantastical and idealized vision of nature. The forest is filled with fairies and other magical creatures, and the characters experience transformations and dreamlike events.
- The supernatural plays a significant role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, influencing the characters’ actions and relationships. For example, Puck’s use of love potions leads to confusion and mayhem among the lovers.
- The pastoral world in As You Like It is used as a setting for social commentary. Shakespeare critiques social inequalities and gender roles through the characters’ experiences in the forest. For example, Rosalind disguises herself as a boy and challenges traditional gender norms.
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream focuses more on the themes of love, transformation, and illusion. The play explores the power of love to change people and the ways in which our perceptions can be deceived.
Charles Johnson had used the Pyramus and Thisbe material in the finale of Love in a Forest, his 1723 adaptation of As You Like It.
Pastoral epic
Milton is perhaps best known for his epic Paradise Lost, one of the few Pastoral epics ever written. Anotable part of Paradise Lost is book IV where he chronicles Satan’s trespass into paradise. Milton’s iconic descriptions of the garden are shadowed by the fact that we see it from Satan’s perspective and are thus led to commiserate with him. Milton elegantly works through a presentation of Adam and Eve’s pastorally idyllic, eternally fertile living conditions and focuses upon their stewardship of the garden. He gives much focus to the fruit bearing trees and Adam and Eve’s care of them, sculpting an image of pastoral harmony.
Pastoral romances
Italian writers invented a new genre, the pastoral romance, which mixed pastoral poems with a fictional narrative in prose. Although there was no classical precedent for the form, it drew some inspiration from ancient Greek novels set in the countryside, such as Daphnis and Chloe. The most influential Italian example of the form was Sannazzaro’s Arcadia (1504). The vogue for the pastoral romance spread throughout Europe producing such notable works as Bernardim Ribeiro “Menina e Moça” (1554) in Portuguese,[9] Montemayor’s Diana (1559) in Spain, Sir Philip Sidney’s Arcadia (1590) in England, and Honoré d’Urfé’s Astrée (1607–27) in France.
Conclusion
In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest plays a multifaceted role, serving as a space for escape, transformation, disorder, magical intervention, symbolism, and reflection. It provides a rich and evocative backdrop for the exploration of human emotions and relationships, while also contributing to the fantastical and enchanting elements of the play. The forest’s significance in the narrative underscores its thematic importance and its impact on the characters’ experiences, making it an integral aspect of the play’s enduring appeal.
