The difference in presentation of love theme in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Essay by Sonia79 May 2004

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Love, or what is more commonly known as love, can take hold in an instant and feel very much like magic that is being put over you. It can make you do things that you would never done and makes you feel like you are floating in air. It hits you without you knowing that, it's going to happen and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Not only is love a pure feeling, but also a great thing to write about it. It's 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, the most influential writer in all of English literature. He frequently explores this complex emotion in his writing of great works. The assumptions about love are radically different in the comedies and in the tragedies.

To prove that I would like to compare two great Shakespeare's works. "Romeo and Juliet" and "Midsummer Night's Dream".

Although both plays treat of love, the presentation of love theme is totally different. The difference results mainly from the fact that one play has a happy end and the other does not. "Romeo and Juliet is a terrific story about two lovers who are longing to be together here on earth but instead they are together with each other in heaven. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet were victims of Cupid's arrows. They were truly "star-crossed". Ironically, at the party that Lord Capulet held so that Juliet could meet her projected husband, Paris, she met her future husband, Romeo. They met by chance, looking into each others eyes and instantly being attracted. There first conversation was sealed with a kiss. The meeting was regretted, however. Romeo and Juliet knew a relationship...