A Midsummer Night's Dream | Criticism

This literature criticism consists of approximately 34 pages of analysis & critique of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

A Midsummer Night's Dream | Criticism

This literature criticism consists of approximately 34 pages of analysis & critique of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
This section contains 8,695 words
(approx. 29 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Critical Essay by Ren Girard

SOURCE: "Myth and Ritual in Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream," in Textual Strategies: Perspectives in Post-Structuralist Criticism, edited by Josué V. Harari, Cornell, 1979.

In the following excerpt, Girard argues that in A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare exploits the clichés of romantic love and the structure of myth to expose the violent and self-destructive nature of desire.

I have considered, our whole life is like a Play: wherein every man, forgetfull of himselfe, is in travaile with expression of another. Nay, wee so insist in imitating others, as wee cannot (when it is necessary) returne to ourselves: like Children, that imitate the vices of Stammerers so long, till at last they become such; and make the habit to another nature, as it is never forgotten.

—Ben Jonson, Timber of Discoveries

The opening scene of A Midsummer Night's Dream leads the audience to expect an ordinary comedy plot. Boy...

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This section contains 8,695 words
(approx. 29 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Critical Essay by Ren Girard
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Critical Essay by René Girard from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.