With reference to one or two scenes of your choice, explore the comic and other effects of misrule in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Misrule has many effects in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One of the effects of misrule is that it creates comedy and humorous scenes.
Puck enters in this act as a prototypical Shakespearean character if misrule. Immediately, a sexual reference may be implied by the character of Puck ‘a lovely boy’ that has been ‘stolen’ by Titania as is later revealed in the act. The word ‘boy’ suggests that he is ‘young’ and this may lead a present day audience to question Oberon’s intentions. A Shakespearen audience though would not be surprised by the idea however as in Ancient Greece it was considered a higher form of love to be with a young male; who at the time would have been considered physical icons of society. A modern day audience would be in shock at this sexual reference.
This is further justified when the fairy reveals that he is in fact an agent of misrule and calls him a ‘shrewd’ and ‘knavish sprite’. Here it is made abundantly clear that he misbehaves and is ‘shrewd’ or very astute in his understanding. This has a comic effect as he is called a ‘sprite’ and also informs the audience that they should be aware of Puck. Puck accepts these allegations as true and admits he is that ‘merry wanderer’. He then elaborately lists all of his misdeeds. He says he makes the