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A Midsummer Nights Dream is a famous comedy written by William Shakespeare in which the characters use classical mythological allusions to relate to the audience. In order for these allusions to have a great effect on the audience, the meaning of these allusions must be recognized. Spread throughout the play, Shakespeare employs many allusions used by several characters. Five of these allusions are apparent in the speeches of Titania and Helena. These characters use allusions as a reference in which the audiences of that time would understand and perhaps laugh at.
Titania uses two mythological allusions in her conversation with Oberon in Act , Scene 1. She makes mythical allusions to Phillida and Neptune. She uses these allusions as evidence to back up the points she is trying to get across to Oberon.
The first example of an allusion that Titania uses is that of Phillida. Tatania quotes, to amorous Phillida (Shakespeare ). Phillida is a reference to the traditional shepherdess of love poetry (Mowat 8). This allusion is used to support Titanias idea that Oberon is cheating on her with other women.
The second allusion used is a reference to Neptune. Titania uses this allusion when she says, And sat with me on Neptunes yellow sands (Shakespeare 4). Neptune is the god of the sea, but Titania uses Neptune to represent the sea (Mowat 4). Titania uses this allusion to Neptune to represent her location by the sea.
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Helena is another character in A Midsummer Nights Dream that uses allusions to classical mythology. Three allusions that she uses are Apollo, Daphne, and a griffin. These allusions can be found in Act , Scene 1 in the conversation between Helena and Demetrius. Helena uses these allusions to explain why she is pursuing Demetrius.
The allusion of Apollo and Daphne are used when Helena says, Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase (Shakespeare 4). Daphne is a nymph that chases the god Apollo (Mowat 48). Helena uses this allusion to demonstrate how stories can be changed when the weak pursue the strong. Helenas use of this allusion has a direct connection to her reasoning for pursuing Demetrius. Demetrius is the strong being pursued and Helena in the weak pursuing Demetrius.
The last allusion that Helena makes is when she talks about a griffin. The allusion to the griffin appears where Helena says, The dove pursues the griffin (Shakespeare 4). The griffin is a mythological beast with the head of an eagle on the body of a lion (Mowat 48). Helena uses this allusion of the dove and the griffin as an example of the weak pursuing the strong. In her words, the dove pursues the griffin. Her point is that the dove represents the weak and the griffin represents the strong.
The above 5 allusions are only a handful of the mythical allusions illustrated in this Shakespearean play. There are over 40 allusions to classical mythology used throughout the play which the audience needs to have an understanding of. Basic knowledge of mythology is needed to realize the meaning and significance of these allusions. To the audiences of Shakespeares time, this knowledge was quite commonplace. Today, however, few people would be able to understand the usage of these allusions by Shakespeare. After recognizing all of the allusions in this play, it is imperative that the reader be cognizant of allusions to classical mythology used by Shakespeare in many of his works.
Works Cited
Mowat, Barbara A. The Dramaturgy of Shakespeare’s Romances. Athens University of Georgia Press, 176.
Shakespear, William. A Mid Summer Night’s Dream. Ed. Harold F. Brooks. New York Methuen, 17.
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