4.3 A Midsummer Night's Dream
Activity No. 1
A.1. Draw a character sketch of Oberon as an enemy of his wife.
Ans:
Oberon is the powerful king of the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is shown as an enemy of his wife, Titania, because of his intense jealousy and desire for control. The conflict between Oberon and Titania arises over the custody of the Indian boy, whom Titania refuses to give up. Oberon becomes angry and stubborn, and their disagreement turns into a bitter quarrel.
Determined to punish Titania and teach her a lesson, Oberon plans revenge instead of resolving the issue through understanding. He orders Puck to fetch a magical love potion that will make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees after waking. This act reflects Oberon’s manipulative nature and his misuse of magical power to dominate his wife.
However, as the play progresses, Oberon realises his mistake and understands that love cannot be controlled by force or magic. Feeling remorseful, he releases Titania from the spell and restores harmony. Thus, Oberon appears as a jealous and controlling husband at first, but later he grows wiser and more compassionate.
A.2. Comment on the loving pair of Lysander and Hermia from the point of view of developing their character sketch.
Ans:
Lysander and Hermia are presented as sincere and devoted lovers who stand firmly for their love. They genuinely care for each other and wish to marry, but their love faces strong opposition. Hermia’s father, Egeus, insists that she marry Demetrius, and according to Athenian law, a father has the authority to decide his daughter’s marriage. Duke Theseus gives Hermia three harsh choices: to marry Demetrius, to become a nun, or to face death.
Unable to accept such injustice, Lysander and Hermia show courage and determination by deciding to run away to the forest and marry in secret. This decision highlights their rebellious spirit and their willingness to sacrifice social approval for true love. Hermia’s trust in her childhood friend Helena leads her to reveal the escape plan, which unintentionally creates confusion.
In the forest, the magical intervention of Oberon and Puck brings a turning point in their relationship. Due to Puck’s mistake, Lysander falls under the spell of the love potion and begins to love Helena instead of Hermia. This sudden change causes Hermia deep emotional pain and humiliation. She feels betrayed and inferior, especially when she compares her short stature to Helena’s tall figure.
Despite misunderstandings and emotional turmoil, the characters of Lysander and Hermia develop through suffering and confusion. Ultimately, their true love is restored, proving that genuine love can overcome obstacles, misunderstandings, and magical interference.
