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Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Home | A Midsummer Night's Dream: Languages and themes | A happy ending

Languages and
themes

Director's cut
The text
Fairies and mortals
Chaos and harmony
Historical context
The play within the play

A happy ending

Who's this? Gregory Doran is the director.

Context: You know the play is a comedy so you feel safe to travel a dangerous journey secure that it will all end well. The tools for resolution are all there in the beginning: Theseus can overbear Egeus, Puck can get the antidote to the mistaken spell, but they're not used because it's not the right moment for the characters. The forest journey is about character development and growth. It is a night of experimentation; trying out different roles before making a commitment.

Did you know? The classical formula for a comedy was that it should end with weddings. A tragedy ended with funerals.

Chaos and harmony

A happy ending
The fairy blessing
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