Romantic Comedy in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream

Sydney

Mrs. Zurkowski

English 9 Reds

5 February 2013

Romantic Comedy in A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream

            For hundreds of years romantic comedies has been popular in movies and books. Wikipedia defines romantic comedy as “two characters, usually a man and a woman, meet, part ways due to an argument or other obstacle, then ultimately reunite.” Authors use romantic comedy to allow the readers to relate the story to their own lives. Shakespeare uses romantic comedy to create a funny, light hearted scene that captures the audience’s attention while having it be relatable with everyday life.

            Throughout the play Shakespeare uses romantic comedy through his characters, choice of words, and actions. Farther into the story Shakespeare uses the characters Titania and Bottom to reveal romantic comedy in his play.  While Titania was under the spell she said many words she normally would not have. While under the spell Titania says to Bottom, “You are as wise as you are beautiful” (3.1, 150).  This quote is exhibiting romantic comedy because Titania is telling Bottom that he is smart as handsome while he has a head of an ass and is neither smart nor handsome. Further on in the book, Bottom was ordered by Oberon to put the love potion on the Athenian man’s eyes. Oberon says to Bottom, “What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite and laid the love juice on some true- loves’ sight.” Oberon is talking to Robin in this quote when they discovered they have put the potion on Lysander instead of Demetrius (3.2, 90). This quote displays romantic comedy because even though they have messed up the potion the two men fix it causing a happy ending. Shortly after Oberon and Bottom have discovered that Bottom has put the potion on the wrong man’s eyes, Oberon sends Bottom out to put the potion on the eyes of Demetrius. While both men are under the spell Demetrius is talking to Lysander when he says, “I say I love thee more than he can do.”  (3. 2, 260) Although the couples are fighting in this scene, it demonstrates romantic comedy because both men are under a spell and do not know it. The audience knows it though making the scene comical.  The romantic comedy in the play creates funny scene while containing a relatable and enticing plot-line.

             In the modern world today, authors, actors, and even real people use romantic comedy either in movies, books, or day to day life experiences. Throughout the years, movies have used romantic comedy as a base-line or just as a side scene to create more drama to the movie. The movie Overboard, filmed in 1987 starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, is a perfect example of a romantic comedy. Hawn’s character falls in love with Dean Proffitt when he comes to get her at the local hospital after falling off her yacht and suffering from amnesia. They go through a few troubles but in the end live happily ever after.  In books just like A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, authors use romantic comedy to make the book relatable and to capture the readers’ attention.  Sarah Dessen, a popular author for teenage readers, uses romantic comedy in almost all of her books.  Although you may not know it is happening we use romantic comedy throughout our life time. We will eventually fall in love with someone go through a few bumps and have a happy ending.

William Shakespeare uses romantic comedy throughout his book, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, by purposefully using his characters to demonstrate romantic comedy through their words and actions. His plays entertained his audiences while showing them the great world of love. Now people use romantic comedies in entertainment and our daily lives.

Work Citied

"Overboard (film)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2013.

"Romantic Comedy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2013.

Shakespeare, William. N.p.: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Print.