Definitions

Throughout the play 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream', Shakespeare uses fate, freewill and destiny to present his philosophy towards the nature of love. Although the course of their love did not go well, love ultimately triumphs over all at the end of the play. At the end, the lovers are destined to be with their true love. Shakespeare uses the juxtaposition of the “magical world” and the “real world” to emphasize the theme of fate vs. freewill. His philosophy was demonstrated in various acts, and his universal concepts still holds some truth in modern society.

Act 1 setting - Athens, therefore reason apparent Theseus settles disputes, all reluctantly comply Humans attempting to control their own fate

" rather your eyes must with his judgement look"  

“ if then true lovers have been ever crossed, it stands as an edict in destiny.”

“…As she is mine, I may dispose of her— Which shall be either to this gentleman Or to her death—according to our law Immediately provided in that case”

Act 2 setting - woods, therefore magical, reason non-existent Puck, Oberon have plans to twist fates  Puck - trickster - puts the love potion on the wrong person

" .. pretty soul! she durst not lie near this.... so awake when i am gone for i must now to oberon."

" what angel wakes me from my flowery bed?...the finch, the sparrow and the lark"

" then fate o'errules, that, one man holding troth a million fail, confounding oath on oath."

" Oberon, I’ve had such a strange dream! I dreamed I was in love with an ass."

"But, my good lord, I wot not by what power— But by some power it is—my love to Hermia, Melted as the snow, seems to me now As the remembrance of an idle...Now I do wish it, love it, long for it, And will for evermore be true to it."

Although Egeus's stubbornness and want to control Hermia's fate followed through until the end, the wedding still went on. This proves that destiny will overcome fate no matter what.

“ 'What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; one that composed your beauties, yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax By him imprinted and within his power To leave the figure or disfigure it. Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.' ” (Shakespeare, 41).

" 'Fair lovers, you are fortunately met: Of this discourse we more will hear anon. Egeus; I will overbear your will; For in the temple, by and by, with us These couples shall eternally be knit: And, for the morning now, is something worn, Our purposed hunting shall be set aside. Away with us to Athens; three and three, We'll hold a feast in a great solemnity.' " (Shakespeare, 135).

" 'There, gentle Hermia, may I [Lysander] marry thee; And to that place the sharp Athenian law Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; And in the wood, a league without the town, Where I did meet thee once with Helena, To do observance to a morn of May, There will I stay for thee.' " (Shakespeare, 17).

" 'And run through fire I [Lysander] will for thy sweet sake. Transparent Helena! Nature shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.' " (Shakespeare, 65).

" 'Egeus, I [Theseus] will overbear your will; For in the temple, by and by with us These couples shall eternally be knit:' " (Shakespeare, 135).

" 'O Helen, goddess, nymph perfect, divine!' " (Shakespeare, 97).

" 'The object and the pleasure of mine eye, is only Helena.' " (Shakespeare, 135).

“ 'Be it so she will not here before your grace Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may dispose of her— Which shall be either to this gentleman' ” (Shakespeare, 11).

" 'What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true love take. Love and languish for his sake. Be it ounce or cat or bear, Pard or boar with bristled hair, In thy eye that shall appear, When thou wakest, it is thy dear. Wake when some vile thing is near.' " (Shakespeare, 61).

“ 'Be it so she will not here before your grace Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may dispose of her— Which shall be either to this gentleman' ” (Shakespeare, 11).

Hermia’s father, Egeus, wants her to marry Demetrius while she is in love with Lysander. Fate and Free will apply here because her father has her destined to marry Demetrius, while her free will comes in and she wants to marry Lysander. Also, as free will Hermia and Lysander both decide to elope; run away an get married outside of Athens, because there has been a law set in Athens that stated if she was not to marry who her father wants (Demetrius) he would have her killed.

Role #3

" 'What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true love take. Love and languish for his sake. Be it ounce or cat or bear, Pard or boar with bristled hair, In thy eye that shall appear, When thou wakest, it is thy dear. Wake when some vile thing is near.' " (Shakespeare, 61).

This is another example of Fate/Destiny and Free will because in this quote specifically Titania had no control over Oberon’s actions. He wanted her to fall in love with something not so attractive so he could get payback for her love for the Indian boy. Titania had no control over the flowers powers which represents Destiny for which Oberon wanted her to fall in love with the face of an ass. It also shows the power of free will because Titania kept her love for the Indian boy and did not have any control over Oberon’s jealousy.

" 'Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep. Then crush this herb into Lysander’s eye, Whose liquor hath this virtuous property To take from thence all error with his might And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.' " (Shakespeare, 111).

He has no control/power over the flowers juice. Because of the magic these all lie into fate. Oberon has more free will in this section because he can control what is happening.

" 'My lord, this is my [Egeus] daughter here asleep. And this, Lysander. This Demetrius is. This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena. I wonder of their being here together.' " (Shakespeare, 131).

" '[Theseus] No doubt they rose up early to observe The rite of May, and hearing our intent Came here in grace our solemnity. But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day That Hermia should give answer of her choice?' " (Shakspeare, 132).

Theseus ends up going out of his way and resides out the law and marries Lysander and Hermia alongside him and Hippolyta. This relates to destiny because in the end it wasn’t for nothing and they all end up getting wedded to one another. From Theseus's point of view, this is considered free will, but from the couples this is considered destiny.

In this act, all the couples are now wedded as a part of destiny because they chose who they loved which is part of free will