Theseus and Oberon-Midsummer Nights Dream

Theseus and Oberon are leaders of their respective kingdoms. Theseus is Duke of Athens and Oberon is king of the fairies and are therefore both figures of authority and royalty. The positions they occupy are reflected by their use of language and their relationships with other characters in the play.

Theseus is the ruler of the Athenian State which was seen as being highly civilised and controlled by strict but fair laws. It is the job of Theseus to see that the laws of Athens are obeyed even when he feels them to be severe. We are first introduced to him when he is acting as an adjudicator between Hermia and her father in the matter of her marriage do Dimetrius.(she is in love with Lysander, and wants to marry him against her fathers expressed wishes) In act 1 scene 1 line 117 to 120 we see a good example of Theseus’ firm expression mixed with some compassion.

“For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself

to fit your fancies to your fathers will,

Or else the law of Athens yields you up-

To death, or to a vow of single life”.

Theseus’ language is dignified and stately. His language to Hermia demonstrates this:

To leave the figure or disfigure it”.

In contrast Shakespeare portrays Oberon as King of the fairies who are citizens of an opposite world in which the normal laws of society are turned upside down or ignored. Unlike Theseus Oberon has obvious weaknesses. He is jealous and not totally in control of what happens. He uses wayward spirits, mainly puck to help him spread mischief and chaos. His dramatic personality is vindictive. He is irrational, unpredictable and disordered. He uses potions and spirits to disrupt and confuse. In contrast to Theseus there is little dignity in his speech. His vindictive nature is reflected in his words to Titania

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