... to be defending such traditions against their critics, suggesting that they are actually benign, or even desirable. It is thought that Shakespeare wrote this play to be performed first at the country house of a young nobleman, as part of his wedding festivities. If this is true, A Midsummer Night's Eve presents an astonishingly complex set of self-referential scenes. When Shakespeare's company performed ... it - responding "you have her father's love, Demetrius . . . marry him!- Lysander points out to Theseus and Egeus that he is just as well-born as Demetrius, and that he is "beloved o...

• Word Count: 10864
• Approx Pages: 43
• Grade Level: High School