Question

“A Midsummer-Night’s Dream” is one of the best examples of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. Comment.

Answer 1

Comedy of Errors refers to a series of ridiculous events that are a result of either mistaken identities or the mistakes made by foolish people. William Shakespeare is known for his witty writing that skillfully combines all the elements of comedy. The play, 'A Midsummer Night‘s Dream‘ is no exception to this. Act III, Scene (ii), of this play focuses on Puck mistaking Demetrius for Lysander and pouring the love potion on him instead of Demetrius. This instance of mistaken identity is a comedy of error as it creates trouble for all four humans in the woods - Lysander, Demetrius, Helena, and Hermia. The second comedy of error is the Queen of fairies, Titania, falling in love with an ass, Bottom. As Puck had transformed Bottom‘s head into that of an ass, it was absurd that the Queen of fairies fell in love with him. This, however, happened when Titania was under the influence of the love potion that Oberon had poured on her to teach her a lesson. Puck‘s erroneous judgment, Lysander‘s declaration of love to Helena and his rejection of his true love, Hermia, Demetrius‘ claim of being in love with Helena, Helena‘s assumption that both the men are trying to mock her, her accusation of Hermia and Hermia‘s misinterpretation that Helena stole Lysander from her, the fight between Lysander and Demetrius as well as that between Helena and Hermia, the workmen being scared after looking at Bottom because he had a donkey‘s head and Titania falling in love with Bottom - are all a result of the comedy of errors that are caused due to Oberon‘s and Puck‘s interference, thus making 'A Midsummer Night‘s Dream‘ a Comedy of Errors.