Who is oberon in midsummer night dream

Also, Oberon's not above abusing his powers to get a few laughs. Oberon is also the fairy world's biggest player except for maybe his wife, Titania. Although he's partnered with his Fairy Queen, he's known for having had torrid affairs with other women.

We know this because Titania accuses him of sleeping with a string of beauties, including Hippolyta, who's described as being Oberon's former "warrior love" 2. We also learn that Oberon had a thing with a country girl named Phillida and even went so far as to disguise himself as a shepherd so he could hook up with her 2. Oberon seems to pursue romance as if it were a favorite sport or hobby, which tells us that he like Theseus has a thing for making conquests out of women.

Oberon's promiscuity also shows us that you don't need magic "love juice" to quickly fall in and out of romantic relationships. Like we said, when Titania refuses, Oberon breaks out all the stops until he gets his way. What's the deal?

Well, Oberon never comes out and tells us what motivates his desire for the little boy, but we can look closely at the text for some possible answers. According to Puck, Oberon is jealous because Titania spends all her time lavishing the kid with her attention and ignores Oberon:.

And jealous Oberon would have the child Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild. Perhaps Oberon wants to prove his male authority over Titania; perhaps he feels Titania is overindulging the boy and would like to bring discipline into his life.

Any explanation the audience comes up with must be based in conjecture, because Shakespeare does not explain Oberon's motivation.

No explanation, though, would seem to justify the cruelty Oberon uses in winning the boy away from Titania. Oberon casts a spell upon her, a trick that leaves her in love with Bottom, the ass. Many critics recognize Oberon's kindness in releasing her from this spell as soon as he has gotten what he wanted from her — the boy — but his treachery must still be acknowledged.

Once Titania is gone, Oberon vows to punish her for not obeying him. He calls to Puck, and reminds him Oberon continues that he saw where that arrow landed: on a little flower that turned from Oberon , alone, muses on his plan: he'll wait until Titania is asleep and then place the Just then, Oberon hears voices. Since he's invisible, he decides to spy. Demetrius and Helena enter, walking through After they exit, Oberon promises that soon Demetrius will seek Helena's love.

Once Puck returns with the love-in-idleness flower, Act 2, scene 2. Oberon then sneaks past the guard protecting her, and drops the juice on her sleeping eyelids He drops the potion on Lysander's eyes, and rushes back to Oberon.

Act 3, scene 2. As Oberon wonders whether Titania has woken and with whom or what she's fallen in love, Puck But just as Oberon asks about Puck's success with the Athenian youth and Puck says he used the potion Oberon realizes what has happened and scolds Puck: "What hast though done?

Thou hast mistaken quite Oberon puts the love ointment on Demetrius' eyes as Puck returns with the warning that Helena Oberon suspects Puck of having intentionally caused this mayhem. Puck swears he made an honest mistake, Act 4, scene 1. Still, she is very attentive to Bottom and proves herself to be a kind and forgiving lover:. Eventually, as Titania is intoxicated with the love potion, she gives the changeling boy to Oberon and the Fairy King gets his way.

Oberon and Titania are the only characters in the play who have been together for an extended time. With their grievances and tricks, they act as a contrast to the other couples who are still absorbed in the passion and intensity of new relationships.

Unlike those individuals just trying to find their partner, their troubles are rooted in the difficulties of maintaining an established relationship.

They may have taken each other for granted with their opening argument. The removal of the love potion, however, shows Oberon's compassion as well as sparks' realization in Titania. Perhaps she has neglected her husband somewhat, and this recent escapade may renew their passion as they exit together:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.