Authors retain the copyright without restrictions for their published content in this journal. HSSR is a SHERPA ROMEO Green Journal.
Publishing License
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of
AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE: SHAKESPEARE AND THE WORLD OF FAIRIES IN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Corresponding Author(s) : Atifa Binth e Zia
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2021): March
Abstract
Purpose: This research aims to explore the world of fairies in a comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1605) written by William Shakespeare. This study proposes that the concept of fairies described by William Shakespeare is mere supernatural rather than being philosophical as the Elizabethan age itself is defined for its prudence and emerging philosophies. Further, This study intends to present an alternative perspective on Elizabethan Fairies.
Methodology: This research is hermeneutic in approach and descriptive in nature. The sources are collected in the form of both print and web. The primary text used for this research is Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1605).
Findings: Shakespeare not only changes the physiognomy of Elizabethan fairies but also alters the functions that are associated with them.Elizabethan Fairies were known for their awe and evil-doing but the world of fairies that Shakespeare describes in the play is to some extent altered.
Aplication of the study: This study is relevant to the field of literature, Elizabethan Literature ,and Occult philosophy. Students and researchers of Elizabethan drama will find it useful.
Novelity or Originality of the study: The study is hitherto a novel approach to Elizabethan supernatural powers. By considering this alternative viewpoint, this qualitative study intends to study the world of fairies of this play in depth by focusing on multiple standpoints of the Elizabethan age contradicting with Shakespearian fairies characterized in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Briggs, K. M.(1959) The Anatomy of Puck: An Examination of Fairy Beliefs among Shakespeare’s Contemporaries and Successors. London: Routledge.
- Conlan, J. P. (2004). The Fey Beauty of "A Midsummer Night's Dream": A Shakespearean Comedy in Its Courtly Context. Shakespeare Studies, 32, 118-172.
- Cooper, H. (2015). Editorial Anomalies and Stage Practice: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 3.2-4.1. Early Modern Culture Online, 6, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.15845/emco.v6i1.1256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15845/emco.v6i1.1256
- Culliton, K. (2019). Fairies in Early Modern English Drama: Fictionality and Theatrical Landscapes, 1575-1615, (Doctoral dissertation, Trinity College Dublin).
- Endo, H. (2011). Fairies in the Elizabethan Court Literature. Semantic Scholar.
- Fielding, H. (2020). Whereinto Catch the Conscience of the Queen: Dystopian Politics in Elizabethan Drama, Senior Honors Theses. 1012.
- Green, T. A. (Ed.). (1997). Folklore: an encyclopedia of beliefs, customs, tales, music, and art (Vol. 1). Abc-clio.
- Harms, Daniel, Clark,J and Peterson J(2016). The Book of Oberon. Minnesota,Llewellyn Publications.
- HOYDIS, J. (2021). Visual culture and gendered histories: dancing fairies and ballet adaptations of a midsummer night’s dream. In Shakespeare Seminar (p. 30).
- Lamb, M. E. (2000). Taken by the Fairies: Fairy Practices and the Production of Popular Culture in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare Quarterly, 51(3), 277-312. https://doi.org/10.2307/2902152 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2902152
- Latham, M. W. (1930). The Elizabethan Fairies. Columbia University Press.
- Lemmens, G. R. I. R. (2019). The Appearance of Fairies in Necromancy: Treatment, Uses, and Powers. Gena Lemmens, s4817680 BA Thesis.
- Maslova, S. (2020). Genre peculiarities and the system of characters in the play a midsummer night’s dream by w. Shakespeare. Scientific Journal of Polonia University, 38(1-2), 76-82. ttps://doi.org/10.23856/3850 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23856/3850
- Poole, K. (2011). Supernatural environments in Shakespeare's England: spaces of demonism, divinity, and drama. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977299 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977299
- Sánchez-MartÃ, J. Helen Cooper( 2004). The English Romance in Time: Transforming Motifs from Geoffrey of Monmouth to the Death of Shakespeare. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. xiii+ 542 pp.
- Shakespeare, W., & Foakes, R. A. (2003). A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Updated edn. https://doi.org/10.1017/ 9780511817632 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511817632
- Sikes, W. (1880). British goblins: Welsh folk-lore, fairy mythology, legends and traditions.
- Singman, Jeffrey. L. (1995). Daily Life in Elizabethan England. London: Greenwood Press.
- Swann, M. (2000). The politics of fairylore in early modern English literature. Renaissance Quarterly, 53(2), 449-473. https://doi.org/10.2307/2901875 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2901875
- Thomas, Keith. (1971). Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-century England. London: Penguin UK.
- Töller, Melitta. (2004). The Fairy Mythology in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Paderborn: University of Paderborn.
- Yates, Frances. (2003). The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4 324/9780203167113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203167113
- Zhu, L. (2019). Supernatural Elements in Shakespeare's Plays. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 10(2), 391-395. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1002.22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1002.22
References
Briggs, K. M.(1959) The Anatomy of Puck: An Examination of Fairy Beliefs among Shakespeare’s Contemporaries and Successors. London: Routledge.
Conlan, J. P. (2004). The Fey Beauty of "A Midsummer Night's Dream": A Shakespearean Comedy in Its Courtly Context. Shakespeare Studies, 32, 118-172.
Cooper, H. (2015). Editorial Anomalies and Stage Practice: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 3.2-4.1. Early Modern Culture Online, 6, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.15845/emco.v6i1.1256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15845/emco.v6i1.1256
Culliton, K. (2019). Fairies in Early Modern English Drama: Fictionality and Theatrical Landscapes, 1575-1615, (Doctoral dissertation, Trinity College Dublin).
Endo, H. (2011). Fairies in the Elizabethan Court Literature. Semantic Scholar.
Fielding, H. (2020). Whereinto Catch the Conscience of the Queen: Dystopian Politics in Elizabethan Drama, Senior Honors Theses. 1012.
Green, T. A. (Ed.). (1997). Folklore: an encyclopedia of beliefs, customs, tales, music, and art (Vol. 1). Abc-clio.
Harms, Daniel, Clark,J and Peterson J(2016). The Book of Oberon. Minnesota,Llewellyn Publications.
HOYDIS, J. (2021). Visual culture and gendered histories: dancing fairies and ballet adaptations of a midsummer night’s dream. In Shakespeare Seminar (p. 30).
Lamb, M. E. (2000). Taken by the Fairies: Fairy Practices and the Production of Popular Culture in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare Quarterly, 51(3), 277-312. https://doi.org/10.2307/2902152 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2902152
Latham, M. W. (1930). The Elizabethan Fairies. Columbia University Press.
Lemmens, G. R. I. R. (2019). The Appearance of Fairies in Necromancy: Treatment, Uses, and Powers. Gena Lemmens, s4817680 BA Thesis.
Maslova, S. (2020). Genre peculiarities and the system of characters in the play a midsummer night’s dream by w. Shakespeare. Scientific Journal of Polonia University, 38(1-2), 76-82. ttps://doi.org/10.23856/3850 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23856/3850
Poole, K. (2011). Supernatural environments in Shakespeare's England: spaces of demonism, divinity, and drama. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977299 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977299
Sánchez-MartÃ, J. Helen Cooper( 2004). The English Romance in Time: Transforming Motifs from Geoffrey of Monmouth to the Death of Shakespeare. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. xiii+ 542 pp.
Shakespeare, W., & Foakes, R. A. (2003). A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Updated edn. https://doi.org/10.1017/ 9780511817632 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511817632
Sikes, W. (1880). British goblins: Welsh folk-lore, fairy mythology, legends and traditions.
Singman, Jeffrey. L. (1995). Daily Life in Elizabethan England. London: Greenwood Press.
Swann, M. (2000). The politics of fairylore in early modern English literature. Renaissance Quarterly, 53(2), 449-473. https://doi.org/10.2307/2901875 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2901875
Thomas, Keith. (1971). Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-century England. London: Penguin UK.
Töller, Melitta. (2004). The Fairy Mythology in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Paderborn: University of Paderborn.
Yates, Frances. (2003). The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4 324/9780203167113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203167113
Zhu, L. (2019). Supernatural Elements in Shakespeare's Plays. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 10(2), 391-395. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1002.22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1002.22