Puck is told to apply some of it to the "disdainful youth" (2.1.261) in "Athenian garments" (2.1.264), and does so; but to Lysander, not Demetrius (the disdainful youth). Greenblatt tells us that this "stock character [...] sometimes seems to enjoy and contribute to the plot's tangles but [also] manages to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of the young lovers.". Think about it. Puck is a character in Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a traditional Shakespearean fool, Puck makes us aware of the darker side of life, the underworld realm of shadows and magic and, ultimately, death. Goblin, lead them up and down. Character Analysis Puck Oberon's jester and lieutenant, Puck is a powerful supernatural creature, capable of circling the globe in 40 minutes or of enshrouding unsuspecting mortals in a deep fog. While Oberon and Titania bless the newlyweds in Act V, Puck reminds the audience of the dangers of the night, graves gaping open and wolves howling at the moon. And, when she drinks, against her lips I bob Oberon instructs Puck to sort it out, using the love potion, but Puck makes a mistake and puts the potion in the wrong young man’s eyes, which leads to great confusion which, in turn, has to be sorted out, which Puck finally manages to do. (act 3, scene 2), Jack shall have Jill; Neighing in likeness of a filly foal; Are you not he? When he has accidentally caused both Lysander and Demetrius to fall in love with Helena, Puck enjoys the pleasure their folly brings him. Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Neighing in likeness of a filly foal: Puck is sent to fetch a particular flower, the juice whereof "on sleeping eyelids laid / Will make or man or woman madly dote / Upon the next live creature that it sees" (2.1.170-72). By setting in motion the events that send the lovers into chaos, Puck also ensures that we, the audience, have a good time as well. You do their work, and they shall have good luck:⁠ guide PDFs and quizzes, 10461 literature essays, The lovers are made to believe that the entire affair was a dream, and in the final passage of the play, Puck encourages the audience to think the same. Although he is more mischievous than malevolent, Puck reminds us that the fairy world is not all goodness and generosity. The female characters also display insecurity, but resist obeying their male counterparts. Indeed, one of the fairies describes Puck as a “hobgoblin” in Act Two, Scene One. In Puck Shakespeare has included a character out of European folklore into the play – a mischievous fairy, not quite malicious, but annoying, who plays practical jokes on people without intending any harm. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total between 1590 and 1612. He delights in pranks, such as replacing Bottom's head with that of an ass. Enjoy your stay :). Wrong", "BBC Two - Upstart Crow, Series 3, Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!, If we shadows have offended", "Upstart Crow - S3 - Episode 1: Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be! In some ways, Puck parallels Philostrate's position as Theseus's "Master of Revels." And then the whole quire hold their hips and laugh, In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Puck is a mischievous sprite and Oberon’s servant and jester. The wisest aunt, telling the saddest tale, Lee Jamieson, M.A., is a theater scholar and educator. He is also not as ethereal as the play’s other fairies; rather, he is coarser, more prone to misadventure, and goblin-like. At the moment the king and his queen, Titania, are in a dispute over an Indian child whom she has adopted. In Elizabethan folklore, Puck (a.k.a. And ‘tailor’ cries, and falls into a cough; Eventually, the position involved determining which plays could be performed on public stages.) Sometimes he will be held responsible for a bit of good luck as well. In Act Three, Scene Two he says: Later in the play, Oberon sends Puck out to fix his mistake. Tate Britain / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. The forest is magically plunged into darkness and Puck imitates the voices of the lovers to lead them astray. listens to Oberons commands) Puck: mischievous & a trickster (ex. I jest to Oberon and make him smile He is blamed for things like objects going missing, milk going sour, and so on, as a kind of scapegoat for those incidents. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. This list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in alphabetical order. It is interesting to consider that Puck is regularly thought to be a male character based solely on actions and attitudes during the play. That frights the maidens of the villagery; By giving the young lovers the antidote (OK, not Demetrius) to the love juice (3.2), Puck removes the obstacles they've faced and ensures the play's happy ending. Philostrate's job is to make sure Theseus and his court are entertained. Literary Definition and Examples, An Analysis of Shakespeare Characters Hermia and Her Father. Learn more about the characters of Titania, Demetrius and Puck with photo galleries and study grids to complete. Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck, As Puck says, his duty is to "jest to Oberon and make him smile" (2.1.46). By William Shakespeare. This is likely the most memorable image of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," and it demonstrates that while Puck is harmless, he is capable of cruel tricks for the sake of enjoyment. Puck's ability to transform himself isn't limited to shape-shifting. All characters in the play are playful, careless and thoughtless, and Puck: one of the central characters in the play: is significant to the plot, tone, and meaning of A Midsummer Nights Dream, thus becoming a representative of the above-mentioned themes. Plot Summary. Even the character's alternate name, Robin Goodfellow, is androgynous. If Puck creates the play's fun and rowdy atmosphere, then he's also the character who makes things happen in the play. Puck serves the fairy king Oberon, who is angry with Titania, the fairy queen, because she will not let him have a particular "little changeling boy" (2.1.120). (act 5, scene 1), A Midsummer Night’s Dream | A Midsummer Night’s Dream summary | A Midsummer Night’s Dream characters: Lysander, Oberon, Puck| A Midsummer Night’s Dream settings | A Midsummer Night’s Dream in modern English | A Midsummer Night’s Dream full text | Modern A Midsummer Night’s Dream ebook | A Midsummer Night’s Dream for kids ebooks | A Midsummer Night’s Dream quotes | A Midsummer Night’s Dream monologues | A Midsummer Night’s Dream soliloquies. Mislead night wanderers, laughing at their harm? Puck is loyal to Oberon and will do anything the fairy king asks of him. Thanks to this mischievous nature, he triggers many of the play’s most memorable events. [3], The original texts of Shakespeare's plays do not have cast-lists, and are not always consistent with characters' names. (3.1.110-113). His name is Robin Goodfellow but he’s known as Puck in the play.