Something jumped out at me right as I began. In simply the first act of this play, there seems to be one unifying factor: The moon. Everything seems to be planned around it, deadlines all seem to be set to it, and everyone is thinking about it. The people of this time period all seem to use the moon as the way they judge when to do something rather than using actual dates. There is symbolism laced into each of the reasons why this moon would be the time they would be to make this choice or commit this act as well. The first time the moon is mentioned is with Theseus and Hippolyta. “Four happy days bring in Another moon—but O, methinks how slow this old moon wanes!” This is said by Theseus and is the second sentence said in the play. This line is describing how long it will be until these two characters are wed. Shakespeare has been known to use astrology in his works, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is no different. From the way it is said—speaking of the waning of the moon, etc—it can be assumed that their wedding is to take place on the new moon, which makes sense.
The new moon symbolizes many things, but the most important of these things is new beginnings. To have something begin on a new moon is rumored to be good luck because, as it is dark on the new moon, it will soon become light after. It symbolizes new life as well. This may be why Theseus also sets Hermia’s decision to the new moon. Hermia must choose to wed Demetrius, die by her father’s hand by choosing to love Lysander instead, or become a nun. Incidentally, she must become a nun of Diana. Diana was a virgin goddess, but she was also the goddess of the moon…see a pattern? The new moon may be seen as the time of new beginnings; however, it certainly isn’t for Hermia in this case. There is another thing about the new moon: it is also the darkest time…as I assume it would be Hermia’s, had she stayed.
She does not stay however. Lysander and Hermia decide to run away to Lysander’s aunts and elope. How do they set this time? By the moon of course. Lysander says: “…when Phoebe doth behold Her silver visage in the wat’ry glass…a time that lovers’ slights doth still conceal…” They plan to leave at a time most lovers usually have their meetings when they want no one to see, when the moon is small enough to see by, but not bright enough to give them away. And the way he says it suggests most lovers would do this at this time, thus more proof as to how the people of this time ran their lives by the moon.
The new moon is symbolic of a fresh start and new beginnings, which these characters seem to be racing towards as the new moon approaches. There is the obvious new beginning of being married, seen with Theseus and Hippolyta. Marriage is always a fresh start, a new life with someone else. But there is also the new start that Hermia and Lysander are intending to escape to. They are attempting to run away before the new moon, so that they too can have a new beginning without fear of Hermia’s father putting her to death. The new moon plays a heavy role in this story right from the beginning
New Paltz Students Blogging about Shakespeare
3 comments:
You make a great point that I didn’t even realize that everything is planned around the moon and once I read that I thought about how much was centered around it. It didn’t occur to me that in Shakespeare’s this was there way of telling time. I also did not know that to have something begin on a new moon is rumored to be good luck but knowing that now, its obvious why the wedding is scheduled to begin on the new moon. It is also obvious why Theseus summons Hermia to make her decision by this time. I think for Hermia the new moon is seen as a new beginning, she can either choose to wed Demetrius like her father wishes or defy her father and the Athenian law, which would result in her death or her becoming a nun. Now this is not the new beginning I would want, but for her it resembles a new beginning in a way, does she start her life as a nun ?
Perhaps this is because, unlike the sun, the moon has so many phases. The sun blazes brightly each day. The night can bring- a full moon, a half moon, three quarter moon, etc. Maybe love has the same mutability as the moon. I guess there are phases of love as well as the moon. I've never thought of the moon before in relation to Shakespeare, now I'll have to keep my eyes open for more references.
A few posters have commented on the role of the moon in the play as a symbol. I'm wondering what people think about two questions: What is the effect of having the moon brought out onto stage in the artisans' play? And, Shakespeare's plays were performed outdoors during daylight. Why would he purposely set a play during the "night" if his playhouse is in daylight?
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