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‘Oberon describes Puck as ‘Mad Spirit, (Act 3, SC.II.) in what way does his reputation and behaviour support that description?’
Before being able to discuss the character of Puck, it is important to appreciate the Elizabethan audience’s understanding of the comedy, folklore and language. When Shakespeare wrote the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Queen Elizabeth I was reigning. English folklore and Greek Mythology played a very important part in all of Elizabethan’s lives. It was common knowledge that Elizabeth I encouraged images of enhancing the legend of her virginity, which in turn ensured admiration from her Royal subjects.
Her society demanded chastity from its unmarried women. Accordingly, Elizabeth was frequently compared to mythological figures such as Diana who was the Roman Goddess of chastity, hunting and the moon. Diana’s metaphor was often simply the moon. This particular image of the moon is apparent all the way through the play and so refers to mythological figures and in turn to the Queen herself. It is believed that the play was written in celebration of a wedding at that time that the Queen herself would have attended.
At the start of the sixteenth century the English had a very poor opinion of their own language. Latin was the international language and Englishmen admired the eloquence of the Romans. They were able to make many translations and in this way they extended the resources of their own language. By the end of the century, the English language was something to be very proud of: it was capable of infinite variety and was ready for all kinds of word play – especially puns, for which Shakespeare’s English is renowned.
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is usually written in blank verse, the form preferred by most dramatists in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The lines are usually ten syllables long and unrhymed. By writing the play in this way, the audience are able to understand what tones the characters are talking in. Sometimes, Shakespeare deviates from the norm, writing lines that are longer and shorter than ten syllables, and varying stress patterns for unusual emphasis. By writing in this way, it makes for the natural fluidity of speech, avoiding monotony but still maintaining the iambic rhythm.
It is also important to remember that the audience would have an understanding of the ‘rites of May’ being a celebration involving maypole dancing, new birth and the continuation of life. Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed dancing very much and was always very involved and excited about the ‘rites of May’ tradition.
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s plays of comedy. When comedy is used in Shakespeare it is not all about laughs, neither does it concentrate entirely on happy events. The genre is a reassurance aimed at the audience that life goes on. Shakespeare’s comedy celebrates the endurance of community rather than the mourning of an individual. Comedy in Shakespeare demonstrates the circle of life, and so ends at a point where the audience know that the characters lives will still be happy. Comedy as a whole is intended to entertain the audience and be regarded as a source of enjoyment it is expected to end happily for the main characters.
The character of Puck in the play was inspired by the history of a puck in English Folklore. It is the term for a supernatural being in Celtic mythology and English Folklore. Traditionally, Puck was an immoral, mischievous and sometimes evil spirit who played random tricks on people. A Puck was simply a kind of fairy and was sometimes called Hobgoblin and Robin Goodfellow in other folklores. Hob Goblin means mischievous Goblin and was another name for the spirit, perhaps it is more descriptive of its true nature, the name Robin itself was a medieval nickname for the devil. Robin Goodfellow, Puck's other name, is derived from English folklore. The spirit was not actually good by nature, but was called Goodfellow as a sort of appeasement, meant to deflect the sprit's pranks towards other people. Robin Goodfellow/Puck was not only famous for shape shifting and misleading mortal travellers into the night, but he was also a helpful domesticated spirit. He was sympathetic towards mortals who spoke politely to him, kind to lovers, and always ready to help the housewife clean in exchange for some cream or milk. In this particular play, he is referred to only as Puck but is questioned by one of the fairies about being the traditional mischievous spirit:
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
Or else you are that crude and knavish sprit
Called Robin Goodfellow. Are not you he? Act 2, Scene 1, line 32-34
This is queried by one of Titania’s fairies, and this shows the reputation of Puck and Robin Goodfellow are already well known in the fairy world.
Oberon describes Puck as being ‘mad’; this could be interpreted in many ways. The technical definition of ‘mad’ is being mentally deranged and insane. By using the word in this context, Puck would be considered to be mentally mad perhaps even with a distinct mental illness. However, ‘mad’ may also be understood as somebody who sometimes acts extremely foolish, senseless and wildly enthusiastic about something or being stupidly irresponsible. The latter definition appears to be a more light-hearted response to the word. Most of Puck’s actions can be argued to be mad as in the mental respect or mad as in being stupidly irresponsible.
In ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ there are numerous controversies that Puck is not mad. Throughout the play, it is especially apparent to the audience that he is used as Oberon’s agent,
'I jest to Oberon and make him smile
When I am fat and bean-fed horse beguile,
Neighing in the likeness of a filly foal:
And sometimes lurk I in a gossips bowl. Act 2, scene 1, line 44-47
In this speech, Puck is talking to the audience, he is enumerating to the audience the pranks and jokes that he is known for. By saying that ‘I jest to Oberon’ it is suggesting that Puck is not in control of his own actions, he carries out these jokes to win the favour of Oberon. Throughout this speech Puck is talking in a typical human way to show that he can also change the structure of his speech as well as his physical shape.
Puck has the utmost respect for Oberon throughout the play and is continuously relaying ideas as to how he can prove this to him,
‘I’ll put a girdle around the earth’ Act 2, Scene 1, line 175
This is spoken to Oberon, and Puck is asseverating how far he is willing to go to please Oberon, perhaps even suggesting that Oberon orchestrates all of the pranks and uses Puck as his scapegoat.
One particular point within the play shows that the tricks that Puck plays are not intended to be harmful, they are just for his pure comical entertainment,
‘An ass’s nole I fixed on his head:’ Act 3, Scene 1, line 17
Puck is confessing to Oberon and the audience how it was his choice to place the Ass’s head on Bottom. This presents the idea that Puck is an opportunist – there is no purpose to putting the head on Bottom other than for amusement. Bottom is the character in the play who is directly associated with the idea of eternal Shakespearean comedy. He sings and jests to show that he is not afraid, he is also known as a cheery-fellow in past literature. Bottom is the only mortal who sees fairies as well; this probably being because he has such a lighthearted, fun personality that he doesn’t think anything of it. It is interesting that Puck places the Ass’s head on Bottom because this also ties in with his previously mentioned tricks about leading mortals astray. He has chosen to perform a harmless entertaining prank on the comical mortal character in the play.
During Act 2, Oberon can be perceived as being very horrible, thoughtless to his wife and extremely selfish. He shows a violent change of language and is full of hateful fantasies,
And there the snake throws her enamell’d skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in:
And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes,
And make her full of hateful fantasies. Act 2, Scene 1, line 255
Above all, Oberon is vindictive, rude and very uncaring towards the feelings and emotions of others especially his wife. This could suggest to the audience that because Oberon is full of evil that he is the mastermind behind all of the nefarious tricks played by Puck.
Puck seems to have a very sinister attitude towards everyone in the both the fairy world and even in the mortal world,
A sweet Athenian lady is in love
With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes;
But do it when the next thing he espies
May be the lady: Act 2, Scene 2, line 260-263
This quotation presents the idea that Oberon is the mastermind behind the plans to interfere with the humans and not Puck. By Oberon changing his language he is also changing his character.
At different times in the play, Puck successfully changes his speech and rhythmic form to suit the situation that he finds himself in,
‘And the country proverb known,
That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown,’ Act 3, Scene 2, line 458-460
In this particular quotation he is secretly revealing to the audience his in-depth knowledge of the human world. By talking about and referring to country proverbs he would appear to be rather sagacious. This is a caption from an entire speech written in rhyming cuplets to show the knowledge he has and the ability to modify his rhythmic form, which shows his intelligence.
Whenever Puck suspects that he has done something fallacious and has gone against Oberon he is quick to apologise, suggesting that he is afraid of what his punishment may be,
‘Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Did not you tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garment be had on?
And so far blameless proves my enterprise,
That I have ‘nointed an Athenian’s eyes;
And so far am I glad it did so sort
As this their jangiling I esteem a sport. Act 3, Scene 2, line 347-353
This entire speech is an apology and is written in blank verse, Puck is not talking in a fancy way to seem intelligent but in a sincere way, he is apologising and believes that he must stop the mortals from arguing. At this point, Puck concludes that when there is peace in one world there will start to be peace in the other world and the madness will be amended. He is saying that he can right his wrong by moving the mortals away from each other so that they do not find each other. This shows that he has human emotions and actually wants to protect the humans. By beginning the speech with ‘King of Shadows’ he is trying to impress Oberon.
Throughout the play, Puck is the mystical character that plays tricks that many times do seem to end in disaster. However when Puck realises that he has given the potions to the wrong people he is quick to admit his mistakes and then in this particular incident is able to offer an explanation and within this he incorporates the human belief in fate, again showing his intelligence and knowledge of the human world,
Then fate o’er-rules, that, one man holding troth,
A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Act 3, Scene 2, line 92-93
These lines are spoken directly to the audience, Puck is allowing them to know that he has made an honest mistake but fate is stronger than any of his pranks. If one person tells the truth then they are making up for a million others that lie. Puck believes that if people just tell the truth then all will be amended and each person will be with their right partner. He also assumes when a problem to do with love arises it is normally the fault of the man, and that to find an honest man is a million to one chance. This is also a small indication that he is aware of the human emotion of love.
There is one line in the play when Puck actually admits to Oberon that he has caused the problems,
‘I led them on in this distracted fear,’ Act 3, Scene 2, line 31
He has admitted his mistake and is finally being honest about the situation. He is facing up to his responsibilities. At this point the audience may even start to feel some sympathy towards him.
Towards the end of the play it becomes even more apparent especially to the audience that Puck is in fact fully aware of most of the human emotions such as guilt, and sadness and actually seems to experience some of these emotions himself,
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door. Act 5, Scene 1, line 376-377
This is said as part of a long speech near the end of the play. Puck is speaking directly to the audience and is using the last line as a metaphor meaning that by sweeping the dust behind the door he is sweeping away his mistakes. In a sense he is apologising for the wrongdoings and is embarrassed to have made them happen.
We have already established that Puck admires Oberon but he is also physically obedient to him and not just mentally,
‘Fear not, my lord, your servant shall do so.’ Act 2, Scene 2, line 268
He is expressing his will to Oberon that he will carry out whatever task that he is set. Puck is saying that he is inferior to Oberon and respects whatever he says and will carry it out to the best of his ability.
Throughout the play, there are also many arguments to suggest that Puck is indeed a mad spirit. At the beginning of the play, the fairy confronts Puck and introduces the character to the audience and teaches them of what the character Puck is renowned for,
‘Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm’ Act 2, scene 1,line 39
The fairy is reminding the Elizabethan audience of Puck’s reputation, they would already begin to not trust him because of this reputation. In this quotation it is explaining how Puck misleads the mortal night travellers and then he laughs at them when they get lost.
After Puck has made the mistakes with the mortals he is able to use enchanting language while he is speaking to the audience, this could be interpreted to mean that he is using his ability to change the language to change the audiences view of him,
‘On the ground
Sleep sound:
I’ll apply
To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.’ Act 3, Scene 2, Line 448-452
This particular speech is short and easy to remember and is almost spell-like in what is said. This is said when he is trying to right his wrong and could be perceived as trying to gain the audience’s sympathy and in turn is considered quite an underhand type of act.
It is already apparent that Puck is used as Shakespeare’s agent but he is also able to take the situation into his own hands and is nasty alone,
‘My mistress with a monster is in love!’ Act 3, Scene2, line 6
Puck is saying how he plays with lives and he has even toyed with the life of his mistress Titania. By doing this, it is suggesting that he is an evil spirit who really doesn’t care who he plays tricks on just as long as he finds it amusing.
It is not just the character of Puck that could be considered evil but the surroundings that he is in help to illustrate this. He lives in a wood at night, which represents madness within the play. The witching hour is also associated with the woods at night. A speech near the end of the play represents the sinister side to Puck’s character and the dark evil surroundings,
Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night
That the graves all gaping wide, Act 5, Scene 1, line 363-367
The whole speech is quite menacing which could be representing the character of Puck to be a mad and evil being. By using the image of a screeching owl it represents an omen possibly of death. This scene is again set at night in the woods; this encourages the audience to feel slightly unnerved. The image of graves in a graveyard is quite daunting but also quite mystical because of the church. This is the main speech in the play when the fairy world and the human world come together because of the imagery used of the church and night and feelings like being scared are apparent in both worlds.
The idea of Puck being mad either mentally or irresponsibly cannot only be divulged through the spoken lines of the character but also how the play is performed to an audience and how the character is portrayed through the image of Puck himself and the surroundings. In the film ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by the BBC Shakespeare, directed by Elijah Mosinsky in 1988, the film concentrates on the actual character of Puck, the director has chosen to present Puck as a very mischievous spirit. The film concentrates wholly on how the audience would perceive the personality of the character to be rather than expressing the emotions that the character experiences throughout the play.
Another adaptation of the play is a film by Fox, directed by Michael Hoffman in 1999. The main reason as to how this film differs to that of the BBC’s is that the main focus of the audience would be on how the closeness of Puck and Oberon’s relationship has been portrayed instead of concentrating on the typically known reputation of Puck. However there is one particular scene where Oberon raises his arm as if to strike Puck but then puts his arm around Puck’s shoulders perhaps giving the impression that Oberon holds the power and that their relationship is not as friendly as one thought.
In the film directed by Elijah Mosinsky Puck would be recognised as the mad evil spirit because of the main focus of concentration within the film. However, in the film directed by Michael Hoffman, Puck would be seen as irresponsible rather than evilly mad because of how the characters and the surroundings have been portrayed differently in each film.
For the duration of the play Puck is renowned for being Shakespeare’s agent. Another strong role that Puck takes on is that he is responsible for developing the plot of the play. He is constantly informing the audience of what is going on in the play and at the beginning in particular he informs the audience of the relationship between Oberon and Titania,
‘The King doth keep his revels here to-night:
Take Heed the queen come not within his sight;
For Oberon is passing fell and wrath,’ Act 2, Scene 1, line 18-20
This speech is spoken entirely for the audience’s benefit; it sets up one of the storylines for the rest of the play and allows the audience to have an insight into the lives of the King and Queen. It demonstrates how Puck has the character role of the informative storyteller.
Not only does Puck tell the audience of the King and Queen’s relationship but he also keeps them briefed on the other three subplots within the play. Without Puck, the audience would become very confused and maybe even end up disliking the play. He seems to have a very strong impact on the audience that is shown in the way that he is able to change their expectations of the play,
‘But, they do square, that all their elves for fear
Creep into acorn-cups and hide them there’ Act 2, Scene 1, line 30-31
In just these two lines Puck has been successful in changing any preconceptions that the audience may have had about the play.
The main reason as to why Puck spends allot of his time in the play enhancing the setting is because when the play was first performed in the sixteenth century there were no props available for the actors to act with and so they had to find other dramatic means of ensuring that the play was understood.
Puck successfully relates to both the order of Athens and the mysteriousness of the woods in his speeches. This would demonstrate his intelligence of being able to compare them both,
‘A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
Were met together to rehearse a play
Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial-day’ Act 3, Scene 1, line 9-12
For the benefit of the audience, by incorporating comparison into his explanations of the play he is establishing just how magical and fairy-tail like the play actually is.
There is not any one point during the play when Puck speaks to anyone else except Oberon and the audience, this shows directly how Shakespeare has used the character of Puck as an agent and that how he relays the storylines to the audience through his character.
At the end of the play, Puck delivers a speech to the audience about the performance, this presents the idea that Shakespeare is apologising to the audience and in particular to Queen Elizabeth I through the end speech by Puck,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend:
And as I am honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck Act 5, Scene 1, line 416-420
Puck is saying to the audience that if they pardon the play for being useless then he will sort it out because he is Puck and has already proved during the play that he can sort out situations that have gone wrong.
At the very end of the speech the audience see a very sensitive side to Puck and could take it as an apology,
‘Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.’ Act 5, Scene 1, line 425-426
He is allowing the audience to use the idea of if you have a bad dream then you can wake up and just forget about it as an image for the ending of the play. Basically Puck is saying to the audience that if you did not like the play then pretend it was a bad dream and forget about it. He is making amendments to the audience and the characters and is saying that if you did not like the play then clap anyway and Puck will make it better.
We have already established that ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is a play of traditional Shakespearean comedy. This is apparent through the character of Puck, his mischievous nature and irresponsible pranks are an indication that Puck in particular but also the play in general are exemplary examples of slapstick comedy. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the play has been responded to in so many different ways. The concept of slapstick comedy can easily be related to eternal Shakespearean comedy and the idea of the circle of life.
In conclusion to the essay question I have decided that Puck is not a mad character in the sense of being mentally mad, however he is just a purely comical and entertaining character. After looking at both sides of the argument I feel that Oberon orchestrates the plans and uses Puck as a scapegoat, Oberon uses the fact that Puck at times can be irresponsible to his advantage and is able to persuade the audience into thinking that Puck is in fact a mentally mad character. One of the main reasons as to why I think Puck is just an entertainer is the way that Puck incorporates Bottom, who is usually identified as the main comical character of the play into one of his harmless entertaining pranks, for pure self-amusement rather than with intent to hurt Bottom.