The clip above is a representation of events from Act 2 Scene 1. In this scene,you see Titania and Oberon arguing in the forest (the realm of the fairies)
TASK
(Realm of Fairies)
1. Using information from the play itself and the clip above, explain what has happened to the world of Man since Titania 'forsworn (Oberon's) bed and company'?
2. In light of your answer to Question 1, make sense of Titania's words 'We are their parents and original.' (p. 75 lines 117). What does she mean?
(World of Man: Please refer to your textbook)
3. Examine the exchange between Helena and Demetrius in Act 2 Scene 1. Based on the events that unfold from p. 81-83, lines 188-244, what is your impression of Demetrius in this Act. Has he changed at all since we last saw him in Act 1 Scene 1?
14 comments:
Tan Yeh Wen
Class 3BN
1. I think that the argument between Oberon and Titania has caused many natural disasters in the world of men. The evidence is "These are the forgeries of jealousy... For lack of tread are undistinguishable." Lines 82 to 100, Act 2 Scene 1, spoken by Titania.
Also, there is rain (in fact a storm) when they were arguing with one another in the video clip.
Due to this, there is unrest in the play. Again, the evidence is in the natural disasters, and the damage it brings, "The human mortals want their winter cheer... We are their parents and original.", showing that they have caused much suffering in the human world as a result of their argument. In the video, the music is dark and threatening, adding on to the lighting and darkness, signifing the troubles that mankind is facing due to their argument.
Unrest in the human world (and partly the fairy realm) is shown at the beginning, when Puck is talking with the fairy. "The King doth keeps his revels here to-night...Creep into acorn cups, and hide them there." Lines 18 to 31 Act 2 Scene 1, said by Puck. This goes to show that they are the cause of it directly, and Puck had mentioned the cause of their argument.
2. Titania means that they have caused a lot of suffering among mankind due to their argument, such as natural disasters. This can be shown at the beginning of the play, when one accuses the other of loving someone else, and then it progresses to the Indian boy, when one wants to do this with him, and the other does not.
Also, a hidden meaning is that she wants to stop the argument, and Oberon knows, for he tells her to "Do you amend it then!" Line 118 Act 2 Scene 1. This shows that the two are stubborn, and will not (unless by force, as shown by Oberon using the flower called "love-in-idleness" to gain power over Titania) give way to one another.
3.I think he is cruel from the influence of love. He threatens to leave Helena behind, or even kill her, should she continue to follow him. "Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For i am sick when I do look on thee." This shows that although Helena loves him "And I am sick when I look not on you." , he does not only hate her, he loathes the sight of her.
Also, he is rash, as he states that he will kill Lysander if he meets him. "I love thee not, therefore pursue me not... Hence, get theegone, and follow me no more!" Lines 188 to 194, spoken by Demetrius, Act 2, Scene 1. As a matter of fact, if one reads on, one will find out how he thinks Lysander is.
This is far different from the Demetrius that we saw in the beginning of the play. Although having spoke one sentence at the beginning, I felt that he wanted to say some more before Theseus interrupted. This shows that he is rather impatient.
But in this part of the play, he is not only that, but he is also hungry for love, till the extent that he swears he will kill Lysander for Hermia, despite being chased and wanted to be stopped by Helena. Thus, there is a great change over him (taking into account he had set off immediately).
Another point is that in the beginning, he is not shown as cruel, but I do believe that this part is small in this stage. But at the part when he is at the woods, the cruelty can now be clearly seen, though sarcastically "I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts."
Joseline
3GR
1) The world of man has worsen. In one of the examples, Titania states that the nights are not spent with hymns and celebrations anymore. This shows that with her and Oberon's relationship going sour, so does the world. In this respect, it shows that when love between a couple gets rough, so does their world.
2)Oberon and Titania constructed the world, as if it is their child. With them not cooperating and not on good terms due to Titania showing more love to a squire and showing disdain for Oberon, they are not able to work together to shower love over their creation, as Titania 'forsworn' Oberon and his love.
3) Demetrius continues to be rude and unappreciative to Helena. As she continues to pursue him, he gets more irritated and even threatens her that he would leave her in the woods for the beasts to devour her. However,Helena remains undaunted and thinks that being rejected is still worse than being attacked by wild beasts. Demetrius has not changed much since Act One, except that he takes more action to pursue Hermia and goes a further extent to challenge Lysander for Hermia's love, in contrary to his rather passive actions in Act One in front of Theseus and Egeus.
1. Their fighting has poisoned the airs, therefore disturbing the seasons. So much fog has dripped on the land that the rivers have flooded. The crops have been ruined. Sheep are dying of disease. The paths and fields are all muddy. People now wish they just had a normal winter.The seasons seem to be all mixed up, all because of their quarrels.
2.She meant that the quarrel between her and Oberon,has caused the people misery by the hectic change in seasons and climate. They are the origins of the dismay of the people.
Wu Yi
3MD
3.I think D. has changed a little.
He still dislikes Helena but does not treat her as coldly as in the previous scenes.He cares for the safety of Helena.'You do impeach your modesty too much,
To leave the city and commit yourself
Into the hands of one that loves you not'
Even though his words are still crude,but his tone is not.He is actually concerned for helena's reputation and a little moved by what she is doing.He is starting to realise what Helena has sacrificed for his sake.
He even tries to scare her that he will leave her to the wild beasts in order to make helena give up on following him and return home.He is beginning to show attention and concern for Helena.
According to Titania, ever since she 'forsworn (Oberon's) bed and company', the world of Man had been disrupted. Titania says "contagious fogs which, falling in the land... And this same progeny of evil come". Ever since Titania and Oberon fell out, nature is disturbed and the seasons are affected causing things like farmers yield to drop, diseases to spread and floods to occur.
Titania means that she and Oberon is the cause of all problems happening in the human world. The harmony between her and Oberon is essential for peace in the human world and for things to progress smoothly. If she and Oberon are at loggerheads, the human world would be disrupted and not function properly.
Demetrius has not changed at all since Act 1 Scene 1. He is still as selfish as before and is determined to marry Hermia and break Hermia and Lysander up. Demetrius is very cold towards Helena and is not at all grateful to Helena for her information nor is he moved by Helena’s love for him. He is very blunt and tells Helena straight in her face that he does not love her and asks her not to follow him. “I love thee not, therefore pursue me not”, “ get thee gone, and follow me not!” He rejects Helena and says hurtful things to her. “For I an sick when I do look on thee.” He also threatens to harm Helena if she continues to follow him. “ or if thou follow me, do not believe but I shall do thee mischief in the wood.”
When Titania forsaked Oberon, disasters and abrupt seasonal change befalled the innocent civilians. Floods were created to punish Oberon and Titania as the arguement between the two of them have caused Titania to lack of time, hence she is unable to dance for the nature. As a result, these floods entirely killed the crops grown by farmers before they were even ready to harvest. The floods have also caused much sufferings and deaths to the people. The floods have also destroyed the playing field of the children and cause the farming fields to be infertile. The people were also thrown into confusion as the seasons change so abruptly, causuing them to be shocked and bewildered as they are unable to tell when is the next season going to come.
Titania meant when she said 'we are the parents and original' that these disasters and severe consequences were brought about by them as due to their arguement, nature has been affected negatively. She is also somewhat blaming herself and Oberon such that she is telling him that they were the cause of this disaster and it is due to their selfish brawl that cause the people to suffer.
In the first few lines, my impression of Demetrius has not changed as he is still the cold- hearted man who does not know gratitude. He has been constantly telling Helena that he does not like her and that it is useless for her to follow him into the forest as his heart and love for Hermia would never change. He does not know that by saying this, it has hurt Helena as all the things she do was for Demetrius and all she got back was a scolding by him. However later in the next few lines when Demterius told her that she should go back to the city as he is not worth the time and fame that she has sacrificed. My impression of Demetrius has slightly changed as he is rather considerate as he know that he will never like Helena so he wants her to know about the truth so she would not do any more silly things. Demetrius also knew that the forest was filled with dangerous animals and he wanted her to go back by saying that he would desert her, leaving her expose to danger. Helena does not realise that all he did was partially for her!!
Yan Yan
3BN
I don't really understand the first 2 questions but for the third, here is my answer.
3) My impression of Demetrius is that he is rude, crude and very cruel. He is fickle hearted and is very uncivilised. His behaviour towards Helena does not reflect well on his character as he "shall do thee mischief in the wood" "leave thee to the mercy of the wild beast". He have changed but it was a change for a worst.
1.When Oberon and Titania were heated conversations, it was as if the humans were suffering from natural disasters, ilnesses and death.
2.It means that they were like the king and queen controlling the world of man,the ones who created the land for man to live in,so if they were happy,the men were be living peacefully.If they were not happy, the men will be suffering from disasters.
3.Dementrius is still forcing Hermia to love him and fully ignored Helena who loved him.From Act 1 Scene 1 till now, he is still attracted by Hermai and wished to marry her.
Fiona Teh
3 Modesty
1. Oberon and Titania, rulers of the Fairy Realm, were said to have control over the weather in the World of Man. As their quarrels progress,
"Contagious fogs which, falling in the land...they have overborne their continents...stands empty in the drowned field...the governess of floods Pale in her anger, washes all the air....this distemperature we see."
Disaster befalls them as the weather turns against them. Distemperature in Oberon and Titania's quarrels, as well as the weather in the human realm.
2. Titania probably meant that man in the other realm are of their origin and control. In Shakespearean context of this book, Parents were to hold a position of high authority and dominion, hence this could also apply to Titania and Oberon's over the World of Man. If not so, her assertive statements before "We are their parents and original" would have have been made.
3. In my opinion of Demetrius, he has changed. In Act 1, he was indifferent towards expressing his love for Hermia and defending himself. Here in the woods, he seeks after fair Hermia, to the point of desperation. For he knows that if he kills Lysander, Hermia would not relent, however still he decides to hunt after Lysander.
He hard-heartedly treated Helena, asking her to go away from him. He is unrelenting and callous now.
"I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts."
1.their quarrel disturbed the nature and upset the seasons.
2. it meant that they were the cause behind those inbalance and disasters going on in the world because of their fights.
3. i agree with josline and she had stated my points(:
Chua Boon Hee
3RP
1)Bad weathers, change of seasons, including disasters have befall upon the world of Man. Pg 73, Line 89-Line 112 states the negative changes in the world of Man.
2)She means that Oberon and herself(Titania) are like parents and origin to a child(the world of Man. They are the creator of the world of Man, and therefore controls anything that is in that world. Moods of Titania and Oberon causes the changes of nature and occurance of several natural happenings like a storm. It is like when the parents of the child is feeling sad, so will the child.
3)My impression of Demetrius is a suffering foolish man, selfish in a sense but does not notice so. Demetrius is desperate for Hermia's love now. He thinks that if he does not get Hermia's love, he has lost the meaning of living on. He is trying to take all opportunities given to him to seek for Hermia's love. He does not know that his actions affect Helena in a negative way. All that is in his mind is that Hermia is like oxygen to him, and the rest he shall give up in order to get Hermia to love him. He is determined to get Hermia's love. He does not intend to give up easily upon Hermia's rejection. He is going to exterminate all possible obstacles that prevent him from getting Hermia's love. He is to anyone that has not experienced his situation, a foolish and evil man. However those that experienced his situation before knows very well that he is doing everything in a logical manner, at least logical to himself. What's the world when one's love is gone. --The world would have become an empty place to rot in when one's love is gone.-- Perhaps that is what Demetrius is thinking then.
It is quite a huge change in Demetrius from Act 1 scene 1 to Act 2 scene 1. As the situation changes, Demetrius is put in a desperate position, highly likely of losing Hermia forever. He then thinks of desperate measures, not like the Demetrius in Act 1 scene 1. He changes from a passive mode to an active mode. He decides not to take any more chances that he might lose Hermia. He decides to take action and matters to himself. That is the change in Demetrius.
1. After Titania 'forsworn (Oberon's) bed and company':
• ‘Contagious fogs which, falling in the land’ refers to the air being poisoned by their quarrel.
• ‘Hath every pelting river made so proud That they have overborne their continents’ refers to the flooding of land.
• ‘The ploughman lost his sweat and the green corn’ means that the crops are destroyed due to bad weather conditions.
• ‘The fold stands empty in the drowned field,’ refers to the extent of damage caused by the rain.
• ‘Therefore the moon, the governess of floods,’ refers to the high tide that ruined the land.
• ‘And thorought his distemperature we see’ means upset of weather due to their quarrel.
In other words, due to the quarrel between Titania and Oberon, nature patterns were upset and disasters befall the heads of mortal.
2. Titania's words 'We are their parents and original.' means that she and Oberon are the creators of nature and responsible for any changes to nature. If the fight between them persists, the nature conditions will worsens, which is bad for the people.
3. Just like in Act 1 Scene 1, here, Demetrius remained unappreciative of Helena’s devotion. He even tried to insult her and threaten her with isolation ‘And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts’ and death ‘But I shall do thee mischief in the woods.’ even when Helena had so much faith in him ‘For you in my respect are all the world’.
Esther Wong
3BN
1.Ever since Titania forsworn Oberon's bede and company, many disasters have struck the world of man. Titania says'These are the forgeries of jealously...and this same progeny of evils come'.This tells us that Oberon and Titania's relationship will affect nature,climate,causing inconvenience and unhappiness to humans.Therefore, harmony between Oberon and titania helps to ensure the peace and stability of the human world.
2. This means that Titania and Oberon are given the responsibility to maintain the human world.As they quarrel,they neglect the human world, causing many disasters to happen. Titania is also indirectly trying to hint to oberon to stop going on like that and wants him to make the first move.
3.I feel that demetrius has become more insensitive. He directly rejects HElena, telling her'for i am sick when i look on thee'.Not only does he not reciprocate Helena's kindintentions, he tells her off and asks her to leave.'hence get thee gone and follow me no more!'He also threatens to 'do thee mischief in the wood' and 'leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts'.He is not concerned about helena's safety as love as "blinded" him to have a clear perspective of other things and is very rash. However, he is still the same determned Demetrius desperate for Hermia's love.
wenyuan3BN
1.the argument between Oberon and Titania sparked off many natural disasters in both the world of fairies and wolrd of man.complications arose and there is much disorder and chaos in the preceding chapters.the world of man has turned into a topsy-turvy one and this reinforces the link between the fairies and the humans.
2.Titania mos probably meant that the world belonged to Oberon and her and that they were the ones who 'made' the world.eveything will go wrong and aginst nature once they fall out with each other.
3.Demetrius is rather harsh towards Helena in this chapter and he tells her to stop following him and to leave him alone.i think that he has changed.from what we see from Act 1,Demetrius is a gentleman of high qualifications but now,he's turned into a rude,rash and also cruel person.the unwanted circumstances he faces in love has indeed changed his personality and character.
Post a Comment