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sitar player sends music pulsing through the action. Titania swans down from the sky in chiffon. One pair of lovers is gay. There is a touch of George Formby and a nod to David Bowie. There are matted-hair fairies and a roller-skating eunuch. When Oberon casts his spell on the Fairy Queen, he seems to rape her.

In her first production as artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, Emma Rice has thrown down a glittering gauntlet. The former chief of Kneehigh has also instantly dispelled the anxiety of some admirers - me among them - that her background in movement and visual theatre would mean that words got short shrift. Her A Midsummer Night's Dream is noticeably well spoken. It is sometimes over-energetic, but it is a glory. And an important one. The Globe is a beacon. It brings new audiences to intricate dramas.

I have never seen the Pyramus and Thisbe playlet made so funny. Or so revealing

There is nothing wispy about Rice's magic. It is disruptive, unnerving, highly comic. It cracks the surface of normality and lets hallucination and truth escape hand in hand. Dirty fairies dance around their Queen's flowery bed as if they had pushed their way up through the soil. Performance artist Meow Meow makes Titania a vision of sylvan sexiness - and provides a high-grade comic turn as, rushing to go to bed with Bottom - she gets in an extended tangle with her tights. Her Oberon is played by Zubin Varla with a glowering control worthy of The Archers' Rob. He even delivers "I know a bank" as a threat.

Tanika Gupta's dramaturgy has paid off in unswerving clarity. The lovers, who are not "Athenians" but "Hoxton hipsters", are unusually forceful, with Anjana Vasan an especially funky Hermia. The gender switch, which makes Helena into Helenus, gives an added dimension to Demetrius's reluctance to admit to his love and an added sweetness to their coming together.

Meow Meow (Titania) and Ewan Wardrop (Bottom), centre, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

There is some overdone larkiness from the mechanicals at the beginning, but I have never seen the Pyramus and Thisbe playlet made so funny. Or so revealing. The performers take their bow in a blissfully surreal lineup. Moon is in a spacesuit and helmet holding a balloon. Wall peeps out of a sandwich board made of cereal packets. Lion has pink leggings and a mane made of yellow Marigolds. It is as if they have cobbled together their own version of fairyland. Above the stage, Shakespeare's words float in red neon: "Rock the ground." It rocks.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is at Shakespeare's Globe until 11 September

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A Midsummer Night's Dream review - the wildest of dreams

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sitar player sends music pulsing through the action. Titania swans down from the sky in chiffon. One pair of lovers is gay. There is a touch of George Formby and a nod to David Bowie. There are matted-hair fairies and a roller-skating eunuch. When Oberon casts his spell on the Fairy Queen, he seems to rape her.

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The review of the theatre adaptation I watched that allowed me to observe the man playing as Oberon and Theseus, allowing me to see their different movements, actions towards other characters, how they speak compare to one another, and most importantly the differences and similarities with one another.

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TL;DR (may contain spoilers): People get lost in the woods. Puck manipulates their romantic affections and (in one case) anatomical head-shape. They put on a play.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Summary

Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry.

More detail: 3 minute read
Act I

As Duke Theseus prepares for his marriage to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, he is interrupted by a courtier, Egeus. Egeus asks for the Duke to intervene in a dispute. His daughter, Hermia, will not agree to marry Demetrius (whom Egeus has chosen for her) because she loves a gentleman named Lysander. The Duke asks Hermia to be obedient to her father. He offers her one of two options: she must either die or accept a celibate life as a nun in Diana's temple.

Royal Shakespeare Company, 1994

Naturally upset with the offer, Lysander and Hermia plan to elope and share their secret with Helena, Hermia's friend. Helena is desperately in love with Demetrius, who seems to have abandoned her in favour of Hermia. At night, Lysander and Hermia escape from Athens; but they soon lose their way in the woods. After Helena tells him of their intention to defy the law, Demetrius decides to follow the lovers into the woods. In turn, Helena follows Demetrius in the hope that he will give up on Hermia and choose her instead.

Meanwhile, a group of working men are preparing a play of the tragic love-story of Pyramus and Thisbe to present before the Duke Theseus on his wedding day. Nick Bottom, the weaver, is to play the lover Pyramus, while Flute, the bellows-mender, begrudgingly agrees to play Thisbe.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1 Scene 1

Act II

Nearby, Oberon - King of the Fairies-has recently quarrelled with his queen, Titania. She acquired a magical child from one of her waiting women, and now refuses to hand him over to Oberon to use as a page. Oberon begins to plot a way to get revenge on Titania for her disobedience. He sends his fairy servant, Puck, to fetch a purple flower with juice that makes people fall in love with the next creature they see.

Afterwards, Oberon overhears Helena and Demetrius arguing in the forest. Oberon hears Demetrius mistreat Helena and tells Puck to anoint 'the Athenian', so Demetrius will fall in love with the first person that he sees. Puck mistakes the Athenian and puts the flower juice on the eyes of the sleeping Lysander. When he is woken by Helena, he immediately falls in love with her and rejects Hermia. When Demetrius rests, Oberon puts magic juice on his eyes, which makes him fall in love with Helena as well.

Painting of Titania and Bottom by E. Landseer

Want to test your knowledge? Have a go at our multiple choice A Midsummer Night's Dream Quiz

Act III

The workers' rehearsals in the wood are overheard by Puck, who plays a trick on them by giving Bottom an ass's head. After frightening the others away, Bottom is lured towards the sleeping Titania whom Oberon has anointed with Puck's magic flower juice. On waking, the fairy queen falls in love with the ass and entertains him with her fairies.

The course of true love never did run smooth.
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1 Scene 1

Meanwhile, Demetrius and Lysander, still under the spell of the flower juice, pursue Helena. Hermia is jealous and confused about the lack of attention paid to her. Oberon and Puck watch the chaos, and Oberon commands Puck to put it right again. The lovers' arguments have tired them all out as they have chased one another through the woods. Puck eventually distracts the two men from their pursuit of Helena by impersonating their voices, and they get lost in the woods. The four lovers fall asleep, exhausted. Puck places restorative juice on Lysander's eyes.

Act IV

Ellen Terry as Puck, 1856

After an afternoon of being pampered by Titania's fairies, Bottom falls asleep beside her. Oberon restores Titania's sight and wakes her (thank goodness). After expressing her dismay at the sight of Bottom, she reconciles with Oberon, and she ends up giving him the little Indian prince for his page. Bottom's ass head is removed, and he returns to the city to rejoin his friends as they prepare to perform their play. The lovers are woken by Theseus and Hippolyta's hunting party. Lysander sees Hermia and falls in love with her once again.

Act V

Happily reunited (Lysander with Hermia and Demetrius with Helena), they agree to share the Duke's wedding day. The play of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' is presented before the wedding guests. As the three couples retire to bed, Puck and the fairies return to bless the palace and its people.

Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1 Scene 1

For additional reading, see our blogs on A Midsummer Night's Dream

Discover poetic love lines from A Midsummer Night's Dream and other plays by visiting Shakespeare Quotes on Love

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TL;DR (may contain spoilers): People get lost in the woods. Puck manipulates their romantic affections and (in one case) anatomical head-shape. They put on a play. Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl.

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This source has helped me by explaining in a shorter yet simpler detail the story of Shakepeare's original play of A Midsummer Night's Dream, allowing me to undertsand the context of the play to gain a more in depth look at my own characters and how I can portray them within the play. Furthermore this ellaborates on the changes we've made on our variation of the production as aposed to the original source, for example, we are taking a more modern twist with the play by taking it into modern day Wales, creating more Welsh culture into the story along with our how our characters can act depending on where they might be from, another thing we've changed is adding in elements of LGBTQ+ by double casting a male for the role of Helena and thus creating the character Helenus who still will end up with Demetrius by the end of the show.

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William Shakespeare: A biography

Since William Shakespeare lived more than 400 years ago, and many records from that time are lost or never existed in the first place, we don't know everything about Shakespeare's life. For example, we know that he was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon, 100 miles northwest of London, on April 26, 1564. But we don't know his exact birthdate, which must have been a few days earlier.

We do know that Shakespeare's life revolved around two locations: Stratford and London. He grew up, had a family, and bought property in Stratford, but he worked in London, the center of English theater. As an actor, a playwright, and a partner in a leading acting company, he became both prosperous and well-known. Even without knowing everything about his life, fans of Shakespeare have imagined and reimagined him according to their own tastes.

Looking for more in-depth information? Need something you can cite? Read an essay about Shakespeare's life from the Folger Shakespeare Editions. Read essay

Early life: Birth and childhood

William Shakespeare was probably born on about April 23, 1564, the date that is traditionally given for his birth. He was John and Mary Shakespeare's oldest surviving child; their first two children, both girls, did not live beyond infancy. Growing up as the big brother of the family, William had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund, and two younger sisters: Anne, who died at seven, and Joan.

Their father, John Shakespeare, was a leatherworker who specialized in the soft white leather used for gloves and similar items. A prosperous businessman, he married Mary Arden, of the prominent Arden family. John rose through local offices in Stratford, becoming an alderman and eventually, when William was five, the town bailiff-much like a mayor. Not long after that, however, John Shakespeare stepped back from public life; we don't know why.

Shakespeare, as the son of a leading Stratford citizen, almost certainly attended Stratford's grammar school. Like all such schools, its curriculum consisted of an intense emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays. Shakespeare most likely attended until about age 15.

A horn book in the Folger collection, similar to one that Shakespeare might have learned to read from

Marriage (to Anne Hathaway) and children

A few years after he left school, in late 1582, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. She was already expecting their first-born child, Susanna, which was a fairly common situation at the time. When they married, Anne was 26 and William was 18. Anne grew up just outside Stratford in the village of Shottery. After marrying, she spent the rest of her life in Stratford.

In early 1585, the couple had twins, Judith and Hamnet, completing the family. In the years ahead, Anne and the children lived in Stratford while Shakespeare worked in London, although we don't know when he moved there. Some later observers have suggested that this separation, and the couple's relatively few children, were signs of a strained marriage, but we do not know that, either. Someone pursuing a theater career had no choice but to work in London, and many branches of the Shakespeares had small families.

Shakespeare's only son, Hamnet, died in 1596 at the age of 11. His older daughter Susanna later married a well-to-do Stratford doctor, John Hall. Their daughter Elizabeth, Shakespeare's first grandchild, was born in 1608. In 1616, just months before his death, Shakespeare's daughter Judith married Thomas Quiney, a Stratford vintner. The family subsequently died out, leaving no direct descendants of Shakespeare.

London theater

For several years after the birth of Judith and Hamnet in 1585, nothing is known for certain of Shakespeare's activities: how he earned a living, when he moved from Stratford, or how he got his start in the theater.

Following this gap in the record, the first definite mention of Shakespeare is in 1592 as an established London actor and playwright, mocked by a contemporary as a "Shake-scene." The same writer alludes to one of Shakespeare's earliest history plays, Henry VI, Part 3, which must already have been performed. The next year, in 1593, Shakespeare published a long poem, Venus and Adonis. The first quarto editions of his early plays appeared in 1594.

For more than two decades, Shakespeare had multiple roles in the London theater as an actor, playwright, and, in time, a business partner in a major acting company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (renamed the King's Men in 1603). Over the years, he became steadily more famous in the London theater world; his name, which was not even listed on the first quartos of his plays, became a regular feature-clearly a selling point-on later title pages.

Final years and death

Shakespeare prospered financially from his partnership in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men), as well as from his writing and acting. He invested much of his wealth in real-estate purchases in Stratford and bought the second-largest house in town, New Place, in 1597.

Among the last plays that Shakespeare worked on was The Two Noble Kinsmen, which he wrote with a frequent collaborator, John Fletcher, most likely in 1613. He died on April 23, 1616-the traditional date of his birthday, though his precise birthdate is unknown. We also do not know the cause of his death. His brother-in-law had died a week earlier, which could imply infectious disease, but Shakespeare's health may have had a longer decline.

The memorial bust of Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford is considered one of two authentic likenesses, because it was approved by people who knew him. The other such likeness is the engraving by Martin Droeshout in the 1623 First Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays, produced seven years after his death by his friends and colleagues from the King's Men.

Timeline

View a timeline of Shakespeare's life with links to key supporting documents on Shakespeare Documented.
View timeline

The bust of Shakespeare in the Folger Reading Room is a copy of the statue at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Shakespeare leave his wife his "second best bed"?

William Shakespeare wrote in his last will and testament, dated March 25, 1616, "Item I gyve unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture" (furniture is used to refer to the curtains and bedcover which formed part of the complete bed).

This was not an unusual bequest, nor was it likely to have been intended as a snub. The best bed was usually regarded as an heirloom piece, to be passed to the heir rather than the spouse. It is also probable that the best bed would have been reserved for guests, meaning the "second best" was the bed that William and Anne shared.

What did Shakespeare's son die of?

We don't really know how Shakespeare's young son Hamnet died. He had a twin sister named Judith, who lived to adulthood and married, but Hamnet died at the age of 11 and a half. Child mortality was high in the 16th century; there were no antibiotics and many childhood diseases might therefore prove fatal, such as scarlet fever, whooping cough, diphtheria, and even measles. He was buried on August 11, 1596.

What is the inscription on Shakespeare's grave?

GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,
TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE:
BLESTE BE Ye [the] MAN Yt [that] SPARES THES STONES,
AND CURST BE HE Yt [that] MOVES MY BONES.

Did Shakespeare have a coat of arms?

Yes, William's father, John Shakespeare, was granted a coat of arms in 1596. It was disputed in 1602 by York Herald, Ralph Brooke, saying that the arms were too similar to existing coats of arms, and that the family was unworthy. However, the challenge was unsuccessful, as the Shakespeare coat of arms appears in later heraldic collections and on William Shakespeare's funeral monument in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Does Shakespeare have descendants?

William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway had three children. The eldest, Susanna, was baptized on May 26, 1583, and married John Hall in 1607. They had one child, Elizabeth, in 1608. Elizabeth was married twice, to Thomas Nash in 1626, and to John Bernard in 1649. However, she had no children by either husband.

William and Anne also had twins, Judith and Hamnet, who were baptized on February 2, 1585. Hamnet died at age 11 and a half. Judith married Thomas Quiney in 1616, and the couple had three sons: Shakespeare Quiney, who died in infancy, and Richard and Thomas, who both died in 1639 within a month of each other. Since neither of the boys married, there is no possibility of any legitimate descendants from Shakespeare's line.

It is possible, however, to claim a relationship to Shakespeare through his sister, Joan. She married William Hart some time before 1600, and there are many descendants of this marriage alive today, in both the male and female lines.

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Shakespeare's life | Folger Shakespeare Library

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Learn about Shakespeare's life and family: birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, marriage to Anne Hathaway and their children, work in London theaters, and death.

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This article talks about the life of William Shakespeare, born around 1564 on April 23 (A rough estimate made by historians as we are unsure of the exact date of his birth) with his home being in Stratford with his Father and Mother John and Mary Shakespeare, along with three younger brothers Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund, and two younger sisters Anne, who died at seven, and Joan. Making him the oldest and most promising of the five.

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By knowing the life of the famous bard himself I've come to understand where he grew up and the time period he lived through, knowign that he went to a literature school up until the age of 16 has helped me realise that he wasn't always a man of the arts, starting our from humble beginnings like any other actor and slowly building up his name and marking his name into history forever. It was interesting to find this out about the man, along with being quite helpful in my research as it gives me more insight to how people precieved theatre and the arts itself back in those days, learning about the context of the Elizabethen era and understanding this man's inspiration for theatre in order to understand my own thoughts about the play and how to portray an old character such as Obeorn or Theseus in a modern day world.

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At the beginning of the 16th century many plays were based upon religious themes. These were called 'morality plays' and showed good and bad conduct. Others, called 'miracle plays' showed scenes from the Bible.

The main exception to this were the plays put on by wandering groups of actors, known as 'strolling players'. The plays put on by these groups were often far from religious and the authorities tried to ban them.

The themes of plays changed during Elizabeth's reign and English playwrights began to write comedies and tragedies . By the end of her reign playwrights such as Marlowe, Johnson and Shakespeare were writing the plays for which they are now famous.

As the watching of plays became more popular, theatres were built instead of using the courtyards of inns. The popularity of stage plays led to the building of the Rose , Swan and Globe Theatres in London between 1587 and 1598.

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The Elizabethan theatre - Popular entertainment - WJEC - GCSE History Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize

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Learn and revise about popular entertainment during Elizabeth I's reign WJEC GCSE History Unit 1 Elizabethan Age with BBC Bitesize.

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With this source I've been able to learn more about theatre and the overall entertainment industry back in the Elizabethan era, reading over the rules and points of view both for and against theatres aorund London, on one hand most people quite enjoyed the shows and variety of different strange performances played at places such as the Shakespeare's Globe theatre where they would spend the morning, afternoon or evening laughing smiling and enjoying their time. On the other hand however, very religious people turned their noses up at theatre because they believed it to be a work of the devil that tempts people to sin or act out as ungodly creatures of the damned. This type of information ha helped me gain an understanding about how the theatre worked within those times, that it was not only filled with a variety of strange things held within each play but also how it has evolved over time and become something that nealry everyone can enjoy no matter who you are! Taking those feelings of joy and curiosity and adding it into my portrayal of Oberon and Theseus.

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Newsround's Ricky Boleto and Leah Gooding explore Shakespeare's theatre by visiting Shakespeare's Globe, the reconstruction in London of the theatre Shakespeare helped to pay for.

Newsround's Ricky Boleto and Leah Gooding explore Shakespeare's theatre by visiting Shakespeare's Globe, the reconstruction in London of the theatre Shakespeare himself helped to pay for when it was built in 1599.

They learn that, just like today, Elizabethan audiences wanted to be amazed by special effects and that ghosts and devils could appear from trapdoors hidden in the stage; or Titania, Queen of the Fairies, could descend magically from another door in the stage's ceiling. They also find out about Shakespeare's audience - from the groundlings or penny stinkards who had to stand in the area called the pit, to the rich who could sit in special decorated boxes.

We also find out that women didn't act in Shakespeare's time and that all the women's parts had to be played by men - to find out how, Ricky is transformed into a Tudor woman!

Contributors include Michael Rosen, Farah Karim-Copper, Callum Coates and Patrick Spottiswoode, and the film includes engaging performance extracts from Globe Education's Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank.

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BBC Two - i.am.Will Shakespeare, Shakespeare's theatre

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Newsround's Ricky Boleto and Leah Gooding explore Shakespeare's theatre by visiting Shakespeare's Globe, the reconstruction in London of the theatre Shakespeare helped to pay for. Newsround's Ricky Boleto and Leah Gooding explore Shakespeare's theatre by visiting Shakespeare's Globe, the reconstruction in London of the theatre Shakespeare himself helped to pay for when it was built in 1599.

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Here I was able to watch a video describing the history of the globe theatre and how it was built as a very unique theatre as it held no seats or a roof, furthermore with the information it gave me, I learned about how actors would dress up for their shows; how men would dress up as women in case they had as women were never allowed to be apart of a theatre production during those times. This gives me an insight on not only some of the social laws they had back in those days, but possibly how theatre's and the creative industries were run back those times as well.

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Theseus and Hippolyta appear in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, but who are they? Find out in our character analysis.

Theseus, Duke of Athens

Theseus is presented as a fair and well-liked leader. He is in love with Hippolyta and is excited to marry her. However, he does agree to enforce the law where Hermia is concerned and agrees with Egeus her father that she should obey his wishes or face death. "To you your father should be a god" (Act 1 Scene 1, Line 47).

This reinforces the idea that the men are in control and make the decisions, however, he does give her a chance to consider her options:

THESEUS
Either to die the death or to abjure
For ever the society of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires;
Know of your youth, examine well your blood,
Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,
You can endure the livery of a nun,
For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,
To live a barren sister all your life,
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.
Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood,
To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;
But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd,
Than that which withering on the virgin thorn
Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness.
(Act 1 Scene 1)

In giving Hermia time, Theseus allows fate and unknowingly the fairies to intervene in order that Hermia gets her way and can marry Lysander. At the end of the play, he urges Egeus to listen to the lover's story before acting and demonstrates his even hand in this.

Theseus shows he is fair and patient again at his nuptials when Egeus warns him of the mechanical's play

No, my noble lord;
It is not for you: I have heard it over,
And it is nothing, nothing in the world;
Unless you can find sport in their intents,
Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain,
To do you service.
(Act 5 Scene 1, Line 77)

Theseus demonstrates his sense of humor and graciousness when he welcomes Bottom and his friends to show their play. He urges the nobles to take the play for what it is and see the humor in its awfulness:

The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
Our sport shall be to take what they mistake:
And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
Takes it in might, not merit.
Where I have come, great clerks have purposed
To greet me with premeditated welcomes;
Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,
Make periods in the midst of sentences,
Throttle their practised accent in their fears
And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,
Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,
Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome;
And in the modesty of fearful duty
I read as much as from the rattling tongue
Of saucy and audacious eloquence.
Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity
In least speak most, to my capacity.
(Act 5 Scene 1, Line 89-90).

Theseus goes on to make funny comments throughout the play and revels in its ineptitude demonstrating his fairness and sense of humor.

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons

Betrothed to Theseus, Hippolyta is very much in love with her husband to be and is very much looking forward to their imminent wedding. "Four days will quickly steep themselves in night, Four nights will quickly dream away the time; And then the moon, like to a silver bow New bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities" (Act 1 Scene 1, Line 7-11).

She, like her husband, is fair and allows Bottom's play to go ahead despite being warned of its inappropriate nature. She warms to the mechanicals and is entertained by them, joking along with Theseus about the play and its characters "Methinks she should not use a long one for such a Pyramus. I hope she will be brief". (Act 5 Scene 1, Line 311-312).

This demonstrates Hippolyta's good qualities as a leader and shows her to be a good match for Theseus.

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Who Are Theseus and Hippolyta in 'Midsummer Night's Dream'?

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Theseus and Hippolyta appear in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream , but who are they? Find out in our character analysis. Theseus is presented as a fair and well-liked leader. He is in love with Hippolyta and is excited to marry her.

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The website linked gave me access to the relationship between Hippolyta and Theseus within the play, along with who they are and what status they hold over the other characters within the play. Knowing this has helped me define not only the kind of relationship these characters have together, but has also given me inspiration on how me and Rebecca's version of these characters have developed their relationship and how they act towards with one another, building a story between them and thus creating our own characters in the process both story and personality wise.

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List of Shakespeare's plays by genre.

The groups below are the classification of Shakespeare's plays according to the First Folio, a collection of 36 of Shakespeare's plays published in 1623 by his colleagues. Since the interpretations of the plays change through the centuries, you might see them grouped differently in other places. An additional group, 'problem plays', has sometimes been used to categorise All's Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure and Troilus and Cressida.

Click on a play to find summaries, dates and sources, past RSC productions (images and videos), education resources and famous quotes.

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Tragedies, comedies and histories | Royal Shakespeare Company

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A list of all Shakespeare's plays by genre: comedies, tragedies & histories, with links to in-depth information, from plot synopses to famous scenes.

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Reading this article has helped me further understand how a Shakespeare comedy works within both old and modern times, picking out what made them so funny to other people back in the 16th-17th century and then putting a more modern twist on it. Learning this has helped my comedic timing of the play alongside my reactions, knowing the jokes within some of the lines and telling which scenes/lines are more serious then others might be, this article has overall helped me understand the basics of comedy for a Shakespeare play.

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The characters of Oberon and Titania play an essential role in " A Midsummer Night's Dream." Here, we take an in-depth look at each character so we can better understand what makes them tick as a couple.

When we first meet Oberon and Titania, the pair is arguing over a changeling boy-Oberon wants to use him as a knight, but Titania is infatuated by him and will not give him up. Oberon is powerful, but Titania appears to be just as headstrong, and they seem equally matched.

However, as a result of this impasse, Oberon vows to exact revenge on Titania. Because of this, he can be considered quite spiteful:

"Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this groveTill I torment thee for this injury."
(Oberon; Act 2, Scene 1; Lines 151-152)

Oberon asks Puck to fetch a special flower that, when rubbed on a sleeper's eyes, has the ability to make that person fall in love with the first creature he or she sees upon waking. His goal is for Titania to fall in love with something ridiculous and embarrass her into releasing the boy. Though Oberon is angry, the prank is quite harmless and humorous in its intent. He loves her and wants to have her all to himself again.

Consequently, Titania falls in love with Bottom, who at this point has a donkey's head instead of his own. Oberon eventually feels guilty about this and reverses the magic, demonstrating his mercy:

"Her dotage now I do begin to pity."
(Oberon; Act 3, Scene 3; Line 48)

Earlier in the play, Oberon also shows compassion when he sees Helena being scorned by Demetrius and orders Puck to anoint his eyes with the potion so that Helena can be loved:

"A sweet Athenian lady is in loveWith a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes,But do it when the next thing he espiesMay be the lady. Thou shalt know the manBy the Athenian garments he hath on.Effect it with some care, that he may proveMore fond of her than she upon her love."
(Oberon; Act 2, Scene 1; Lines 268-274)​

Of course, Puck ultimately gets things wrong, but Oberon's intentions are good. Plus, he is responsible for everyone's happiness at the end of the play.

Titania is principled and strong enough to stand up to her husband (in a similar way to how Hermia stands up to Egeus). She has made a promise to look after the little Indian boy and doesn't want to break it:

"Set your heart at rest:The Fairyland buys not the child of me.His mother was a vot'ress of my order,And in the spiced Indian air by nightFull often hath she gossiped by my side......But she, being mortal, of that boy did die,And for her sake I do rear up her boy,And for her sake I will not part with him."
(Titania; Act 2, Scene 1; Lines 125-129, 140-142)

Unfortunately, Titania is made to look foolish by her jealous husband when she is made to fall in love with the ridiculous Bottom with a donkey's head. Still, she is very attentive to Bottom and proves herself to be a kind and forgiving lover:

"Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes;Feed him with apricots and dewberries,With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighsAnd light them at the fiery glowworms' eyesTo have my love to bed, and to arise;And pluck the wings from painted butterfliesTo fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies."
(Titania; Act 3, Scene 1; Line 170-180)

Eventually, as Titania is intoxicated with the love potion, she gives the changeling boy to Oberon and the Fairy King gets his way.

Oberon and Titania Together

Oberon and Titania are the only characters in the play who have been together for an extended time. With their grievances and tricks, they act as a contrast to the other couples who are still absorbed in the passion and intensity of new relationships. Unlike those individuals just trying to find their partner, their troubles are rooted in the difficulties of maintaining an established relationship.

They may have taken each other for granted with their opening argument. The removal of the love potion, however, shows Oberon's compassion as well as sparks' realization in Titania. Perhaps she has neglected her husband somewhat, and this recent escapade may renew their passion as they exit together:

"Now thou and I are new in amity."
(Titania; Act 4, Scene 1; Line 91)

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The characters of Oberon and Titania play an essential role in " A Midsummer Night's Dream." Here, we take an in-depth look at each character so we can better understand what makes them tick as a couple.

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Puck & Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Study.com

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Puck and Oberon are fairies who manipulate other characters in Shakespeare’s ″A Midsummer Night’s Dream″ with magic. This lesson looks at the...

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The analysis in this article like the previous one has given me information not only on who Oberon and Titania are as characters, but also their relationship with each other throughout the play, explaining how they are arguing over the changeling child implying that they might have a rivalry with one another depending on how long this might have been going on. Furthermore the third article talks about Oberon's relationship with his right hand man Puck and how they are the only fairy we see who is on Oberon's side within this conflict, along with how they do his dirty work and follow orders down to the letter. This has helped me once more by assisting in my characterisation work by working with both Rebecca and Amber (Titania and Puck) to discuss on how our versions of these characters might have met, act towards one another, and overall their relationships with each other.

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These articles have given me insight on the history of fairies within the Elizabethan era and how Shakespeare had changed their viewpoints on them, as fairies were seen as monstrous creatures of an unholy nature told sometimes steal babies from their homes and replace them with changelings in their place, who's origins are unknown but are still considered very dangerous. However Shakespeare changed that when he made A Midsummer Night's Dream, and made fairies out to be playful creatures who merely liked to play pranks on humans whilst still retaining innocence and magic to their nature, this has helped in my progression of the show as it gives me insight on how fairies act with one another, being quite curious creatures of the mortal realm and sometimes even playing around with humans for either helpful intentions, or for their own amusement.

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These are notes I've taken and learnt from to not only learn about the of the historical context of the Elizabethan era, but also the social status of the time and how certain people spoke. This helped me in my characterisation for Oberon and Theseus as since they are regal's then I know to speak in rhyming verse, as people of high class in show's would speak in that type of verse.

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was the name of different in Greek mythology, the most important being the ruler of in the myth of . He was married to , with whom he had seven children. Along with his sister , they were descendants of and the .

In the myth of , ascended to the throne of , when the previous king died on his journey to the oracle of . The mythical monster went close to the city of Thebes, killing anyone it would meet that could not answer its riddles. Creon, being desperate about the monster that plagued the area, offered the Theban throne and his sister's hand in marriage to anyone who would be able to kill it. Oedipus managed to answer the ' riddle, causing its demise, and married , not knowing that she was his mother.

Creon also appears in another myth, that of . Oedipus' sons, and , shared the throne of Thebes, but after a fight, was exiled. The defeated brother returned with an army and attacked Thebes in the storyline of Seven Against Thebes. Although Thebes did not fall, both and Polynices died in the conflict, and Creon became the new ruler. Eteocles was buried with full honour, but Polynices was left to rot for punishment of turning against the city. , sister of Polynices and the beloved of Creon's son, secretly buried her brother, causing the wrath of Creon; he decreed that she be buried in a tomb alive. Later, having a change of heart after his son's plea, Creon decided to free Antigone, only to find her having taken her own life by hanging herself. Haemon, Creon's son, in despair, initially threatened to kill his father but eventually took his own life.

See Also: Eurydice, Oedipus, Jocasta, Antigone, Polynices, Eteocles, Haemon

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was the name of different in Greek mythology, the most important being the ruler of in the myth of . He was married to , with whom he had seven children. Along with his sister , they were descendants of and the .

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This fictional leader is an example of someone who would take charge and lead his people, as someone who has played Lord Creon in Antigone I used him for inspiration for playing out Oberon specifically as I believed that he had the type of characteristics that could fit my version of the fairy king. However after some testing on my own, I found out quickly that Creon is way too much of a battle strategist to be Lord Oberon.

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Kings and Queens of England & Britain - Historic UK

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A full list of the Kings and Queens of England and Britain, with portraits and photos.

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This article talks about different kings and queen's throughout British history, ones who ruled for either long or short period's of their own era's in history, this has allowed me to skim through some pf the monarch's and see if any of them had either certain character traits to fit my own version of Oberon's personality, or possibly any instances where they might have been as vengeful or cunning as Oberon had been towards Titania. However sadly on my search and after some more experimenting I haven't felt like these monarchs are fitting my version of Oberon, as most of them seem too regal for my own tastes.

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Jack Sparrow, a legendary pirate in the Caribbean area and the Seven Seas, is always in search of treasures.

He was one of the worst pirate lords because he was dishonest. His first love was the sea, and his second was his beloved ship, Black Pearl.

He was a captain of dubious morality, and a master of self-promotion and self-interest when it comes to silver and gold. It always looked like he was going to do something audacious or say something incredibly stupid. No one could never predict what he would do next. Jack Sparrow always used to say, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy". It was a term used as a synonym for "wisdom" or "understanding." It relates to shrewdness and intelligence. Often those two traits helped him prevail over the adversaries.

John Ward was the real pirate whose inspiration, Captain Jack Sparrow's character, was based in the movie 'The Pirates Of The Caribbean'. Ward's nickname was 'Sparrow,' and he was known for the same striking style as Jack Sparrow. Jack Sparrow was a genius and extremely lucky most of the time. He was astute, intelligent, witty, and all his plans were executed thoughtfully, and he was fearless.

Read along to find the most iconic Jack Sparrow quotes from Disney 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' series. Make sure you also check out our articles on ['Pirates Of The Caribbean' quotes] and [Pirate quotes] as you finish with this one.

Best Quotes From Jack Sparrow

Captain Jack Sparrow is the protagonist of the film series 'The Pirates Of The Caribbean' from Disney, played by the legendary actor, Johnny Depp. He is a pirate captain who is at the helm of affairs of the Black Pearl, which he regains in the Curse of the Black Pearl. His actions often border on either madness or brilliance. He always likes to get things done his way. Below are the best quotes by Jack Sparrow and more from the pirate lord.

1. "This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow."

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

2. "Why fight when you can negotiate."

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'.

3. "Wherever we want to go, we'll go."

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

4. "If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

5. "Mr. Gibbs: Curse you for breathin' ya slack-jawed idiot. Mother's love. Jack. You should know better than to wake a man when he's sleepin'. Its bad luck.

Jack Sparrow: Fortunately, I know how to counter it; the man who did the waking buys the man who was sleeping a drink; the man who was sleeping drinks it while listening to a proposition from the man who did the waking."

- 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

6. "I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

Funny Jack Sparrow Quotes

Captain Jack Sparrow is an intelligent captain who is at the helm of the black pearl. It is remarkable how often he outwitted others. For information, he prefers to attain his goals by way using his words rather than force. That is his way of doing things and it somehow keeps on working throughout the adventures of this pirate lord. Read along for more funny captain Jack Sparrow quotes.

7. "My spirit will live on."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

8. "Not all treasure is gold and silver mate."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

9. "When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

10. "Nobody moves! I dropped my brain."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

11. "Face is familiar, have I threatened you before?"

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

12. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. The original. The only!"

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

13. "Take what you can, give nothing back."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

14. "One-word love, curiosity."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

15. "Crazy people don't know they are crazy. I know I am crazy therefore I am not crazy, isn't that crazy?"

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

16. "I wash my hands of this weirdness."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

17. "Did no one come to save me just because they missed me?"

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

18. "Did everyone see that? Because I will not be doing it again."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

Best Jack Sparrow Quotes

Jack Sparrow quotes from 'The Pirates Of The Caribbean' are enjoyed by audience of all ages. People want to watch the movie just because of this character. The films are full of adventures, memorable moments, and life lesson as well. Here are some of the best Pirates of the Caribbean movie quotes for you to enjoy.

19. "Better to not know which moment may be your last alive to be the mystery of it all."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

20. "You may kill me, but you might never insult me."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

21. "The world is still the same, there is just less in it."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

22. "The only rules that matter are these: What a man can do and what a man can't do."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

23. "Close your eyes and pretend it's all a bad dream. That's how I get by."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

24. "The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?"

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

25. "The seas may be rough, but I am the Captain! No matter how difficult I will always prevail."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

26. "You've stolen me and I'm here to take myself back."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

27. "My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are troubled."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

28. "If you choose to lock your heart away, you will lose it for certain."

- Captain Jack Sparrow.

29. "Will Turner: This is either madness...or brilliance.

Jack Sparrow:It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide."

- 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

30. "Will Turner: That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure.

Jack Sparrow: Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."

- 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

31. "Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid."

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'.

32. "Why is the rum always gone?"

- Captain Jack Sparrow, 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Jack Sparrow quotes from 'Pirates Of The Caribbean', then why not take a look at [Narnia quotes] [short Harry Potter quotes].

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32 Most Iconic Jack Sparrow From The Worst Pirate You've Ever Heard Of

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Jack Sparrow, a legendary pirate in the Caribbean area and the Seven Seas, is always in search of treasures. He was one of the worst pirate lords because he was dishonest. His first love was the sea, and his second was his beloved ship, Black Pearl.

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Captain Jack Sparrow, Radical Leading Man - Pirates of the Caribbean

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The website and YouTube video are references to the greatest moments of the legendary fictional pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, showing off his feats cunning, daring actions, selfless deeds, and overall some situations where he's been able to make it out alive and or on top. These article's have helped me in my devising of Oberon by giving me inspiration of some of his feats, I've chosen him specifically because despite him not being of a regal nature, he shares the same care free and cunning traits that I see for my adaptation of Oberon. From the way he walks with a slight sway in his body, to how his voice is always quite calm yet seems like he's always planning something, furthermore he always seems to be able to get what he desires if he so wants it enough which makes me think about Oberon wanting Titania's changeling child.

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1. Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon (604-562 B.C.)

The granddaddy of all mad kings is King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler whose first-person account of a seven-year descent into animal-like insanity is one of the most fascinating sections of the Old Testament book of Daniel. According to that account, the arrogant king was struck down for his disbelief in the Hebrews' God, leaving his palace and living in the wild. The Biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar's madness became the framework through which royal insanity was seen in the Judeo-Christian world.

2. Caligula, Emperor of Rome (A.D. 12-41)

Topping even his nephew Nero for the crown of cruelest and craziest Roman emperor, Caligula was known for his lavish projects, his sadism and his eccentricity. He once had his army construct a two-mile floating bridge so he could gallop along it on his horse. In another episode he ordered his troops to "plunder the sea" by gathering shells in their helmets. Tall and hairy, Caligula is said to have banned the mention of goats in his presence, but practiced facial contortions to better terrify his subjects. He built a lavish house for his horse Incitatus and attempted to appoint the steed to the high office of consul, though he was assassinated before he could complete the promotion.

3. Henry VI of England (1421-1471)

The subject of a three-part Shakespearean drama cycle, Henry VI was made king before his first birthday but spent his final decades battling mental illness as his kingdom lost land to France and slid into the chaos of the War of the Roses. Never a strong leader, Henry suffered his first full mental breakdown in 1453, which left him in an incommunicative stupor for more than a year. After a temporary recovery, his condition worsened in 1456 into lethargy punctuated by a routine of religious devotions. He was deposed by Yorkist forces in 1461, exiled in Scotland, briefly restored to the throne in 1470 but then reimprisoned and murdered the next year.

4. The Zhengde Emperor of China (1491-1521)

One of the most notorious rulers of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhengde Emperor was renowned for both his foolishness and his cruelty. He was fond of leading capricious military expeditions and liked to give orders to an imaginary double he called General Zhu Shou. During the first five years of his reign, he unwisely put a senior eunuch, Liu Jin, in charge of most of the affairs of state. When the two fell out five years later, the emperor ordered Liu executed by a three-day process of slow slicing (Liu succumbed on day two). Ming-era novels such as "The Zhengde Emperor Roams through Jiangnan" cast the emperor as foolish and gullible, at one point enjoying a bowl of rice gruel he believes to have been made from cooked pearls.

5. Joanna of Castile (1479-1555)

Few queens' stories are sadder than that of "Juana la Loca," whose family and rivals colluded to keep her confined in asylums. Born fourth in line to the throne of her parents Ferdinand and Isabella, Joanna was married off to Philip "the Handsome" of Burgundy at age 16. When a series of deaths made her heir apparent to Isabella's throne, her husband kept her confined after her mother's death in an attempt to press his claim (over Ferdinand's) for the Castilian throne. After Philip's death in 1506, Joanna's confinement continued for another decade of her father's regency. After Ferdinand's death in 1516, Joanna and her teenage son Charles were made co-monarchs. From then on it was Charles who kept his mother imprisoned, creating a fictional world to keep her in isolation. When he was concerned that she might try to flee during a plague outbreak, Charles arranged for fake funeral processions to pass by her lodgings, convincing her to stay put. A group of rebels freed Joanna in 1520 and pronounced her sane and fit to rule-but changed their minds after she refused to support them instead of her son and sometime tormentor Charles.

6. Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584)

The first czar of all Russia, Ivan IV (whose nickname in Russian implies imposing or threatening more than evil) expanded Moscow's influence into the lands of the ancient Eastern European federation known as the Kievan Rus. Ivan promulgated wide-ranging reforms, centralized administration and created the black-clad forerunners of Russia's dreaded secret police. He took great pleasure in bringing members of the nobility to heel through torture and sadistic executions. Fed up with rule, Ivan attempted to resign in 1564 but was convinced to return a year later. He went on to create his own private fiefdom, the "oprichnina," through which he exerted total control of as much as one-third of the Muscovite realms. In 1581 Ivan murdered his own son and heir, striking him with a pointed staff in a fit of rage. Despite his foibles, though, Ivan's terribleness made him one of the most respected czars in Russia's history.

7. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor (1552-1612)

One of the most eccentric rulers of the European Renaissance, Rudolf II was perhaps the greatest collector of his age and an enthusiastic patron of the arts, sciences and pseudo-sciences. His castle complex at Prague featured a vast menagerie of animals, including lions, tigers, an orangutan and a live dodo bird. His cabinet of curiosities included a dizzying array of human and natural artifacts, organized by genre. Throughout his life Rudolf alternated between bouts of elation and melancholy. As a ruler, he would withdraw from court from weeks on end, or speak in an inaudible voice. He gave generous support to the astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, helping to lay the foundation of the Scientific Revolution. Blessed and cursed with, as one historian put it, a willingness to believe almost everything, Rudolf was an equally enthusiastic supporter of astrologers, alchemists and mystics of every stripe.

8. George III of England (1738-1820)

Famously derided by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley as "an old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king," George III showed his first signs of mental illness in 1765, early in his reign, but did not permanently succumb to his affliction until 1810, a year before Parliament made his son regent. George III ruled during a tumultuous era that including the American Revolution-the Declaration of Independence is addressed to him-as well as the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars that followed it. Some medical historians believe George's illness, which was characterized by hallucinations, paranoia, general breakdowns and abdominal pains, was caused by the enzyme disorder porphyria, though a retroactive diagnosis remains tricky.

9. Carlota of Mexico (1840-1927)

It would be hard to imagine a stranger life than the one led by Carlota, the first and only Habsburg empress of Mexico. Born Charlotte of Belgium, she was the daughter of King Leopold I and the first cousin of Queen Victoria. At a young age she was married to Maximilian, then the archduke of Austria, and went to live with him in a castle in Italy. In 1864 a group of Mexican archconservatives colluded with France's Napoleon III to depose the liberal president Benito Juaraz and appoint Maximilian emperor of Mexico. Maximilian and Carlota arrived in Veracruz, backed by French troops and conservative supporters, and made their way to Mexico City. For three years the royal couple did their best to win over the Mexican people, enthusiastically speaking Spanish as they promoted liberal agendas including land reform and better policies towards the country's native communities. In doing so, though, they lost their conservative backers. After the French withdrew their troops in 1866, Maximilian and Carlota's empire was left teetering. Carlota was sent to Europe to regain support from the French and the pope. When she failed at this she suffered a mental breakdown and was institutionalized. The reinstated Benito Juarez ordered Maximilian's execution in 1867. Carlota lived on another six decades, never regaining her sanity and remaining sequestered in her family's 14th-century castle in Belgium.

10. Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886)

Opera fan, builder of dream palaces, spendthrift, deposed monarch and likely murder victim, Ludwig II was a prototypical "mad king" who may not have been mad at all. Today best known for Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale palace he ordered built on a Bavarian hilltop, Ludwig was an enthusiastic patron of the arts. On ascending the Bavarian throne at 18 he quickly summoned his hero, the composer Richard Wagner, for a lengthy audience. Ludwig became one of Wagner's main patrons, giving him funding to work on some of the era's most renowned operas. Ludwig's castle building left him in increasing debt, though, and in 1886 a group of conspirators filed a medical report (drafted by doctors who had never examined him) that declared the king permanently unfit to rule. The next morning Ludwig and his personal physician were found floating dead in a Bavarian lake under mysterious circumstances, lending credence to one of Ludwig's most famous statements, "I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and others."

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The granddaddy of all mad kings is King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler whose first-person account of a seven-year descent into animal-like insanity is one of the most fascinating sections of the Old Testament book of Daniel. According to that account, the arrogant king was struck down for his disbelief in the Hebrews' God, leaving his palace and living in the wild.

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Axel Oxenstierna 1583 - 1654

Swedish chancellor (think primeminister) and administrative genius. The inventor of the modern bureaucracy. A truly remarkable man whos achievements was a main contribution to Swedens transformation from a poor and remote country to what some people call : The Swedish Empire.

Swedens situation at 1600 was really depressing. The country was poor and surronded by enemies:

The danish king claimed to be the legal king of Sweden. Not without arguments. Sweden had rebelled and kicked out its legal king ( which happeneds to be the danish king)in 1521.

The polish king claimed to be the legal king of Sweden. Not without arguments. According to the swedish law the polish king Sigismund would have been king of Sweden. The problem was that his cousin Karl IX argued that a catholic could not be king of Sweden. Dont think he had legal support for this opinion.

Russia was the traditional enemy of Sweden.

PROBLEM: Enemies all around and no money!

SOLUTION: Wise use of limited resources.

The principles

Axel Oxenstierna build the Swedish State administration on certain principals:

Promotion by merit. This was applied also for non aristocrats. If common sence demanded that an office was held by a nobleman and the most competent person was a commoner? Than just make him a nobleman!

Formalisation of decisionmaking. Decisions must be done on a formal ground and according to a formal procedure. Example:. If no other criterias are available for deciding who will be promoted then chose the candidate with the longest time in service

Decisions made in a lower instans of the bureaucracy can be appealed to a higher instance. People on a lower level will be judge according to how much their decision have been changed by a higher instance.

The result

The results of Axels reforms were an extremly effective administration with unseen low corruption. The system of Axel Oxenstierna was then exported to many countries. Examples: Peter the Great copied it to Russia and Fredrik the great to Prussia.

The machine organisation

The swedish system was aiming to make an organisation work like a machine. An example of that was the Swedish army. Up until then soldiers and officers had been separated by impenetrable barriers. The soldiers fought for their leader: a king or a nobleman. If he was killed, they went home. This is the core assumtion for the game of chess.

In the swedish army there were a line of command from the top to the bottom. If someone was killed he was replaced by battlefield promosions. There was no limit for how high you could rise. (The same as in Napoleons army, but hey: Thats 200 years later)

This worked perfecly well even when the king was killed at Lützen. The big mean machine just kept on working an won the battle where they had lost their king.

Axel and royalties

The king was abroad to make war and Axel stayed in Sweden to run the show. In letters from the king, Gustavus Adolphus, to Axel, the kings is treatening Axel: Do as I say or else: I will resign!

Peculiar a ruler of divine right is angry and the worst he can come up with is to resign

When the King was killed his daughter Kristina took over. She was very anoid to have the moralic and ever present chancellor Axel in charge of everything. She used to introduce him as: This is the Axel around which the world turns (axis is axel on Swedish)

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Who was the most cunning, intelligent and insidious ruler in the history of the world?

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Answer (1 of 15): Wow, I'm loving the answers here but I am a little disappointed that nobody mentioned this guy: Genghis Khan Now, perhaps Genghis Khan wasn't an absolute genius, but he was certainly insidious. Born in a relatively small tribal group, one of many, in what is now Mongolia, Geng...

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Many a tyrant has known how to shine in company - by all accounts, Adolf Hitler was charming if you met him socially - but what if you are just pleasant and amenable by nature? Does that rule out a career as monarch? With a couple of exceptions, this list of perfectly pleasant rulers is not particularly encouraging...

Vespasian was a successful general who managed to seize power from the political confusion that followed from the overthrow of Nero in 69 AD. Compared to Nero's dangerously erratic rule, Vespasian's reign was much calmer - he led a major rebuilding programme after the Great Fire of Nero's reign and he fast-tracked the hundreds of law cases that had emerged from the chaos after Nero's death. Vespasian's military campaigning continued - he completed the suppression of a major rebellion against Roman rule in Judaea, where he had first made his name as a successful general - but at home his priority was strict economy after Nero's spending sprees (though he did splash out on the Flavian amphitheatre, or Colosseum, for gladiator combats).

Vespasian was a genial cove, happily married but with a long-standing mistress - but he could be ruthless with critics and opponents. His dying words, according to the writer Suetonius, were an amused commentary on the Roman's obsession with emperor-worship: "I think I'm becoming a god".

Vespasian was succeeded by his popular elder son Titus, and a couple of years later by his vicious and unpredictable younger son, Domitian, who took a perverse pleasure in putting senators and actors to death on the flimsiest pretexts, often straight after having appeared to praise them. So, even nice emperors can leave nasty ones behind.

Æthelstan was the grandson of Alfred the Great and was the first man to be recognised as king of all England. It is difficult to be certain about the personality of figures from so long ago, but accounts of Æthelstan suggest that he was of devout Christian faith and showed compassion and charity to all. He could still fight, though: he inherited Anglo-Saxon England's long war with the Vikings and he saw off challenges from the Scots and the Dublin Norse. He made his court a hub of learning; established a more efficient system of justice; and seems to have been genuinely popular with all who met him.

Æthelstan had none of the weakness of Ethelred II ("the Unredy" or "badly-advised"), which led him to attempt to buy off Viking attacks, nor the brutal streak of William the Conqueror, whose ruthless 'harrying of the North' left the whole region devastated for a generation. Perhaps it was indeed Æthelstan's Christian faith that enabled him to combine military and political strength with a pleasant and charitable nature. So - it can be done.

Henry VI seemed to have everything going for him: the son of the victorious warrior king Henry V and his French queen Catherine de Valois, he inherited the throne of England when he was less than a year old and stood next in line to inherit the French throne too. But Henry was no soldier: he took his faith seriously, preferring a life of prayer to fulfilling his duties as king. In personal terms he seems to have been almost sickeningly pleasant to all around him, which only made him appear weak in the dog-eat-dog world of the English court.

Overshadowed by the commanding figure of his French wife, Margaret of Anjou, Henry suffered a series of mental breakdowns that rendered him unfit to rule and eventually led to a challenge for the throne from the Duke of York. Henry's final humiliation in the civil war that followed was to be captured and paraded through London as a prisoner, and finally murdered in the Tower of London. And no doubt he was very nice to the men who did it!

"Cruel necessity", Cromwell is supposed to have said, as he looked down on the beheaded body of King Charles I. Certainly Charles had brought much of his fate on himself, through his stubborn refusal to negotiate in good faith with his parliamentary enemies. Those who put "Charles Stuart, that man of blood" on trial might be astounded to see him on this list.

Charles's great weakness was that he made a strict distinction between his role as king, in which he could not compromise, and his personal role, which was entirely pleasant and courteous. In many ways it was his very courtesy that his enemies found so infuriating: they could not understand how he could be so charming to their faces and so hostile behind their backs. Even his friends had reason to rue his ability to be two things at once. The Earl of Strafford had been Charles's staunchest ally, but Charles still gave in to pressure from Strafford's enemies in parliament to sign his death warrant in 1641. "Put not your trust in princes," Strafford commented bitterly. Even nice ones.

Like Charles I, George III has had such a hostile press that it might be a surprise to see him feature on this list. He was denounced as a tyrant in the American Declaration of Independence and as a threat to the constitution by the Whigs in parliament. And he continued the Hanoverian dynasty's congenital family feuding by getting into the most bitter dispute with his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, over the prince's drinking, gambling debts and especially his clandestine marriage to a Catholic widow, Maria Fitzherbert.

Yet in many ways George III was a much more pleasant, more courteous figure than he has been given credit for. John Adams, the first minister to his court from the newly independent United States, recounts how at his first audience the king generously allowed him the run of his house and especially his extensive library. He was a doting father to his 15 - yes, 15 - children (at least when they were little), and, though a stickler for protocol, he could show great consideration. The novelist and lady-in-waiting Fanny Burney, who did not find court life easy, found him unfailingly kind to her, even when he was in the grip of his celebrated 'madness' (possibly the blood disorder porphyria, though some medical historians think it was psychological disorder, possibly a form of bipolar condition). In his later life George became a genuinely well-liked figure, his popularity enhanced by the illness that clouded his final years.

Louis XVI wanted to be so reasonable to everyone. If his controller-general of finances thought the taxation system needed overhauling to make nobles cough up? Then Louis would stand by him. If the nobles objected and called for the controller-general to be sacked? Then Louis would sack him (this happened at least three times). When Marie Antoinette wanted a small house and a pretend village in the grounds of Versailles, so she and friends could play at being shepherdesses in a sort of rural idyll? Of course she could have them - her little 'hameau' can still be visited today. When the revolutionary women of Paris, demanding bread and infuriated by his queen's reputation for frivolous expenditure, had walked all the way to Versailles in October 1789 to tear her to pieces - but of course, Louis would meet with some of them. He must have been infuriating to be married to.

Louis's dilemma was that he sought to show understanding and consideration to all sides in a situation that was spiralling out of control. It was mad to try to work with the revolutionaries while also listening to his wife and his brothers, who were all urging him to maintain his royal prerogative - yet that is what he did. Louis was a devoted father (these doomed monarchs always are) to his four children, as well as four more he and Marie Antoinette adopted; he was a devout Christian and a genuinely humane man. And he died under that humane execution machine, the guillotine.

The German emperor Frederick III is one of the great 'might-have-beens' of history. Married to Princess Victoria, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, he had imbibed much of the liberalism of the British constitutional monarchy and he fully intended to inject it into the German political model as soon as he became emperor. Frederick was much more affable, more pleasant and more - well - nice than his testy father, the reactionary old William I, who seems to have spent much of his time shouting at his chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, and dissolving into tears when he didn't get his own way.

Frederick's vision for Germany was for it to be a liberal state, on good terms with its neighbours (especially Britain) and committed to maintaining European peace. It led him into fierce arguments with the anglophobe Bismarck, which, in Frederick's eyes, proved he was right.

Sadly, by the time his father died in 1888 Frederick was himself gravely ill, from throat cancer. His reign lasted no more than 99 days and there simply was not time to bring about the changes of direction he had hoped for. When he died, first Bismarck and then his son, the Kaiser William II, took Germany firmly down the path of aggressive militarism that was to lead in 1914 to the First World War.

Nicholas II was the living proof that you could either be a pleasant, loving family man and an amenable, reasonable and humane ruler, or you could be the autocrat of all the Russias, heir to Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great: it was one or the other - not both. Nicholas's problem was that he tried to be a reasonable ruler in an irrational state. Previous tsars had been ruthlessly authoritarian; Nicholas tried to sustain the image of "little father" to his people, while also sometimes having to be ruthless. It led to a huge loss of faith in him and his monarchy.
Dr Sean Lang is a senior lecturer in history at Anglia Ruskin University This article was first published on HistoryExtra in March 2019
Nicholas's devotion to his wife and family was well known, but so was the PR disaster of inviting the mystic Rasputin into the heart of the imperial family. When the First World War began so disastrously Nicholas ignored advice and took personal charge of his armies, thus ensuring that it continued disastrously as well. He was trying (with admirable diligence) to fulfil a heavy task that was far beyond his capabilities. As a result, he was overthrown in the revolution of February 1917 and when, the following year, both he and the family he had cherished fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks, they were put against a wall and shot.

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From the people-pleaser Louis XVI to the "courteous and pleasant" Charles I, history is full of monarchs whose niceness prevented them from ruling effectively. Here, historian Sean Lang rounds up eight of the most affable kings in history - most of whom were too nice for their own good

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The articles listed here are examples of different monarchs of history, I've decided to go about other monarchs of history as to not limit myself to just the monarchs of UK history as they have proven to be, at least in my opinion, too regal and or disciplined for my version of the fairy king. Therefore these articles have helped me in looking at the separate aspects/personality traits that I wish to apply to my version of Oberon, in order to cover more ground and take specific examples from different leaders on these websites. However like last week I'm still unable to find a specific person of interest that fits who I'm trying to make Oberon into, to take inspiration from in not only their actual person but also the kind of character they might play, therefore I am determined to find an actor who has played a monarch next week instead of an actual one.

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Blackadder - To whom will you leave your lands?

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The Black Adder — The Yellow Wobbly Parts

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Brian Blessed as KING LEAR - Guildford Shakespeare Company

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Guildford Shakespeare Company’s production of King Lear starred Brian Blessed in the title role and saw audience members travelling from all around the UK.

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The article and videos I've watched and read are examples of the famous UK actor Brian Blessed playing as his roles of Richard VI in Black Adder, Edward I in The Brice, Henry V in Armoured Ultimatum, Hamlet's Father in the 1996 film Hamlet, and King Lear in the play King Lear. These examples of so many different roles has helped me see the different ways a man of power and authority can act on so many different levels, Mr Blessed's performances being so full of energy and life are the perfect examples that I've needed to apply for my own portrayal of Oberon, with his levels of emotions alongside the power of his voice and mixed in with the joy yet somewhat cunning attitude his characters can have has become a perfect source for my own version of Oberon.

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Week 8

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The main part of this week's research has been about exploring my character Oberon on a deeper level, answering personal questions about himself that I've been having to answer and make up in order to gain a deeper understanding of who I am playing as. This has helped me by allowing my mind to think freely on who Oberon is to me, where he came from, who his parents were, how long he's been alive, his dreams, his fears, his goals, and so many other aspects that I've been able to think on and write down in order to truly understand who my character is and why he does what he does to not only Titania, but also the humans throughout the show.

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Everyone has his or her favorite film couple. For some, Jack and Rose from "Titanic" represent the perfect one. For others, Noah and Allie from "The Notebook" are their ideal romantic couple. But for me, no couple comes close to matching the perfection that is Gomez and Morticia Addams.

Because there have been so many adaptations of the Addams family, including a TV show, multiple movies and, most recently, a Broadway musical, let me clarify that the Gomez and Morticia I'm speaking about are the pair played by the late Raúl Juliá and the wonderful Anjelica Huston from the 1991 movie, "The Addams Family" and the 1993 sequel, "Addams Family Values."

For anyone who is unfamiliar with any of the various versions of the Addams family, there is no real way to explain the kooky and altogether spooky bunch. If you have a dark sense of humor, you will love the two films, which are undoubtedly Halloween classics.

Though the movies are full of comedy and a wonderful cast, including a young Christina Ricci ("Sleepy Hollow") and Christopher Lloyd ("Back to the Future"), the chemistry between Juliá and Huston is what keeps me coming back year after year. If you look past their creepy hobbies and unusual lifestyles, the pair is a wonderful representation of what a good couple should be.

For one, they are completely and totally devoted to one another in a way not seen in most movies and TV shows. There is literally nothing they wouldn't do for each other because their love is that strong. No sacrifice is too big, and they make it painfully obvious on multiple occasions that they would rather die together then spend one day alone.

I realize this isn't all that unusual for the pair, but for other couples such a declaration isn't that easy. I'm looking at you Rose - everyone knows that there was plenty of room for Jack on that piece of wood if you had just stopped being selfish and moved over.

Secondly, they're ridiculously attracted to each other, even after who knows how many years of marriage and several kids. And their love life, while most likely bizarre, is also most likely very active. That really is unusual for TV shows and movies today; most comedies prefer to show the married couple as haggard and run-down after having kids, but that isn't even close to being the case for Gomez and Morticia. Despite the fact that the two films were aimed at children, Juliá and Huston can barely keep their hands off each other. They even get hilariously jealous if a stranger flirts with one of them.

And lastly, they're wonderful and involved parents. They are interested in their children's lives and encourage spending time as a family. When they believe that Wednesday and Pugsley want to go to summer camp, Gomez and Morticia are very supportive, even though they don't understand the appeal.

Behind their outer weirdness, Gomez and Morticia make an incredible couple because they each bring so much to the table. Gomez is charming, devoted to his wife, finds her to be the most beautiful woman in the world, loves his children - and he's a snazzy dresser. Where can I find a guy with those qualities?

And Morticia is as equally devoted to her husband, finds him as attractive, dotes upon her children and truly rocks the LBD. So you can keep your Scarlett O'Haras and Rhett Butlers, your Sandys and Dannys. Gomez and Morticia will always be the best film couple.

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Notebook: Morticia and Gomez Addams for best couple on the silver screen

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Everyone has his or her favorite film couple. For some, Jack and Rose from "Titanic" represent the perfect one. For others, Noah and Allie from "The Notebook" are their ideal romantic couple.

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The Addams Family (6/10) Movie CLIP - Gomez Loves Morticia (1991) HD

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Screw Romeo and Juliet. Give me a Morticia and Gomez Addams kind of love. This couple may be spooky, strange and totally unconventional, but their love story is one for the ages. Originally created by cartoonist Charles Addams, this couple has been depicted numerous times on both the small and big screens. Perhaps their most memorable performance was in 1991's "The Addams Family" and 1993's "Addams Family Values," which cast acclaimed actors Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston as the macabre lovers. Take a peek at their 13 most romantic moments and let us know your favorite passionate exchange between this pair in the comments section on social media.

Gomez's Love for Morticia

In one of the movie's first scene, we're introduced to this couple's passionate love. Seriously, these are all things that we could only dream of the love of our life saying and more.

Graveyard Love

We're living for this couple's on brand meet cute story. And then they start to talk about their plans for the afterlife, and while we're a bit grossed out, it's still very sweet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rndp3wQjzUo

The Auction

This is a lot of passion for a local auction, especially considering their betting on their own finger trap. But we've got to give it for the couple showing PDA in the strangest places.

Their Tango

It's clear that this couple has been practicing this choreography for years. And the result is seriously spectacular and just the right amount of extra.

Gomez Rescues Morticia

Even in a time of crisis, Morticia and Gomez find time for romance. Seriously, you can't take these two anywhere.

The Birth of Their Third Child

Okay, we've got to admit that this one is pretty unrealistic. After all, most women are probably cursing their husbands out while giving birth. But, these two have never been about conformity.

Their Reactions to the School Play

Gomez and Morticia are not only supportive of each other, but their children as well. And when it came to Pugsley and Wednesday's performance, they couldn't be more proud of the drama, violence and fountains of fake blood.

The Rose Garden

When Morticia said "Don't torture yourself Gomez, that's my job," we all knew what she was implying.

Waking the Dead

Every family has their unique traditions. And for the Addams family, it's waking the dead, of course!

Their Honeymoon

Morticia and Gomez are both very supportive of each other, through good times and bad. When Gomez is distraught over Fester's behavior, she comforts him by reminding them of their romantic honeymoon.

Gomez's Support of Morticia

Their support of each other goes both ways and we were touched when Gomez comforted Morticia about some of the stress she's been experiencing as a modern woman.

Their Disdain for Camp Chippewa

I was never a fan of camp either and this couple's quick wit is no match for the Chippewa yuppies.

Every Time Gomez Looks at Morticia

Seriously, what I'd give for a guy to look at me this way.

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13 Times Morticia and Gomez Addams Were Couple Goals - Rebel Circus

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Screw Romeo and Juliet. Give me a Morticia and Gomez Addams kind of love. This couple may be spooky, strange and totally unconventional, but their love story is one for the ages. Originally created by cartoonist Charles Addams, this couple has been depicted numerous times on both the small and...

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Addams Family Values (1993) - Morticia and Gomez Dance Scene (3/10) | Movieclips

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The videos and articles listed this week are examples on the fictional married couple Gomez and Morticia Addams from the famous serious The Addams Family, these examples show the pair expressing their affection for one another trough either words or through actions with each other, furthermore the articles explain different reasons instances for when they are being this way and why they are one of if not the greatest pair of lovers on television and the silver screen. I've chosen this couple as inspiration for my portrayal my second character Theseus for the sole reason of his relationship with Hippolyta, after discussing with my friend/classmate Rebecca, who is playing Hippolyta and Titania, about their relationship and I found that being newly weds and how they act towards one another in our version of the show I've thought about how Gomez shows his love to his wife, with a fiery passion of love within his soul and a smile each time he sees Morticia is the kind of bond I wish to portray with Rebecca for the audience to enjoy and be drawn into, and Gomez Addams has been the main inspiration for this goal and I am confident that he will help me achieve it.

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In today's lesson, you will listen to examples of upper-class 'posh' accents.

Prince Charles, Lord Sumption, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson, The Duchess of Cambridge, Tilda Swinton, Emma Watson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge,Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rose Leslie all speak with posh English accents.

Listen to examples of the posh English accent by watching the video:

Who Are the Upper Class?

People who are considered to be upper class occupy the highest position in society, and have the highest social status. These people are often also the wealthiest, being positioned above the middle class in the social hierarchy. In Britain, the word 'upper class' is synonymous with being part of the aristocracy, which means the person probably will inherit land or a title.

The Upper Class British Accent

An upper class British accent is spoken by the 2% of people at the top of the British class system. This accent is learned at Britain's expensive boarding schools such as Eton, where an education costs parents more than £30,000 per year for each child. Since this is also the accent of the highest courts of law, the military elite and the British Parliament, speaking with an upper class accent evokes power and privilege.

The posh English accent has 'clipped tones', which means it is spoken in a clear and brisk manner. For many students, the posh British accent is the easiest to understand of all accents because of its clarity.

It is possible for someone who isn't upper class to speak with an upper class accent. In the example video above, only Prince Charles and Rose Leslie have what is regarded as a true upper class background. For example, the Duchess of Cambridge doesn't have an upper class background, but yet her accent could qualify as the 'poshest' of all speakers in the example video above.

Extend Your Learning

Want to learn more about posh English? In the video below I explain what it means to speak and act like a posh person, in terms of social class and family background.

◼️ Test your knowledge of posh English vocabulary by taking the lesson quiz.

◼️ Learn more about British accents; download my British Accent Pack.

◼️More posh British English accents.

Want to speak clear and confident English? ▶︎ https://clearaccent.co.uk ✔︎

Jade Joddle grows your confidence and skill to shine when speaking English.

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In today's lesson, you will listen to examples of upper-class 'posh' accents. Prince Charles, Lord Sumption, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson, The Duchess of Cambridge, Tilda Swinton, Emma Watson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge,Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rose Leslie all speak with posh English accents.

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Received Pronunciation, BBC English, Queen's English, POSH English accent help!

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These links have been my methods of learning to do a more posh English accent for my portrayal of Theseus, by showing/teaching me the proper pronunciations of verbs, words and certain phrases, it has helped me in defining the difference between how I act as Oberon and Theseus. By using this newly learnt accent for Theseus it shows to myself and the audience that compared to Oberon he is more regal in nature, though quite jolly and helpful towards his people he is still the king of his land, and therefore to me would have an accent of the Queen's English to help not only enhance my skills as an actor by doing a different accent compared to my normal voice, but also giving a small but clear difference between my two characters.