Shakespeare, Reason and Love

Lovers and madmen puzzle such seething brains,\n such shaping fantasies, that apprehend\n more than than than cool causality eer comprehends. (MSD 4-5)\n\nThis quote taken from Shakespeares A summer solstice darknesss Dream encapsulates that which lies at the very he contrivance of the free rein; the disposition of love. Shakespeares geographic expedition of love and designer comes with the differing sets of lovers presented in the melt. From the more thinking(prenominal) setting of Athens (Theseus and Hippolyta) toward the more irrational woods (Oberon and Titania). Amidst these cardinal contrasting places, exist the quaternity young lovers (Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia) who array two these settings and thus could be a consideration for both reason out and love. As such, the play asks questions of love in comparison to a world of reason and rationality. Perhaps as a foundation to, or sort of alongside A Midsummer darks Dream, it is outstanding to look at the philosophical arguments of Plato - particularly in the Phaedrus. though its principal concern rests with the art of rhetoric, the dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus in like manner falls on the nature of love along with considerations on the soul and divine unwiseness. The predominant focus get out fall within Socrates runner and second oral communication. This essay seeks to search this relationship between reason and love, drawing comparisons between Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream and Platos the Phaedrus. \n\nReason and Love in the Phaedrus \nThe Phaedrus can be seen as underpinning Shakespeares musings on reason and love, particularly in A Midsummer Nights Dream, and while perhaps superfluous, it would be ill-informed to ignore Platos work. In response to Lysias, Socrates first speech tells the story of a son or youth describe as having very many another(prenominal) lovers (237b). One of these men persuaded the son that he was not in love, though he love t he lad no little than others (237b). The man made a speech to convince the boy to gi...