The Woods
The primary setting of the play is the woods surrounding Athens, Greece. The woods are depicted as both a respite from the controlled atmosphere of the city, and as a place fraught with mystery. The unknown nature of the woods is what contributes to the play's dreamlike mood, as characters must navigate semi-unfamiliar territory while being manipulated by woodland creatures at every turn.
Titania's Memory
In defense of her keeping the changeling boy, Titania recalls a memory in which she spent time with the boy's mother before her death. The memory is fraught with atmospheric and corporeal imagery, and many have argued that the details Titania provides emphasize Shakespeare's interest in queer themes of female-female intimacy and friendship.
Hermia and Egeus
When Hermia protests against her marriage to Demetrius, Theseus tells her that she must think of herself as a mere shape formed in wax by the power of her father. This image underscores Theseus's notion of patriarchal control that he uses to govern Athens. Hermia ultimately rejects this notion by running into the woods with Lysander and demonstrating her autonomy outside of her father's control.
Dreamscape
In most modern productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the performance is characterized by a dream-like atmosphere of twinkling lights, strange noises, and darkness. These performance elements emphasize the play's investment in portraying a surreal or unreal experience for its characters, thrusting the audience into a similar experience and raising questions about the extent to which theater itself can be considered a "dream."
