Humor In A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Roasts of Lysander
In the play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander, an Athenian man, portrays insult comedy. Insult comedy is the use of insults, often one liners, at the expense of another character to create comedy. In this case Insult comedy is used to insult another person or object with the intent of creating humor. In act 1, scene 1, Lysander and Demetrius are fighting over the beloved Hermia. Egeus, Hermia's father, expresses his wish to Theseus, the duke of Athens for Hermia to be married to Demetrius. However, Hermia loves Lysander and refuses Egeus's offer. Later the two Athenian men, Lysander, and Demetrius begin arguing about who should get Hermia. During this argument Demetrius exclaims
Demetrius: “Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right.”
As Puck follows through with his orders he mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and rubs the flower on Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius. Because of this Lysander falls deeply in love with Helena, Hermia’s friend. After this incident a lot of confusion between the characters arise and Hermia tries to find out why Lysander has lost his love for her. In the midst of her confusion Lysander begins acting aggressively towards Hermia. During this aggression Lysander announces to Hermia “Ay, by my life; and never did desire to see thee more. Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt; be certain, nothing truer; ‘tis no jest that I do hate thee and love Helena.”(3.2.287-291). In other words, Lysander is telling Hermia that truly hates her and only loves Helena. This insult was included in this play to display the current standing of Hermia and Lysander’s relationship. The insult shows how Puck’s small mistake has affected the lives of Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and