Oberon Hierarchy In A Midsummer Night's Dream

Oberon, the King of the Fairy world, represents one of the character’s from the older generation in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oberon strongly believes that he has authority over everyone and can can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He highly values the traditional societal hierarchy that is very popular in his era. Oberon presumes all of the fairies in the fairy world, as well as all of the mortals in the human world, are “below him” and his authority in the hierarchy that is presented in this play. His method of power and control however, is shown through a more twisted satiric immature sense, as he enjoys watching people below him struggle throughout the play. One of the greatest instance’s that truly showcases Oberon’s
He always expects Titania to comply with what he wants and never wants her to argue with him. When he doesn’t get his way with her, his lust for control, causes him to lash out in immature behaviors. When Titania refuses to comply with his wishes in their dispute over the Indian boy, Oberon is unable to accept his wife’s disobedience, and as a result intoxicates her with a potion to get what he wants. In a journal titled “Pivotal and Puzzling the Indian Boy in a Midsummer Night’s Dream” written by literary Critic Bronwen Fetters, she discusses the role the Indian boy plays to illustrate Oberon’s immense desire for power and control. “While Titania cares for the Indian Boy as a result of a promise she made to his mother, Oberon’s interest in him is seemingly desiring to possess him as a token of political authority and dominion. Oberon believes “he has suffered an intolerable ‘injury’ (2.1.147) at the hands of a ‘wanton’ (2.1.63) wife”. He punishes her disobedience by putting the juice of the aphrodisiac flower on her eyelids. By doing this and by causing Titania to have sexual desire for Bottom—an altogether different and more unnatural changeling—Oberon highlights Titania’s foolish infatuation with the Indian