Abstract
This paper will analyze the evolution of Shakespeare and argue that Ari Aster’s 2019 Horror and Drama film Midsommar is an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The use of magic, hallucination, and the distortion of love demonstrates transferable themes and motifs of Shakespeare into the horror genre. Shakespeare’s influence continues to shape modern art and culture. This paper specifically discusses the distortion of love using magic and drugs, highlighting bestial and sexual relations in both the film and play. Also discussed is the use of the dreamscape as a liminal space to bend social norms and logic along with the use of horror adjacent themes such as eroticism, objectification, and physical violence. The overall goal of the paper argues for Shakespeare’s continued relevance, adaptability, and underlying horror often veiled by the comedy and drama Shakespeare is known for.
Recommended Citation
Pino, Anne
(2021)
"It Was All a Dream: Comparing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Midsommar,"
Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 4, Article 10.
Available at:
https://scholarship.shu.edu/locus/vol4/iss1/10