Contrast the city and the forest in A Midsummer Night's Dream

Question 1:City and the forest in A Midsummer Night's Dream

The most central metaphorical conflicts in A Midsummer Night's Dream are the forest versus the city and morning versus night. The forest represents mystical powers and lawlessness. The latter is shown when Lysander is speaking of the need to go through the forest to get to his aunt's house where "the sharp Athenian law/Cannot pursue" them. The city, like Theseus and Hippolyta, represents order, as is demonstrated when one compares the types of scenes that take place in either setting. The city ...