“A Midsummer Night's Dream” by William Shakespeare is a play that offers an interesting insight into the conflicting emotions of the human psyche. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses his settings to give us insight into human conflicts; rational characteristics versus the irrational and more emotional characteristics we encounter. The logical, more rational side would be the palace, with its society and its rules. The emotional side that is both fun and wild is represented by the woods, where human logic is overtaken by magical things that make no sense and are more like a dream. The decor of the palace is important because it represents the essence of our society; rules established by man and maintained in conformity with the norms of our society. Humans struggle to suppress their unbridled and irrational tendencies, and still discourage “civilized” man from committing rash and senseless actions today. Therefore, every action must have a solid and logical purpose, based on social norms. The main conflict in the play and the propeller for the action occurs when, Aegeus, Hermia's father has chosen Demetrius as the man he wants her to marry. His decision is most likely based on economic, political and social factors. Aegeus thinks he is making a reasonable decision based on Hermia's. future in their society. Unfortunately, Hermia is in love with a gentleman named Lysander and vice versa, her father may have made his decision with the good intention of trying to respect the traditional customs of his time and perhaps even taking into consideration elements such as attractiveness. However, he doesn't foresee that his daughter could actually love anyone else. Lysander, like many young men, shows little respect for the rules of society and is willing to break with tradition and flee to the middle of paper. .....s, thus devoting his time to being mischievous. It is to him that Oberon trusts with his plan to inflict the love spell on Titania and to entrust her with an additional bonus task in return; which ends up being a disaster, but an entertaining part of the play. Shakespeare wonderfully contrasts the duality of human nature by using two settings with radically opposite characteristics. It is doubtful whether he actually intended this in his play, but it remains an interesting and well paralleled feature. The people of Athens, struggling to understand the absurd mystical woods, at the same time exhibit some of the same behaviors. Maybe Shakespeare was trying to remind everyone that there is more to life than logic and reason. Humanity living solely on its emotional quality may lead us into trouble, but it is actually what creates the thrill of what we call life..