Through Shakespeares play A Mid-Summer Nights Dream and the film Chocolat the composers have presented similar reflections on the values and attitudes of their times. It is unknown exactly when Shakespeares play was written or first performed but it usually dated between 1594 or 1596, probably written for an aristocratic wedding. The film Chocolat directed by Lassie Hollstrom was produced in 2001 originated from the 1999 novel written by Joanne Harris. The film is set in France 1959, same time as Shakespeares play was performed which is evident by the patriarchal values and attitudes reflected, it was also the error of great change.
Both composers have represented beliefs, attitudes and values through the characters that have been constructed. The values of the two texts express patriarchal societies, where all power is given to men. The social hierarchy was determined by a chain of being, fathers would chose whom their daughter would marry and selection of husband would be based on importance in the hierarchy where their family name would gain greater importance and power. No marriage was an act of love. In A Midsummer Nights Dream this is represented by Egeus, Hermias father who has total control over Hermia, including who she is to marry. Egeus quotes an ancient Athenian law where by a daughter must marry the suitor chosen by her father, or else face death. This presents Egeus to the audience as a resonant voice as he reflects dominant ideologies and values the patriarchal society by demanding his daughter to marry the man of his choice whom she does not love or be killed.
This same strong stance of rigid patriarchy is reflected in Chocolat through the resonant character of Count Reynaud. He values old traditions of religion and power through a patriarchal society. This is reflected through his ritual routines through every day life of strict fasting for lent and attitude towards Vianne as she introduces change to the community. His feelings of hatred and discomfort towards Vianne are evident when he invites her and her daughter Anouk to celebrate Sunday mass. When she replies that they do not attend and that she is not married he shows unkindness towards her through body language, almost unable to shake Viannes hand. It frightened the Count as the attitudes and beliefs that he was so passionate about began to change and be challenged with the help of Vianne who reflects a dissonant voice as she is the one who awakens the people of the community to the thought that times are changing, the beliefs and values of this community are becoming old and tired and attitudes need to be changed. Viannes bright, joyful colours warn everyday symbolise life and change in contrast to the dull colours throughout the village and blacks and browns worn by the other women which symbolise depression and sadness as well as the constant surrounding of mist to convey uncertainty and gushing winds tearing through the village as a warning that change is coming, all represent the serious need of change throughout all aspects of the community.
Both composers use magic realism by interweaving a sharply etched realism in representing ordinary events and descriptive detail together with fantastic and dreamlike elements as well with materials derived from myth and fairy tales. The purpose of this is to show the importance of believing in some sort of magical element in daily life to give interesting meaning and purpose to the events in our lives. Shakespeare applies the noticeable and entertaining presence of the fairies in the play to affect the human beings in the words, and provide glimpses into the fairy realm. The use of this supernatural world in the play reflects Elizabethan belief in fairies; although he altered these beliefs he kept intact their enjoyment for dancing and music, their magical powers and human being unable to see their presence. Shakespeare constructs the world of the fairy kingdom using stereotypical images, A collection of jobs in nature, to dew her urbs upon the green. Those be rubies, fairy flavours. In the play any disruption or complication in the fairy world is reflected in the world of humans. Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain, As a revenge have sucked up from the sea. Contagious fogs; which, falling in the land, are cumulating images of the disruption of harmony in nature of the human world cause by conflict between Oberon and Titania in the fairy kingdom resulting in tempest, Puck describes Oberon as jealous, resembling human emotions.
Through the voice over we are told the tale of how Viannes journey of transforming communities for the better reveals the magical element of the power of chocolate. It is significant to present the transformative power of magic in our every lives, changing boring mundane lives and giving them belief and hope for a better life filled with happiness, joys and celebrations. This story suggests the importance of believing in something like magic to be able to bring happiness, excitement and love into everyday life. Transformation through the power of chocolate is represented through the character of Madame Marceau who is wife of a lazy husband that no longer shows any affection towards her. When she visits Viannes chocolate shop Vianne senses where this fault in her life is that is keeping her back from the enjoyments of life. She gives Marceau a bag of chocolates for her husband, and once he has consumed them its as if he has been injected with life, empowered by passion and desires Marceau.
One of the most important themes in A Midsummer Nights Dream is the difficulty of love. Shakespeare creates a mockery of the absurd nature of love by how foolish people act when they fall in love. Lysander comments with a clich, the course of true love never did run smooth, which articulates perfectly this theme of the fickle nature of love. Almost every conflict within the play stems from the trouble of romance, involving a number of romantic elements. Though this play is not truly a love story as it distances the audience from the emotions of the characters in order to poke fun at the torments and afflictions that those in love suffer. This is shown through the four lovers facing conflicts and fighting with each other over love as puck the mischief fairy has made a mistake of making both Lysander and Demetrius fall in love with Helena, forcing Helena to think this is some sick joke to taunt her emotions towards Demetrius and leave Hermia in heart ache. Though as we can see the play is so light-hearted that audience never doubts that things will end happily and are therefore free to enjoy the comedy without being caught up in the tension of an uncertain outcome.
Although Chocolat does not portray a comical element towards the absurdity of love, we still are presented with different types of love throughout the community. These loves are represented as new loves, old love ignited, and love amongst friendship and family love between mother and daughter; grandmother and grandson. We are shown that love is everywhere and the unexpected actions we take for the people we do love uncontrollably and unconditionally.
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