That Way Madness Lies: XV of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined

by Dahlia Adler

Her voice is more that of a reasoning sister than a soothing wife. Their marriage is woven more in power and esteem than in love. Titania forswore his bed long ago, and he minded little. She has her elves who sing her asleep, and their beds. He has Puck, whom I hope he loves in at least half the measure Puck loves him. “I will not see that bastard darken our court again,” Oberon says. Two words in the single declaration sting me. Bastard. Oberon said the same word when he first saw Narciso, but I didn’t think he meant it as more than insult. Now, hearing it again, hearing Oberon’s anger seething beneath it, I understand. So this is why Narciso performed the dance so well, how he knows the particular bow of fairy courts. He is some fairy, some mortal. Darken. To Oberon, to make something darker is to make it worse. How little he would have wanted me if Titania had not wanted me first.