A Midsummer Night's Dream: Contrast In Human Mentality The Play: “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, by William Shakespeare offers a wonderful contrast in human mentality. Shakespeare provides insight into man's conflict with the rational versus the emotional characteristics of our behavior through his settings. The rational, logical side is represented by Athens, with its flourishing government and society. The wilder emotional side is represented by the fairy woods. Here things do not make sense, and mystical magic takes the place of human logic. Every impulse may be acted upon without and forethought to there outcome.