A Midsummer Night's Dream Tale

 Titania and the Changeling

from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Deep in the woods lived a band of fairies.  Their king was Oberon and their queen was named Titania. 
Act II of A Midsummer Night's Dream, opens with a disagreement between Titania and Oberon. 

Titania, it seems, has taken possession of  changeling boy.  His mother, who died in childbirth, was Titania's friend.  They would laugh together and the mother would bring Titania trifles.

When the mother died, Titania stole the child from his nurse and brought him to the woods to raise.  "And for her sake do I rear up her boy/ and for her sake I will not part with him."

As soon as Oberon saw the baby, he wanted him to be a henchman.  Titania refused.  "Set your heart at rest, the fairy land buys not the child of me," she said. 

Being fairies, who are very close to nature, this quarrel unleashed the forces of nature, spreading dissent and misunderstanding.  


The earrings (both sets) were inspired by the painting, by John Anster Fitzgerald.

In it, you can see Titania embracing the changeling child... or hanging on for dear life.  Her attendants watch warily, from their spot on  the left.  Meanwhile,  Oberon and his attendants wait for Titania to come to her senses while Puck dances and attempts to steal the garland of flowers.

The earrings can be found here.  To find Oberon and Titania, I suggest you check the forest.