Who suggests that the audience consider whether the entire play has been a dream?

In the realm of literature, particularly in examining plays like "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare, there are often prompts to interpret the narrative as a dream. A character who notably encourages the audience to explore this perspective is Puck. In the concluding lines of the play, Puck directly addresses the audience, suggesting that if they found the events of the play troublesome, they could think of it as nothing more than a dream.

This concept invites the audience to ponder the nature of reality versus illusion, a recurring theme throughout the play. Shakespeare employs this device to highlight the whimsical and often absurd elements of love and conflict, and Puck's remark serves to remind the audience of the playful, fantastical nature of the story. Thus, Puck essentially gives the audience permission to view the entire play as a figment of imagination, further reinforcing the idea that much of life can be interpreted as a series of dreams and fancies, blending reality with the surreal.