Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is full of contrasting characters and subplots. One that I personally found intriguing begins in act one, scene two when the craftsmen are planning the play they will perform after the wedding. These men are certainly not professional actors, and this quickly becomes evident. As the roles are assigned, Bottom is particularly enthusiastic and confident in his abilities and volunteers himself to play nearly every role. He is told that he has to play Pyramus only, not Thebes and the lion as he suggests he should play. Bottom is like a young child, pouncing on every opportunity for fame without thinking about the others that need roles in the play or if it’s even possible for him to play so many different
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It feels like a behind-the-scenes sort of feature from the main plot. Perhaps the character of these craftsmen is meant to emphasize the difference between the lower class and the high class stars of the play. Clumsy and awkward, the craftsmen are humorous to watch bumble around but other than humor, what do they really add to the play? What is lost when this subplot is removed? This beginning scene with the men highlights some important aspects of Bottom’s character that become important later on when Puck gives him an ass head. He’s so arrogant and confident that he doesn’t even question when Titania falls in love with him, despite the spontaneity of it, not to mention their societal class differences. Bottom is generally oblivious as his extremely high self-worth prevents him from logical thinking. This play is about the lovers and their complicated emotions for one another, not about Bottom and his over-confident behaviors. So, why even include Bottom? His role makes the play funnier as he’s easy to make an ass of and laugh at his antics. Beyond that, the confusion created by his and the other craftsmen’s involvement assists in creating the dream-like atmosphere of the play. Bottom helps foster the wild aspects of the dream, acting as a bridge between reality and fantasy. The audience knows that the craftsmen aren’t meant to be taken seriously. So what is the audience supposed to
It feels like a behind-the-scenes sort of feature from the main plot. Perhaps the character of these craftsmen is meant to emphasize the difference between the lower class and the high class stars of the play. Clumsy and awkward, the craftsmen are humorous to watch bumble around but other than humor, what do they really add to the play? What is lost when this subplot is removed? This beginning scene with the men highlights some important aspects of Bottom’s character that become important later on when Puck gives him an ass head. He’s so arrogant and confident that he doesn’t even question when Titania falls in love with him, despite the spontaneity of it, not to mention their societal class differences. Bottom is generally oblivious as his extremely high self-worth prevents him from logical thinking. This play is about the lovers and their complicated emotions for one another, not about Bottom and his over-confident behaviors. So, why even include Bottom? His role makes the play funnier as he’s easy to make an ass of and laugh at his antics. Beyond that, the confusion created by his and the other craftsmen’s involvement assists in creating the dream-like atmosphere of the play. Bottom helps foster the wild aspects of the dream, acting as a bridge between reality and fantasy. The audience knows that the craftsmen aren’t meant to be taken seriously. So what is the audience supposed to