Skip to main content

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, why do you think that the 'mechanicals' were asked to perform a play at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding party?

The rude mechanicals plan to perform a play to entertain the duke and duchess before their wedding. Peter Quince insists that they meet in the woods in order to keep their play and aim secret. They have a difficult time with the rehearsal, dealing with incompetent actors and the transfiguration of the lead actor, Bottom, whose head turns into a donkey’s. He then disappears for the whole night.


However, Bottom appears just in time and...

The rude mechanicals plan to perform a play to entertain the duke and duchess before their wedding. Peter Quince insists that they meet in the woods in order to keep their play and aim secret. They have a difficult time with the rehearsal, dealing with incompetent actors and the transfiguration of the lead actor, Bottom, whose head turns into a donkey’s. He then disappears for the whole night.


However, Bottom appears just in time and tells them, “our play is preferred.” The players are one of many groups to submit their act before the nobles. Theseus is eager to get into bed with his new wife and asks for some entertainment to distract him from his impatience: “Is there no play, / To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?” Philostrate gives a list of revels that Theseus can choose from.


Theseus is unimpressed with most of the selection, but the actors’ bizarre description of their play catches his eye: “A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus / And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.” The duke wonders about the announcement’s oxymorons. Philostrate tries to discourage him from seeing the play, saying that the only amusement to be derived is from their motives, which are “Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain.”


Philostrate also says that the supposed tragedy made his “eyes water; but more merry tears / The passion of loud laughter never shed.” The duke insists on seeing it, praising the actors’ good intentions. Essentially, it is the players’ ineptitude that attracts Duke Theseus, who is prepared to support their efforts and laugh at their foolishness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They endure over two hundred days of hardship together, but in the end Richard Parker leaves...

When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that... When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that he also needs Pi to survive.  At one point in the book, Pi's starvation and thirst reduce him to a st...
Post a Comment
Read more