A Midsummer Night’s Dream Group

Question:

wolerine
wolerine
Student
High School - 9th Grade

How does the inclusion of the craftsmen switch the atmosphere and tone of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

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Posted by wolerine on Monday April 7, 2008 at 7:05 PM and tagged with a midsummer night’s dream, atmosphere, play, tone.

Answers:


  1. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Up until this point in the play, we have a little tension between Egeus and his daughter; Theseus and his dealing with the problems of his people; and Hermia's distress at being made to marry Demetrius, her father's choice, and not Lysander, her true love.

    The inclusion of the craftsmen who are determined to put on a play Pyramus and Thisbe in order to celebrate the wedding of Hippolyta and Theseus, is mere chaos and ridiculous humor.  They add the silliness and pure comic effect because they are inept from the beginning and because Bottom serves as the target of one of Puck's greatest pranks--his head is turned into that of a donkey.  It is great fun, hilarious laughter, and pure comic relief from the tensions brought up in the other plots of the play.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Tuesday April 8, 2008 at 6:56 AM