A Midsummer Night’s Dream Group

Question:

jdgbest
jdgbest
Student

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," how might Bottom be the opposite of Theseus's character? What is your opinion of him?

The question takes place in act 4. The fourth act opens and closes with Bottom at center stage.

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Posted by jdgbest on Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 8:18 AM and tagged with a midsummer night’s dream, bottom, characters, opposite, theseus.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    Bottom is the opposite of Theseus in many ways. Some are obvious and basic; some are more subtle. Start with the obvious: Bottom is a manual laborer. Theseus is duke of Athens. Bottom is a blustering fool. Theseus is not. Bottom is ruled by his ego; Theseus seems ruled by his rational mind. Bottom starts the play single, gets paired off with a queen, and ends up alone; Theseus starts single (technically), and ends up married to a queen. Bottom won his love through someone else's magic, and doesn't deserve it; Theseus won his love through force of arms.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer/bottom-character-analysis

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    Posted by gbeatty on Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 8:45 AM

  2. jdgbest
    jdgbest Student

    I think that Bottom is funny and thinks too much of himself.  Theseus on the other hand is strict, simple, and plain.

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    Posted by jdgbest on Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 6:43 PM