Explore the Ways In Which Shakespeare Presents the Rude Mechanicals.

Authors Avatar

Liberty Kathro 10N

EXPLORE THE WAYS IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS THE RUDE MECHANICALS

In his play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Shakespeare presents the Rude Mechanicals primarily as humorous characters: they provide the comic relief.  They intend to put on their own play, ‘The lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe,’ as part of the marriage ceremony of Theseus and Hippolyta: a rather tragic choice!  

        Although these men are called the “Rude Mechanicals” we cannot assume that they are not educated.  Quince for example seems to be intelligent enough as he can correct mispronunciation “Odorous, odorous.”  Snug does seem to prove the point that he is unintelligent and he seems quite uneducated, “I am slow of study.”

        The Rude Mechanicals who dominate the group and have most to say are Bottom and Quince.  Bottom in particular is a very dominant character, convinced of his own ability, and he keen to show off, even to Titania’s fairies and this is made evident when he addresses them as “Mounsieur.”

        Similarly another example of him prove himself to be unintelligent is at the end of Act one when all the play parts are decided it is Bottom rather than Quince, who says to the other rude mechanicals, “we will meet; and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously.  Take pains; be perfect…” obviously Bottom does not mean to say obscenely so Shakespeare is creating humour at the character Bottom’s expense.  The word sounds impressive but is in fact incorrect.  His need to be leader also becomes evident in the command, “take pains; be perfect.”

        Shakespeare introduces the character of Bottom first in Act 1 scene 2 when Bottom and Peter Quince struggle for power; this tone for Bottom’s character is set early on in the play.  Bottom wants tom play every part in the play which shows that he thinks of himself as a better actor than any of the others we learn this when he says “and I may hide my face let me play Thisbe too” and when he says “let me play the lion too.  I will roar, that I will do any man’s heart good to hear me.”  This also shows that he has a high opinion of himself and thinks himself better than the others.  This is not realistic though as you can see when the play is performed the Bottom overacts and is laughed at by Theseus.  Bottom is also very dominant character and he tends to take over in rehearsals for example when he says, “let me play Thisbe too.  I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice.”  With the request let me he takes Quince in hand.  In addition this is also another to point to show Bottom’s stupidity, you can see this in the contradiction, “monstrous little…”

Bottom tends to come across as the bossy one who would really like to be in control: he struggles throughout the play to make himself appear more intelligent than he is in reality.  This is supported by the scene where he states, “not a whit, I have to deceive to make all well.  Write me a prologue.”

Join now!

Bottom tends to credit the audience with little or no intelligence for example he asks Quince to write a prologue to tell that he is “not indeed dead and that him Pyramus is indeed Bottom the weaver.”  This is really quite obvious as the acting is not really well done and it is a play.  It’s clear that he is obviously ignorant of the convention of disbelief in plays, which the audience would understand.  He also reinforces this point when he asks for another prologue to inform, “The lion is not really a lion and in fact Snug the Joiner.” ...

This is a preview of the whole essay