How Language is used to convey comedy in the play of "Pyramus and Thisbe" as performed by the workers in Act 5 scene 1

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        How Language is used to convey comedy in the play of “Pyramus and Thisbe” as performed by the workers in Act 5 scene 1

The Background of Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was a playwright and actor who was born in the 16th century. His profession was an actor and a playwright. He wrote plays to be performed on stage by actors like himself. He often used storylines which were already in existence like Pyramus and Thisbe. This was a story which originated in ancient Rome. All his storylines followed a similar pattern; this was that they all consisted of tragedy, history or comedy. He also wrote poems but was not as well known for this as for the plays he wrote.

Background of A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Nights Dream was composed in 1595-1596. Many people believe this piece was written to be performed at weddings and cheerful celebrations. This same story line was later used to write Romeo and Juliet.

        The main plot of A Midsummer nights dream is complex which has many subplots. It involves two sets of couples named “Hermia and Lysander” and “Helena and Demetrius” it also involves the king and queen of the fairies “Oberon and Titania” the other set of characters are “the workers.” The workers try to perform Pyramus and Thisbe to Theseus and Hippolyta and the young lovers since they have just got married and want something light and cheerful before bed. Pyramus and Thisbe is a story about extreme love which the couple are willing to die for each other.

        The way in which the workers perform the play makes it sound comical and farcical, when in fact it is meant to be tragic and poignant.  

The Characters of a Midsummer Nights Dream

The workers

The workers consist of 6 characters. These characters are:

  • Quince (director)
  • Flute
  • Snout
  • Starveling
  • Bottom
  • Snug

Quince is the director of the play, you could say he is the brains behind it. He tells the actors what to say, what to do and where to go. He was a carpenter by trade and he got his name from the “quoins” of wedge-shaped wood he used in building. He can correct mispronunciations and misunderstandings and he knows about fables of mythology.

        Flute plays Thisbe in the play of Pyramus and Thisbe. Thisbe bellows-maker, a bellow is an instrument that blows oxygen on fires to make them rise higher.

        Snout’s job was to repair the spouts of kettles when they were broken, in the play he had to be the wall between Pyramus and Thisbe. He makes some remarks in the play that sound funny because he mixed up his words when he was leaving the stage.

        Starveling was a tailor by trade and he got his name from the belief that all tailors were thin. In the play starveling is the moonshine. His job is to open a window and let moonlight shine onto Pyramus's dead body. One of the guests calls him the man on the moon, “this is the greatest error of all the rest. The man should be put into the lantern: how is it else the man I’ the moon” this is after starveling comes on stage with a lantern and says it is meant to represent the moon. Theseus then replies about the man in the moon.

        Bottom was a weaver; he got his name from the weaves of wound on a reel or “bottom.”

In this play Bottom seems to act as if he knows everything when in fact he knows very little. He overacts quite often including when he kills himself to be with Thisbe. He is arrogant and foolish but he is not a fool in some respects. He is full of energy and enthusiasm.

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        He lacks self-consciousness which is probably why he is arrogant. In my opinion his ignorance to poetry and music adds to his comical figure. Bottom is a funny character and has humorous moments in the play where we think that no-one would actually be that dim-witted to do the things that he does. I think that Bottom does not have much dignity from his antics.

        

The Wedding Guests

Theseus and Hippolyta are the hosts for the wedding. This is one of the couples who got married; the celebrations are for them to commemorate their wedding day. This reception is ...

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