Blog #4- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act III
Act III: Bottom- Please respond to the questions using
evidence from the play.
- · Why does Bottom insist on adding a prologue to “Pyramus and Thisbe?”
- · How does Bottom come to be “translated?” What is the reason for this transformation?
- · How does Bottom react to his fairy servants?
- · What is your opinion of Bottom? Is he a fool, or is he wiser than he appears? Use evidence from the text to support your claims.
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At the beginning of Act III Bottom, Quince, Flute, Snug, Snout, and Starveling go to the woods to practice their play, "Pyramus and Thisbe". Because there is violence that they believe will scare the women in the audience, Bottom suggests a prologue is added in order to clarify that no one will actually be harmed (Act III Scene 1, Lines 13-18). Bottom then wanders off while practicing his lines and when he returns to the other men he has the head of a donkey. This transformation was the work of Puck the fairy so that when Tatania wakes up, she will fall in love with a man with the head of a donkey (Act III Scene I, Line 127). Tatania calls her fairy servants to take care of Bottom. He is extremely friendly towards the servants and is so talkative that Tatania has to put a spell on him to make him stop talking for the way home (Act III Scene I, Lines 154-176). I believe Bottom is a fool mainly because he says to Tatania that he is neither wise nor beautiful. Of course this could be due to a lack of self esteem. However, he also was foolish enough not to notice he had the head of a donkey. (M. McAlister 5th).
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I believe that maybe Bottom did notice his donkey head and went along with Tatiana anyways. Bottom was of a lower class than a queen, and enjoyed the attention and unending lavishes brought to him by Tatiana. This means, that while he would have taken advantage of Tatiana, he was wise in his actions to better himself. (T. Johnson 7th).
DeleteI agree that Bottom is foolish enough to not notice a donkeys head on him. He is very oblivious to things going on around him. He even wander off while practicing lines. (E.Adkins 6th)
DeleteBottom likes Titania’s fairy servants. He meets them and is friendly, he even makes cheesy puns out of each of their names.
ReplyDelete(6 M.Greene)
While this observation is true, you still didn't explain why a prologue was added. Providing a little more reasoning and evidence can go a long way.
DeleteBottom wants to write a prologue so the women in the audience won't be afraid because of Pyramus' death. Bottom is transformed by Puck. This is for Puck's amusement. In Act 3 Scene 1 Puck says, "What hempen homespuns have we swaggering here, So near the cradle of the fairy queen?" Maybe he transformed Bottom into a donkey so that Oberon's plan for Titania to fall in love with an animal would work. When Bottom meets his fairy servants, he talks to them as if they are the items that their names are (for example, he tells Mustardseed he is sorry for any losses of family members of his because humans like to eat mustardseed on beef). I think Bottom is a fool. Throughout the play, he is often confused (see example I just used above) or acting very arrogant. (1M. Reyome)
ReplyDeleteIn Act Three, Bottom insists that a prologue should be included in the beginning of the play to warn the women in the audience that no one really dies in the play and that the lion isn't a real lion because he believes these violent scenes may frighten the ladies. As the crew is rehearsing, Robin comes about and transforms Bottom into an ass because he needs a hideous monster for poisoned Titania to lay eyes on and fall in love with in order for Oberon to get the Indian boy away from her. When Titania awakens and falls in love with Bottom, she gives him fairy servants so he can always get what he wants. Bottom doesn't react with surprise or fear in response to seeing fairies, but is kind to them and treats them with respect. I believe that Bottom is a fool who tries too hard to be better and wiser than everyone around him. For example, as Quince is trying to give out directions to everyone, Bottom just yells and repeats whatever Quince says. Bottom rarely has an original thought and when he does think on his own, something completely cocky or unintelligent comes out of his mouth. (H. Bryant 6th)
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the fact that Bottom tries to be better and wiser than everyone around him is what makes him a fool? Or do you think this represents that we are all fools who try to be better than the rest? (M. McAlister 5th).
DeleteIn scene lll Bottom wanted to add a prologue because they play would be preformed in front of a large crowd. Part of the crowd would be ladies and he did no want to offend them or scare them. So he decided the prologue would explain that the lion was a man in a costume and he doesn't really die in real life. When bottom wasn't looking puck turned him into a donkey so make him the butt of the joke. Bottom did not fully understand what was happening so when his friends ran away from him he thought they were trying to make him look bad. When Titania introduced bottom to her fairy servants he was hesitant to use them at first but then he made them so simple task that he could have did himself like scratching his own head. In my opinion bottom is a little bit of both. He is very foolish at times and tries to be the entertainer. But he also has a witty side that is always questioning logic.(7j.shillow)
ReplyDelete-In "Pyramus and Thisbe" a character kills himself which is considered inappropriate content and scary for the ladies so Bottom suggests adding a prologue to let the ladies know that the actions nor characters in the play are real, merely pretend.
ReplyDelete-Bottom was "translated" as result of one of Puck's tricks. His translation was done to play a trick on Titania. Titania ended up falling in love with Bottom even though he had an ass' head.
-Bottom immediately puts the fairy servants to work as seen in the act when he gives orders such as, "Scratch my head Peaslebottom," and "Kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle and... bring me the honey-bag." He acts as if he’s always had servants to to care for his every want.
-Bottom is what would be known today as a class clown. He is very goofy and rarely has anything of importance to say and not only is he very cocky and idiotic, he like to cause mischief and bother other people. You can also see that he likes to be the center of attention when roles are being picked for “Pyramus and Thisbe,” he volunteers to play every character. K. Stanley 5th
Bottom insists on including a prologue in the play to ensure the ladies watching know he doesn't really die at the end of the play, they are not frightened by the lion and know that the man playing the wall is really a man, as he declares when he says "...and that Pyramus is not killed indeed..." (III.i. p.26) and "...his face must be seen through the lion's neck; and he himself must speak through, saying thus, or to some defect, '-Ladies' or 'Fair Ladies, - i would wish you'..." (III. i. p.27). Bottom just wants to impress the ladies.
ReplyDeleteBottom comes to be "translated" by Puck. We know this when Puck "happens" to take Bottom away from the play practice in the wood when he knows that Oberon wants Tatiana, the fairy queen, to see an animal when she first wakes up with the love potion. Puck finds it amusing that Tatiana would fall in love with a human who has an animal head, and transforms him to lead him to Tatiana. Tatiana does, in fact, fall in love with Bottom at first sight when she wakes up from her slumber in Act III, Scene i, page 29.
Bottom reacts welcomingly to the fairy servants, automatically demanding requests, like " I shall desire more of your (a Fairy Servant) acquaintance..." (III. i. p.31).
I think Bottom is wiser than he appears. His first reaction to the play is to be given all the parts to play, showing that he can memorize many parts at one time. He also is respectful to the fairy servants, as in saying "Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience..." (III.i. p.31). This means he pays attention to details and quickly picks up on one's character. This is not an act of foolishness, but of attention to detail and respectfulness.
(T. Johnson. 7th).``
Bottom and the others go into the woods to practice the play. Bottom insist that there needs to be a prologue for the fight scene because the women might be scared of it. While practicing the play, Bottom wanders off into the woods and returns with the head of a donkey on him. (III.I.98) The work of the donkeys head was done by Puck. Tatinia calls on her fairy servants to take care of Bottom. (III.I.143) Bottom is very nice to the servants but extremely talkative. Tatinia has to put a spell on him for talking so much. I believe that Bottom is a fool because he did not notice the donkeys head and because he told Tatinia that he was neither wise nor beautiful. (E.Adkins 6th)
ReplyDeleteBottom was so talkative with the fairy servants he even made puns out of their names. I agree Bottom is a fool because he did not notice the donkey head, but also because he is very arrogant throughout the play. (M. Reyome 1)
DeleteI agree with you completely. I think puck being a gentleman and changing the play for the women plays into Shakespeare's portrayal of gender roles as well. (5j.shillow)
DeleteBottom is wanted to include a prologue in their play to make sure people know he is still alive at the end of their play. He also wanted to name the characters and say who they are played by. "...his face must be seen through the lion's neck; and he himself must speak through, saying thus, or to some defect..." (Act III. i. p.27) Bottom said as he introduced the play. Bottom is translated by Puck, because Puck understands him. He takes him to where Oberon's plan is supposed to take place. When the plan is completed, Tatiana falls in love with Bottom. I think Bottom is wiser but doesn't put in the effort of knowledge or common sense. (B. Holland 7th)
ReplyDeleteBottom says, "Write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed. And for the more better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver. This will put them out of fear." (III.1.page 3) meaning that he doesn't want to scare the women watching the play.
ReplyDeleteBottom comes to be "translated" when Puck changes his head into a donkey's head while bottom was out in the woods. (III.I.page 5)
Bottom reacts to the fairies kindly but speaks too much and makes foolish comments. (III.I. page 9)
I think that Bottom is a fool because of his arrogance as an actor, dull comments, and bad insight on the play and how it should be presented. (III.I. page 5) (1 M. Meadows)