Humor in Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay

Historical records from the late sixteenth century are marked by the severe expose pursues of the plague, which spread throughout most of Europe. The increased death point and famine suppressed cultural development and thus genuinely(prenominal) some gives of art or literature were produced. During these devastating years, the young poet William Shakespeare ref employ to strike to the provinces, a personal manner from London, where the plague had reached enormous extents. On the contrary, in 1593 and 1594 he composed the poems Venus and Adonis and Lucrece which were both met by great interest and excitement.These corroboratory responses encouraged Shakespeare and with even stronger efforts he wrote the tactical maneuver A summertime solstice darks Dream in the extraction of 1595, when the plague was brought under control. This work non only marks the end of famine and suffering in London during the late sixteenth century, but also signifies that the Master is instanter confident in his art, at ease with it, as a homosexual in his dressing-gown. Categorized as a festive comedy, A summer solstice night clocks Dream is a considerable advance in Shakespeares work. The most extraordinary evidence for this advance is the skilful habitude of different variations of sense of humour in ace take. some other(a) distinctive case of the work is the incorporation of another play at bottom the borders of A summer solstice iniquitys Dream. Analysis of different char crookeristics of the work should inevitably center on the story of the craftsmen performing Pyramus and Thisbe, since this startle is a representative of Shakespearean comedy and only of its patterns. Therefore, it also portrays the impressionable usage of wit, or much specifically, of literary twists and social characteristics, not only in A Midsummer shadows Dream but also throughout all Shakespearean comedies.The poets works can be roughly categorized in tetrad categories trag edies, comedies, histories, and romance. All of them are having separate characteristics, tone and style, involving different literary devices and mechanisms. Comedies are usually stories with happy ending, lighthearted patterns and oft involving a marriage. They all shit a distinct usage of humor, which can be defined as innovative and normally Shakespearean.The plays usually present the contend of young lovers who rent to get over some(prenominal) obstacles in imitate of their find oneselfings and often involve mistaken identities,separation and unification, heightened tensions deep down a family, and nonuple bizs. One really significant trait of the poets comedies is that they do not involve any satire, which makes them more lighthearted and easy to process. The common pose of the plots tends to be nature, more specifically the green initiation. This is one of Shakespeares preferred cites since it holds a more casual atmosphere, where jokes and puns slowly fin d their charge to the public, unbound by the social norms present the city.another(prenominal) significance of the range is the current time tip, which constitutes the pattern of the society, its expectations and rules, and its literacy. The poet carefully takes advantage of the prejudices and the ideologies of the public and accordingly makes his comedies very contemporary, discussing topics that are relevant to the time period. Shakespearean comedies imply the corporation of the audience and therefore they are dependent on races way of viewing life and way of expression.A play performed during the period of its setting would be far more funny and socialize than the analogous play performed nowadays because of the evolved human way of thinking. Nonetheless, Shakespearean comedies contain genuine literal devices creating humor, which function in the same way now, as four centuries ago. The story of the amateur and awkward actors in A Midsummer Nights Dream contains a great allocate of those devices, which make it fencesitter upon the public, still involving it in its plot.One of those devices is the use of prose throughout the play within Shakespeares work. The poet re fits the intact rhyme pattern in order to mark the puns and jokes in the course of the plot. When the actors are talking in a straightforward manner the humor is more easily transferred to the public, since they do not have to perceive the rhyming. Furthermore, the prose contributes to the image of the craftsmen. Their illiteracy and simple-mindedness can be identified easily through their way of expression. The artisans speak in a simple manner, alike to their social class standing.Although they are striving to use a more sophisticated language, they mix up grammar and spelling in a very jocund way Have you the social lions part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me for I am slow of study. The usage of prose in the play also creates plain humor, which does not need to be in terpreted in any way. This is simple poetic device that creates comedy, which is every bit funny now and four centuries ago. Sentences as I will strive it bring about the same reaction of the public regardless of the time period.This mechanism may be the most frequently used one in the part with the artisans, but probably the most efficient device is the word play, created through the misspellings and wrong pronunciations of the craftsmen. Shakespeare takes advantage of the sound similarities betwixt talking to with completely different meanings and adds the alternatives to the mechanicals barbarism. In their efforts to sound more sophisticated, the artisans mix up words as obscenely(Shakespeare, 68), parlous (Shakespeare 87), disfigure (Shakespeare 88), savours, odours (Shakespeare 89), translated (Shakespeare 91), presently and so forth.Those confusions create different connotations and meanings, thus entertaining the audience. For example, Bottom misuses obscenely, meaning c ountly, or more but, fitly instead of parlous Snout should have verbalise perilous, and Bottom completely mixes odours, savours, odorous. All these mistakes build a very efficient humor mechanism that Shakespeare uses in most of his comedies. Another effective literary device that Shakespeare had mastered is the mix of unawares and keen-sighted sentences, presenting the interrupted lines of thought of the artisans, their inability to express themselves and their lack of education.It also contributes to the unquestionable tone of their natural conversation A calendar, a calendar feeling in the almanac find out lunar month, find out moonshine (Shakespeare 69). Bottoms excitement disables him to form complete and meaningful sentences he wants to express himself as fast as he can, regardless of the way of expression. The frequent usage of and, instead of if, in the beginning of the sentences, shows that the artisans thoughts and bringing close togethers are flow rate during th e course of their speech Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life he could not have scaped sixpence a day.And the Duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, Ill be hanged (Shakespeare 122). The obvious repetition here also signifies the awkwardness and slimness of the mechanicals. Their personalities are also involved in the creation of the curious comedy. demur for their illiteracy, simple and narrow mindedness and their awkwardness, the artisans have more traits that build their image of nonsensical characters. Nick Bottom, for example, is a overconfident weaver, who is the central figure in the plot of the story.He has an incredible belief in his abilities and skills and pretends todominate over the other mechanicals. Bottom does not accept the fact that he is illiterate and therefore his confused words make him sound ridiculous. He loves to exaggerate and over-dramatize, appraise his own self-esteem. The weaver does not realize that the others are not taking him seriously and is not aware of his foolishness. His image may seem farcical and worthy of pity, but it also gains the publics attention and sympathy. In this way the audience is in the same time laughing at his words and perceiving them as something honest and simple.Bottom is always ready to assume anything that would make him important. From the play it can be derived that he developed a complex of inferiority, which, nonetheless, does not seem dispiriting but comic. When Peter quince is giving out the voices for Pyramus and Thisbe Bottom is repeatedly showing his will to act for everyone. After every single occasion is announced, he is awkwardly nerve-wracking to portray himself as the most suppress actor for it That will request some tears in the true performing of it. If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes I will move storms, I will condole, in some measure.( Shakespeare 65). There is an enkindle comic reference here to one of the main themes of the play, the use of ones eyes in love. This is evidence that the story of the amateur actors is representative of the total play and the humor used is relevant to the main course of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Finally, Bottom is assigned the role of Pyramus, who is a lover that kills himself, most gallant, for love. There is an obvious contradiction between the images of the mechanical and Pyramus, which adds funny absurdity to the comedy.Gallant is probably the least appropriate description of the tall and clumsy craftsman. Bottoms confidence often diminishes the role of Peter quince, another character that entertains the public through his speech and attitude toward the future motion. He is an ordinary carpenter who is not see in anything else than his craft. He tries to be the leader of the group that is attempting to put unneurotic the play Pyramus and Thisbe. Even though his directions are respected, they usually meet the censure of the other artisans.Peter quince takes advant age of the short-mindedness of his fellows and comes up with irrational justifications of his decisions, which, nonetheless, seem true to the craftsmen Thats all one you shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will. (66 Shakespeare) You can play no part but Pyramus for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man, a comme il faut man as one shall se in a summers day, a most lovely, gentlemanlike man (68 Shakespeare). This is how Peter quince succeeds in convincing Bottom that he is perfect for the role of Pyramus utilize his high self- esteem and need to be granted recognition.Peter Quince further contributes to the comedy by selecting Francis flute glass, a bellows-mender, for the role of Thisbe. Even beforehand the actual performance, the audience imagines how the ordinary craftsman is speaking in a small voice, wearing a mask which is supposed to hide his beard. Flutes determination to scale his sense of masculinity, which is ridiculed in the play, is a remarkable sacri fice for the success of the performance. His extreme readiness fascinates the public and presents the seriousness of the artisans. as well as from this scene it can be derived that the craftsmen are putting all their efforts into the performance. redbreast Starveling, first chosen to play Thisbes mother, readily accepts his role, which would make him more than an ordinary tailor. Later on in the play, he is assigned the role of the moonshine, which does not discourage him. The same comic enthusiasm is also shared out by Tom Snout, the thinker who is chosen to play Pyramuss novice but later on receives the role of the wall separating Pyramus and Thisbe. Together with Snug, the joiner chosen to play a lion, they both feel they have significant separate in the performance, and every one of them is concerned about his role.For instance, Snug is hard put that his roaring may frighten the ladies in the audience. He is determined that his playacting will convince the public that he is a real lion and the other craftsmen agree with him. Their funny concerns are followed by even more comic solutions there will be a Prologue who will strike the true personalities of the craftsmen before the performance, and Snug will show a part of his face to comfort the ladies in the audience. In this way the suspense of the on the whole performance will be ruined, but the artisans are afraid that their acting skills may be too sophisticated.The craftsmens low level of education, short and narrow mindedness and awkward speech play a great role in the development of the comedy. They are all ordinary characters, from the low working(a) class who have one and the same goal to achieve something remarkable and worthy of respect. Despite their comic lack of sophistication, they succeed in entertaining the audience in another, more original and funny way. The play of Pyramus and Thisbe is a tragedy but their performance can be more precisely defined as a tragic comedy.The actual performance is compete during the celebrations of Theseuss marriage and even though it is inappropriate for such occasion, it turns out to be successful. In the beginning the audience is confused by the exotic and amateur acting, but finally the craftsmen appear to be the culmination of the whole festival. The performance is welcomed by a flourish of trumpets, which are very inappropriate for the quest fiasco. There is a distinct comic discriminate between the flourish of the trumpets, usually meant to signify a glamorous work, and the impressions following the play.Peter Quince, taken the role of the Prologue, confidently steps onto the scene and starts practice from the scroll, unintentionally changing its meaning by mistaking its punctuation That you should think, we come not to offend, but with good will. To show our simple skill, that is the true beginning of our end. Although this seems funny to the reader, the audience in the play is first confused by the illiteracy of the Prologue This fellow doth not stand upon points (Shakespeare 129), meaning that he is not punctilious.At first, Theseus is embarrassed by the awkward performance of Quince and wonders if there is a reason for his mistakes. Without being worried about his calorie-free performance, the determined craftsman continues his important speech, full of comic sentences, as he bravely breached his boiling bloody breast. The true meaning of breached is truly stabbed but Shakespeare uses this word to create a comic alliteration. After the Prologue has calm the audience, the reader encounters another comic effect of the play the characteristics of the Wall, played by Snout.It is intentionally described as alive and moving Wall move its fingers (Shakespeare 130). The Wall is personified which makes the whole performance even more ridiculous and funny. As the other craftsmen, Snug also wants to be noticed in the performance and thus overacts, making his role more than absurd. Robin Starvel ing and Snug, acting as the moonshine and the lion, also take their parts more seriously than they should have and contribute to the comic tragedy that the play Pyramus and Thisbe eventually becomes. The audience, although confused by the whole performance, is entertained and the efforts of the craftsmen are justified.They reached their goal of producing something for which they will be sleep together and respected, even though their intentions were not fulfilled. The story of the artisans performing the play Pyramus and Thisbe contains quite a little of humor devices and comic scenes, which make it representative of Shakespearean comedies in many ways. First of all the small play represents the struggle of young lovers to overcome the difficulties set by the circumstances in pursue of their feelings, which is a typical theme for a tragedy, but after the performance it is also associated with humor and comedy.Furthermore, the amateur actors represent the illiteracy of the low clas s. Shakespeare recognizes the importance of this widespread for the special(prenominal) time period problem, but in the same time he portrays the comic part of it and praises the artisans strive to achieve something meaningful. By his usage of humor he is not criticizing the artisans he or else justifies their difficulties with grammar and expression in general. The play Pyramus and Thisbe is not a lyrical digression from the main topic of A Midsummer Nights Dream.It presents another outcome of the situation with the lovers, more undesirable and lacking a happy end. Shakespeare produces a play within the play to further entertain the audience and show the comedic character of his work. Another interpretation of the story of Pyramus and Thisbe may be the initial intention of Shakespeare to create verbally a tragedy, not a comedy. By the time he writes A Midsummer Nights Dream, he has mastered to an extent the tragic genre, and feels more cheerful producing such pieces of literatu re. The occasion though, a marriage celebration, requires from him to create a rather entertaining work.Maybe through the incorporation of the small play, Shakespeare implies that his original idea was to create another tragedy. He does not allow the audience to feel the tragic nature of Pyramus and Thisbe by using a great deal of humor in it. Even though Shakespeare produces A Midsummer Nights Dream in a period of time when people are not concerned about art and literature, but about their survival, the play has great success ever since then. The conventional humor used to portray the lovers struggles seems untouched by time and the evolving human way of thinking.quartette centuries after it was written, the work still fascinates with its characteristics and mechanisms. Comedies are generally a very hard genre because what is funny today may not be funny at all tomorrow. Despite that fact, Shakespeares genius manages to create a universal humor, using comical devices that are still interesting and entertaining. By those devices he creates a parallel world where time is a relative term and where humor and laughter are the driving forces world where people are entertained in spite of the social norms and rules. Bibliography Biscay, Matt. A Midsummer Nights Dream A Comedy. Skyminds.net. 2006. Skyminds. net. 08 Nov 2006 . Mahony, Simon. Simon Mahony Academic Stuff. Pyramus and Thisbe in Shakespeare and Ovid. 2002. Kings College London. 5 Nov 2006 . McFarland, Thomas. Shakespeares Pastoral Comedy. North Carolina, regular army The University of North Carolina Press, 1972. Parrot, Thomas. Shakespearean Comedy. New York, USA Russel & Russel, 1962. Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Nights Dream. 2003. Editor Brian Gibbons. United Kingdom Cambridge University Press, 2006. Teague, Francis. Acting Funny ridiculous Thoery and Practice in Shakespeares Plays. 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