In
the evening, in Theseus's palace, Hippolyta remarks on the strange
tale the four lovers have told them. Theseus is prepared to dismiss it
as a fanciful story, no more true than something a madman or a poet (who
both have vivid imaginations) might conjure up. Hippolyta is not
convinced. She points out that the stories the young people tell are all
consistent with one another, which makes her think they are reliable.
Lysander,
Demetrius, Hermia and Helena enter. Theseus asks Philostrate what the
entertainment will be for the remainder of the evening. Philostrate
hands him a sheet of paper with a list of acts for him to choose from.
The artisans' play, Pyramus and Thisbe, is fourth on the list, and it
attracts Theseus's attention. Philostrate tells him that it is a very
bad play, and that when he saw it in rehearsal it made him laugh, even
though it is a tragedy. Theseus asks who is to perform it, and after
Philostrate tells him that it is being done by some artisans from Athens
who have never exercised their minds in anything before, Theseus
decides, over Philostrate's protests, to hear it. He tells the
doubtful Hippolyta that what matters is not the quality of the product,
but the honesty and simplicity with which it is offered.
There
is a flourish of trumpets. Peter Quince enters and speaks the play's
prologue. according to the watching aristocrats, Theseus, Hippolyta and
Lysander, he delivers the lines badly.
As
the rest of the players enter, Peter Quince continues his prologue,
explaining who the characters are, including Wall (played by Snout),
Moonshine (played by Starveling), and Lion (played by Snug). He also
explains the plot of the play. Pyramus and Thisbe are to meet at Ninus'
tomb and woo each other there. But Thisbe is scared away by a lion, and
as she flees she drops her mantle. The lion mangles it and leaves it
looking bloodstained. When Pyramus arrives, he is so distraught at the
sight of the apparently bloody mantle that he kills himself, thinking
his lover dead.
The
players perform their parts as best they can, despite the rude
interruptions from the aristocrats, who enjoy themselves by mocking the
farcical performance.
Snout
explains at length that he is playing a wall. Pyramus approaches the
wall, on the other side of which Thisbe eventually appears. The two
lovers engage in a love dialogue in which they both mangle the names of
the characters from classical mythology. Then they part, agreeing to
meet at Ninus' tomb.
Snug
enters and explains that he is Lion, as does Starveling as Moonshine.
They manage to get their lines out in spite of the mocking comments from
the aristocrats. Lion chases Thisbe away, and then Pyramus enters and
passionately laments what he thinks is the death of Thisbe. He stabs
himself and dies. Thisbe returns to find her lover dead, and stabs
herself in grief.
After
some generous praise for their performance from Theseus, they conclude
with a rustic dance.
It
is midnight, and Theseus and the others retire to bed. Puck enters and
announces that now is the time that fairies frolic. Oberon and Titania
and their train sing and dance a blessing on the house.
The
last word is given to Puck, who speaks directly to the audience. He says
that if anything in the play has offended them, they should consider
themselves to have been sleeping, and the play to be nothing more than a
dream.
Analysis
In
his famous speech about the lunatic, the lover and the poet, Theseus
reveals himself to be a rationalist. He does not give any credence to
the world of imagination. Perhaps this is to be expected from a man who
is an efficient ruler and practical man of affairs. He puts his trust in
his day-to-day experience, rather than the imaginative worlds inhabited
by lovers or poets.
The
artisans' play is usually extremely funny in performance, as actors
get the opportunity to act as non-actors trying to be actors. It also
suggests that the theater need not strive overmuch for realism, since
the artisans' attempts at realism actually make their play less rather
than more believable.
Oberon and Titania, now
restored to friendship, show the true role of the fairies, which is to
bless the human world and guard it from dangers.
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