A Midsummer Night's Dream Essay
By: rm2252
Discuss the relationship between characterisation and the audience’s response in Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The relationship between characterisation and the audience’s response in Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is evident throughout the whole play. There is a main emphasis on dramatic irony, juxtaposition, the confusion between the characters, the characters talking directly to the audience and having a play with in a play.
Shakespeare relies heavily on dramatic irony throughout his play. Dramatic irony is a technique that is used to help maintain the audience’s interest in the play and the confusion between characters. It is a way of getting the audience involved as they know more than the characters themselves. An example of this is evident in Act 3, scene 1, when Bottom’s head is transformed into that of an ass’s. Bottom has no idea about what happened but the audience and the other characters are aware of this. The other characters run away in fear when they …show more content…
Shakespeare is using the technique of juxtaposition. In the court the language is in verse. It is formal and stately. “Now fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on a pace.” The audience see the formality of the court. The lovers speak in poetry but it is not as formal. It is emotional “Call me fair? That fair again unsay.” This shows that all the characters are sophisticated and civilised. The Mechanicals speak in prose. There by identifying themselves to the audiences as rude labourers and so contrasting them with the world of the court and lovers. It is also a form of crude comedy. It is clear from the start that Bottom is boorish, pushy and he seeks to lead the group. This is shown in act 1, scene 2 “ first good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow a
Discuss the relationship between characterisation and the audience’s response in Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The relationship between characterisation and the audience’s response in Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is evident throughout the whole play. There is a main emphasis on dramatic irony, juxtaposition, the confusion between the characters, the characters talking directly to the audience and having a play with in a play.
Shakespeare relies heavily on dramatic irony throughout his play. Dramatic irony is a technique that is used to help maintain the audience’s interest in the play and the confusion between characters. It is a way of getting the audience involved as they know more than the characters themselves. An example of this is evident in Act 3, scene 1, when Bottom’s head is transformed into that of an ass’s. Bottom has no idea about what happened but the audience and the other characters are aware of this. The other characters run away in fear when they …show more content…
Shakespeare is using the technique of juxtaposition. In the court the language is in verse. It is formal and stately. “Now fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on a pace.” The audience see the formality of the court. The lovers speak in poetry but it is not as formal. It is emotional “Call me fair? That fair again unsay.” This shows that all the characters are sophisticated and civilised. The Mechanicals speak in prose. There by identifying themselves to the audiences as rude labourers and so contrasting them with the world of the court and lovers. It is also a form of crude comedy. It is clear from the start that Bottom is boorish, pushy and he seeks to lead the group. This is shown in act 1, scene 2 “ first good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow a