“Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream.”
May 6, 2009Read the extract below, summarize it, explain what you think is the author’s most important point, and then explain why you do or do not agree with the author. Be sure, also, to comment on at least one other response in this thread.
E. K. CHAMBERS, Shakespeare: A Survey. London: Sidgwick, 1925.
[Bottom] is, with the possible exception of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, the first of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations.. .. From beginning to end of the play his absolute self-possession never for a moment fails him. He lords it over his fellow-actors, as though he, and not Quince, were poet and stage-manager in one; he accepts the amorous attentions of a queen with calm serenity as no more than might naturally have been expected; nor does he ever, either before or after his transformation, betray the slightest suspicion of the fact that he is after all only an ass.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
“[Bottom] is, with the possible exception of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, the first of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations.. .. From beginning to end of the play his absolute self-possession never for a moment fails him. He lords it over his fellow-actors, as though he, and not Quince, were poet and stage-manager in one; he accepts the amorous attentions of a queen with calm serenity as no more than might naturally have been expected; nor does he ever, either before or after his transformation, betray the slightest suspicion of the fact that he is after all only an ass.”
I chuckled when reading the last sentence.
The author is basically saying that Puck is the Nurse, when it comes to a Midsummer Night’s Dream since he always remains the same (except for his head…) despite all of the crazy incidents that come to take place. Don’t the rest of the characters that will take place in what they call “Pyramus and Thisbe” act normally too despite the face that we don’t really hear of them as much as Bottom? Or would they not because Bottom was an ass?
I found the author’s most important point to be that Bottom kind of acted as the Nurse. These two characters basically went with the flow of things. In Romeo and Juliet, when everyone insisted that Juliet should marry Paris, the Nurse just followed the group the same way that Bottom made orders to the fairies, as they came to him and Titania told them to do anything he wanted them to do. Just because the stories that they were in took different turns, it didn’t mean that they would change their actions, like the other characters (Titania and Juliet). It makes me wonder if Shakespeare always has a fairly… confused person in all of his stories (I wouldn’t say sane, since I don’t find asses to be sane, to be truthful. ;D).
I agree with the author. There are actually people like that in the world. When given orders and/or ideas, they’ll simply believe them, which makes me think of the people as tools. Everyone’s their own person. I mean, I don’t blame Bottom for taking advantage of an opportunity like that. Think about it. Getting magical fairies to get and do whatever you want?! Awesome!
The Nurse, on the other hand is more of a realistic person in the sense that there are no fairies and she agrees with Capulet and Lady Capulet about the idea that Juliet should marry Paris. When I read that, I kind of disliked that about her. After all of the time that she helped Juliet with the Romeo business, she bails out. That’s not a great thing to do in my opinion. You help someone, you have to stay in. But hey, everyone’s different.
May 6th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
bottom, is shown as an ass throughout the play, from the moment his name is made known, he is an ass. his name (bottom) is another word for butt, which is synonymous with an ass. also, from the way he acts, he behaves like an ass, and later, puck put’s a donkey head on him, and another word for a donkey is an ass. while Titania is in her love juice induced pampering of bottom, bottom seems to accept it, as if it were what was supposed to be happening to him. so during this time period, he is completely oblivious about his appearance and he is acting like an ass, while he is wearing an ass’s head, and his name is synonymous with an ass.
E.K. Chambers says that bottom was the first of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations, with the exception of the nurse. but, i don’t really see that much comedy from the nurse. i found much more comedy in mercutio. especially in the movie. the nurse, seemed to be more of the butt of the jokes and used little humor. all of which was very bawdy.
bottom, is a bit of a narcissist, he is an egomaniac, has an overinflated ego, feels like he can do anything, wants to be the center of attention, and really is in love with himself.
May 6th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I think that Chambers is saying that besides the Nurse, Bottom is Shakespeare’s first real character whose main purpose is to be silly and comical. We learned that Shakespeare wrote comedies, tragedies, and documentaries. While Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy of course, I think readers are meant to believe that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedy. Bottom’s personality is to be arrogant and to get up on stage with overdramatic lines and play every part of the skit because that is the kind of person he is. He is boastful and has confidence in himself. When he was turned into an ass he did not worry too much, but instead enjoyed the luxury of the faries and didn’t question the insanity of the whole situation. Bottom seems laid-back and comfortable with himself, and not what other people think of him. We are made to see him as the lowest of the lowest class, but the hilarity of his character negates the inferior label Shakespeare gives him, and becomes a lovable and amusing addition to a legendary comedy.
I think the last line: “…nor does he ever…betray the slightest suspicion of the fact that he is after all only an ass,” proves the opinion I stated before that he doesn’t think of himself as the lowest class, and is not uncomfortable by sitting next to the queen of faries, and letting her pamper him with all of his needs. This part again confirms that he is self-confident in himself, whether he is throwing himself out there on stage and allowing the world to laugh at him, or kicking his feet up on the Queen’s ottoman.
I definitely agree with the critic that this character adds depth to the play, and transforms the romantic seriousness of it into a fun, laughable piece of literature.
Lastly, I like how Charissa said that there are people like that in the world, because it’s true. There are secure people who don’t care about what others think even when they are clutching their stomachs laughing at you, and I think that is an important trait to have in a person, because it makes them more likable and humorous.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
HAHA! What a great description of Bottom!!!
I think the reason why we all love when Thomas is Bottom in class, is because he is comical and does not give in to the fact that he is supposed to be an ass in the play. Like the last sentence from this excerpt by Chambers says that Bottom never changes who he is and how he acts before and after his transformation of becoming an ass.
I think we mentioned in class that Bottom loves himself. He thinks thought that he could play every part in the play and do it better than everyone. He ended up being the one most made fun of by Theseus, Hippolyta, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena at the final play of Pyramus and Thisbe. However, the town workers, like Quince, Flute, and Snug all went to Bottom for advice. When they were discussing in the woods how they were going to tell the women not to be scared, they all asked Bottom what they should do. Maybe this shows that in order to become a leader and succeed, you must first believe in yourself and “love” yourself. Although Bottom is very foolish and clearly uneducated, he is looked up to by many of the townsmen.
Like this excerpt says, Bottom acts very cool even when the QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES is in deep love with him. I agree with Chambers in that Bottom is one of the most comical characters ever created by Shakespeare.
I just wanted to mention the part I loved best. It was in Act 3 Scene 1 line 198. Bottom thinks that Mustardseed is the seed that makes up mustard. He says that Mustardseed has made his eyes water and wished to become good friends with him. Bottom also said that he ate mustard(referring to Mustardseed) many times.
I must disagree with Ben in that the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet was not funny. The way she acted and responded to everything around her was just hysterical. For example, the part where Romeo and his friends are making fun of the nurse’s “sail”, the nurse explodes at them and threatens them in a way that makes you just laugh out loud while reading.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Chambers is saying that Bottom is basically one of the first most comical characters.(The nurse in Romeo and Juliet was the first). Bottom thought that he was superior to everyone else. When rehearsing, Bottom wanted to play all the parts because he thought he was the only fantastic actor. Instead, he screwed up words in his lines and succeeded in looking like a foolish, arrogant mule! He got turned into an ass because he acted like one. I love how his name is Bottom and he gets turned into one! I agree with Darra on how MSND is meant to be a comedy while Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy. Bottom played a huge part in making the play a comedy. After all, he was part of the reason Titania fell in love with an ass. I was also thinking the exact same thing as Darra: that he is sort of laidback, not a worrying type. He wasn’t worried at all with the fact that a random queen of fairies had fallen in love with him, or that he had just been turned into a donkey.(I would be freaking out!)Instead, he was just relaxing and letting the fairies serve him. I think part of it is that he is just so sure of himself and thinks so highly of himself that he thinks he is in the right place just hanging with the queen. He doesn’t consider himself to be one of the mechanicals. THe last line says that he thinks of himself to be at a higher social stature than his other fellow mechanicals. He doesn’t realize that he really is the same type as they are:a hard working common man.
I agree with Charissa about how there are other people in the world that are actually like that. They think highly of themselves(even if there isn’t any reason at all), brag about their superiority, and don’t care what others think of them. Bottom really is an ass!
May 6th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
To summarize what E.K. Chambers is saying:
Bottom, aside from the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, is the first character that Shakespeare had created to be funny. Throughout the entire play Bottom can never get over himself. He is so confident with the way he is. He thinks of himself so much more highly than his fellow-actors, as if he were the only important one. He loves the affectionate attention of the queen more than anything and never does he realize, nor before the alteration or after, that he truly, really is, an ass.
I think that the most important point that Chambers is trying to make is that no matter what happens, even if Bottom looked in the mirror, he still wouldn’t understand/grasp the idea that he really is an ass. He is so stuck up and has so much self-confidence that it’s nearly impossible for him to ever realize it. Yes of course there are people like this in the world but I think Shakespeare wanted to make Bottom a one of a kind guy, and that’s what he did. When Ben says he didn’t find much comedy in the nurse I have to say that I think Shakespeare created her to make us laugh at her seriousness and weird ways, not actually funny things that she does, unlike Bottom. Bottom’s misused language, his silly mistakes, and his self consciousness all contributes to his comical personality and that he is always completely unaware about just about everything that is going on around him. His arrogance in the play is just humorous to all that will read it and that is what Chambers is saying.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hahah. I agree with Chambers’s every word.
Bottom is, something of a stock character. Basically, a total jackass. He is blind to his own faults as well, which makes him all the more a nuisance. Bottom is the figure of arrogance. Even in front of the other characters, he rants about how he should play all the parts in the play. For not only can he do all the parts at once, but he believes he can do they better than the current actors. Truly, the height of arrogance.
In this extract of Chamber’s analysis he basically gives an overview of Bottom’s many, comical faults. He (or maybe Chambers is a she… since I do not know, I will, for he rest of my post, call him a he) calls Bottom self-obsessed, and talks about how he “Lords over the other actors” acting like the leader that he is clearly not. He goes on to say that Bottom never even suspects, even when he has the ass-head on, that he is an ass.
What a beautiful description of Bottom. He has such a twisted view of himself. He thinks he is flawless, but all I see are flaws. No one seems to like him, but maybe he likes himself enough to fill the void.
Bottom seems to be the center of comedy in the play. All jokes revolve around him. His personality is a joke. To the reader, everything he says and does is a joke. He has no idea of how funny he is. Doesn’t that just make him that much funnier?
Ben, I like how you describe Bottom with excessive cruelty. A narcissist certainly, and yes, quite the ego rests in that fat head.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
“[Bottom] is, with the possible exception of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, the first of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations.. .. From beginning to end of the play his absolute self-possession never for a moment fails him. He lords it over his fellow-actors, as though he, and not Quince, were poet and stage-manager in one; he accepts the amorous attentions of a queen with calm serenity as no more than might naturally have been expected; nor does he ever, either before or after his transformation, betray the slightest suspicion of the fact that he is after all only an ass.”
What the author is talking about in the extract above is a short description of the character Bottom. The author is saying how Bottom is one of the first comic creations by Shakespeare. The author then says that throughout the play his personality never does seem to change despite having the head of an ass bestowed upon him. Bottom is always obsessing over himself and believes that he is better than all of his friends. Then the author goes on to say that when the queen offers him her fairies he immediately begins to use them in a very calm matter. The author then sums up what they wrote by saying that even before the transformation all Bottom was, was an ass.
I have to agree with the author. In all truth Bottom is just a self-obsessed character who has his head turned into that of an ass’. He doesn’t like to give others any credit because he wants to be the center of attention. Like Charissa said I don’t blame Bottom for using the fairies as his servants. He was simply offered to use them and he used them freely.
I have to say the most important point of the author is how they conclude Bottom’s personality in the end. It really gives you a sense that some people will stay the same no matter what happens to them.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Who knew that Shakespeare had such a great sense of clean humor through the character, Bottom. Chambers description of Bottom fits him perfectly. Chambers mentions that besides the silly disposition of the nurse, Bottom is the first real character whose only purpose is to add comedy relief to the play. Although Bottom is only a low class working man, he holds himself high and proud, and does not let his position in society affect his ego. Bottom embraces the present without any question. No ‘why’, ‘how’, or ‘but this doesn’t make sense’ ever escapes his mouth. All his friends run away, the queen of fairies (remembering that he never knew fairies existed before this) falls madly in love with him, he is waited on by the fairy population, and he doesn’t stop to wonder “Has the world gone mad!?” I think that this is one of the reasons that Bottom is so loveable. If you look at any other hero in a book or movie, if they are ‘chosen’ or considered ‘special’ in some way, they always ask questions wondering “Why am I the chosen one?” or “What’s so special about me?” Bottom simply accepts and appreciates Titania’s love without the slightest thought to his sudden importance or to the fact he has been turned into a Donkey.
Bottom reminds me of a young child. When you give a kid candy or a toy, they just smile gleefully and accept, and not wonder why you are giving them such a treat. This is bottom upon receiving Titania’s love. When Bottom claims he can play every part in the play, it reminds me of a toddler saying “I can do it myself” when in reality, they most likely cannot or will not do whatever it is correctly. Bottom doesn’t necessarily believe that he is just a ordinary man. He thinks himself as being higher than anybody else, but not in a selfish or boastful way, just in a confident manner. This reminds me of what my aunt (she’s a teacher) says all the time about some of her student’s parents. During parent teacher conference the parents will go on and on about how special or smart or talented their child is when in reality they are pretty common, or worse, rather untalented and not so smart. Bottom is a memorable and lovable character, and I think Shakespeare did a fantastic job developing him.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
HAHA, the last sentence(:
I think E.K. Chambers is trying to say that with the exception of the Nurse, Bottom is Shakespeare’s first comical masterpiece. Throughout the entire play, Bottom used his power over others, including the other mechanical actors and Titania’s fairy servants. He received Titania’s love as though it were natural and perfectly normal for a beautiful fairy like her to be in love with a mechanical. Bottom was narcissistic and overconfident; he had no idea of his low social position, his lack of talent in acting, or his inability to speak using correct grammar. He was also unaware of his donkey head, so he literally was oblivious to the fact that he’s an ass. So, what’s the author’s most important point? I think it is that Bottom was merely a silly element in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, an overconfident character unaware of his inabilities, included for laughs.
I definitely agree with this critic’s every word. Bottom is a legendary comical creation whose hilarity makes him lovable from beginning to end. I found the way Bottom boasts and messes up his words particularly amusing. He was so confident in his acting abilities that he boasted he could play every role in Pyramus and Thisbe, and then he made himself out to be a fool as the audience laughed at the performance. However, as a stock character included as the center of comedy, Bottom never changed; his belief of his powers remained with him throughout. Poor Bottom was meant to be an arrogant ass, as evidenced through his name, which is synonymous with ass, and Shakespeare’s play on words.
I agree with Charissa that Bottom just goes with the flow of things, as if he’s flawless and the most important person in the forest. He just assumed that Titania had true love for him and ordered her fairies around like that was the way things were supposed to be. I also agree with Charissa that there are sadly people like this in the world–people who are in love with themselves and somehow just don’t comprehend their imperfections.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I completely agree with every aspect of Chambers’ analysis.
Just like the Nurse, Bottom is a perfect comical installment in Shakespeare’s play. And true to his character, Bottom never goes a moment without being so full of himself, so full of fake airs, and so presumptuous about all around him. He really believes that he is the best and most handsome of all around him, which is especially comical at times such as when he is turned into an ass and truly has no knowledge; believing Titania loves him for his ‘beauty.’
I have to put it bluntly and agree with Keith. Bottom is a jackass, and so aptly named. If he were a student in our English class, for example, I doubt highly that one of us would be very close friends with him. He enjoys showing off more than anything, and always wishes the spotlight to be positioned above his ‘angelic’ head. Bottom places himself above all others, which is truly an anecdote, as his name reveals where he truly should be placed; the Bottom. For a man who so often misspeaks and says ‘Ninny’s tomb,’ he definitely thinks highly of himself.
But the real comedy is presented in our omnipotent view of his character. It is comical just to look at his dramatic air, and self- importance, and just laugh at the absurdity of it all.
And I believe that this author’s most important point is that while Bottom lords his supposed talent over all others, he truly never understands what an ass he really is.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I thought that the last sentence was hilarious, and started laughing.
I think t what the author is trying to say is that Just like the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet, Bottom is a comical character. Never once throughout the play did he stop thinking highly of himself. He accepts and enjoys all the attention the queen is giving him because after all, he is an ass.
I think that the author’s most important point is that Bottom is an egotistical maniac. He does not really care that he has an ass-head because he is too busy pondering about himself. I wish that the queen had not been so nice to him because she was just influencing his ridiculous behavior. But then again, it wasn’t her fault. I believe the author stated correctly when he said “He accepts the amorous attentions of a queen with calm serenity as no more than might naturally have been expected.” It is weird that he feels no shame or inferiority because he is sitting in front of the queen, and he has an ass-head. He was more composed than expected. I mean if I were in his place, I would have started freaking out. I would not have accepted this kindness because I would have thought it was a joke or something like that.
I do agree and disagree with the author. I do agree that Bottom is an arrogant fool, and remained like this for the whole play. However, I do agree with Ben when he says that not much hilarity came from the nurse; Mercutio was the bawdy, “class clown”. I mean the nurse did make her “jokes”, but they were more repulsive than funny. I mean all the way through the play, Bottom had one personality- a droll, idiot. However, the nurse only fired up when Romeo and his friends were calling her dirty names. In my opinion, Bottom is more of a flat character because as stated in the excerpt “From beginning to end of the play his absolute self-possession never for a moment fails him.” The nurse’s personality however develops and changes, and therefore I consider her to be a round character. She is not humorous during the whole play. There is a time when she is serious, and caring. As opposed to the nurse, Bottom does not care for anyone but himself, and this trait of his never alters. I am going to have to disagree with Charissa when she stated that Bottom is not to blame for taking advantage of the queen and fairies. Just because a good opportunity is given to you, it does not mean you should necessarily take it; especially if you know what you are doing is erroneous. What Bottom did was absolutely immoral. He was well aware of the fact that he was taking benefit of the fairies, and Titania. The worst part about this is that due to the fact that Titania was “under a spell,” she could not help herself. During this portion of the play, she was sort-of helpless. However, I do agree with Charissa when she said that the Nurse is more realistic, and does not need fairies to agree with Capulet. It was VERY wrong for her to help Juliet and then just leave her when she was needed the most. I mean, if she was not going to support Juliet till the very end, then why did she even begin?
May 6th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I totally agree with Charissa…that last sentence made me laugh. xD
The critic is comparing the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet to Robin Goodfellow in A Midsummer’s Night Dream because nothing ever happens to them; they usually cause problems. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Capulet wants Juliet to marry Paris. When Juliet says she doesn’t want to, Capulet yells at her and says he would leave her in the streets to suffer. When Juliet asks the Nurse for some kind words, the Nurse replied by saying “Marry Paris to make your parents happy. Romeo is already banished and off-limits so you can forget about him.” After the Nurse saying this, Juliet visits Friar Lawrence. The Friar gives Juliet the potion, but that’s when everything goes wrong. If the Nurse said something nice to Juliet, she wouldn’t have ran off the Friar Lawrence and she wouldn’t of had to drink the potion. In A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Puck stirs up trouble by applying the love juice to almost every character in the story.
I agree with Darra that Bottom is Shakespeare’s first real character whose main purpose is to be silly and a ton o’ fun.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
In this extract, E.K. Chambers is saying that Bottom is Shakespeare’s most significant comical character from all his works (with the exception of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet). Bottom is consistent in showing his narcissistic, conceited nature throughout the play and flaunts it in front of the other Mechanicals, has enough conceit to take the affections of a fairy queen for granted, and never suspects, even with his transformation, that he is an ass (literally). Chambers’ most important point is that Bottom is such a self-centered ass that he doesn’t notice that he is an ass.
I agree with Chambers. Bottom is the typical snotty man (who you encounter many times in life) who doesn’t even notice how highly he thinks of himself because he is so accustomed to acting that way. Even though he is only a shabby Mechanical in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bottom apparently thinks that he is at the top of the world, enough to make him treat Titania’s affections as if she was a servant trying to flatter him.
Hmmm…Gia, I find it funny that you say that Bottom doesn’t care about his ass-head because he is too busy pondering about himself. Wouldn’t he at least ponder about having the head of a donkey on his shoulders?
May 6th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I agree with this excerpt because it only tells the truth. Bottom is an ass in this play. Both literally and metaphorically. I like how Keith noticed that Bottom never notices his own faults. Bottom thinks of him self as a supreme actor who can basically play all parts, very arrogant for a mechanical. I imangine Bottom always louder than others, never knowing when to stop talking.
When the love potion kicks in and Titania falls in love with Bottom, he sees an oppurtunity and takes it. He orders around the fairies and doesn’t care for any of them except him self.
For me Bottom had my attention throughout the whole play. Shakespeare probably didn’t mean to do it, but Bottom seemed like the main character to me. He was so outgoing and unaware of his surroundings. Cahmbers said that the Nurse was also one of Shakespeare’s comic creations, but i have to disagree. The nurse wasn’t that humorous in Romeo and Juliet. She was more serious than funny. She was always the one comforting Juliet when she was down except near the end when she completley looks the other way.
I don’t think Bottom knew he was an ass through out the whole play. He was a self-centered and very arrogant even though he had nothing to be arrogant about.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Bottom is quite an interesting character in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In this literary criticism, E.K. Chambers discusses the funniness and importance of bottom. The main idea of Chambers is that Bottom is one “of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations.” Bottom acts so arrogant and conceited during all of play rehearsals yet he is not a good actor and he makes very dumb contribution to the play. Bottom is a mere lower class man but acts as if he is a noble. After all he is not even director, Quince is. It is very funny that Bottom just kind of accepts that the queen of the fairy world all of a sudden is obsessed with him. Bottom accepts the royal treatment and acts like a prince, all while he is no idea he has been transformed into an ass.
I agree with Chambers. How can you not think Bottom is a funny character? I mean his name is Bottom first off and he gets turned into an ass! The stupidity of Bottom to act so conceited during his play rehearsals, just accept that this random woman is in love with him and doesn’t have the slightest suspicion he is donkey makes him an hilarious character. Jenny, I agree with you in saying that even if Bottom looked in a mirror he wouldn’t understand the concept of himself being an ass. Bottom is a truly hilarious character. Bottom transforms this serious play about love and chaos, into a comical masterpiece. Bottom is one of Shakespeare’s first hysterical characters. Bottom plays an important role in symbolizing that anyone can love anyone and many people in the world can be moronic (Bottom as well as Quince, Snug and others represent a mechanical which made up most of the population). With Titania loving Bottom, Shakespeare displays his sense of humor as well as showing the folly of love.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Ya this one is so much easier to decipher than the ones in class! I think that what the author is trying to say is basically how foolish, arrogant, and comical Bottom is and how when he was turned into an ass- nothing changed inwardly.
It is true that the moment Peter Quince hands out the parts for Pyramus and Thisbe that he immediately claims his right to all characters in the play. He also expects Quince to write a play “Bottom’s Dream” without question, and makes changes in the script to prologue each character so the ladies of the audience are not frightened. Bottom also screws up his words like the Nurse, such as when she asks for a “Confidence” with Romeo instead of “Conference” and receives laughter as response.
When Titania falls in love with him, Bottom is first surprised but then, as the critic says he accepts it as if he deserves no less. I also love the comparison between him and the Nurse. To me the Nurse is the most comical character Shakespeare ever created- but every good story needs a Bottom or a Nurse. They are these pricelessly funny and bawdy characters that we also see in everyday life.
I agree COMPLETLEY with Charissa when she said that there really are people like that in the world. And its true- we all know them. No matter how badly they mess something up they make it seem either intentional or push it off on someone else. They think they are the best at everything; and nobody’s perfect. Thank god, or else we would live in a veeeeery boring world!!!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
E.K. Chambers is saying that Bottom is really one of a kind. Bottom is like that special touch in a story that isn’t really needed, but he makes the story better in his silliness. He is so stupid and oblivious… that it’s just… hilarious!
Chambers mentions Bottom’s self-possession. I agree. This is especially evident when the mechanics are rehearsing for their production of Pyramus and Thisbe. Bottom showed his overconfidence when he scrambled around, trying to act out each role. He thought he was superior to everyone else for each part. Bottom doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. He loves himself and is proud of it! It is even funnier that Theseus and Hippolyta actually mock him for his atrocious acting skills.
I love Bottom’s obliviousness. I like how he didn’t even care to look at himself. He just assumed he looked fine, even when Titania was caressing his large ears. I mean, who would not wonder why their head was not the same size? Who would just brush off a DONKEY HEAD? Of course, Bottom didn’t know… but for some reason I have the feeling that he would have loved himself even more.
I think Bottom’s overconfidence shadows the fact that all the other mechanics also think he’s great. Remember when he went missing? They were all mourning over the “lamentable day.” Would this be satire? I think Shakespeare was making fun of the poor mechanics. Here they are, crying over the loss of an actually terrible part of a terrible play! When Bottom returns, bossy and arrogant as ever, all his fellow mechanics are rejoiced. This point in the play highlights his narcissistic attitude.
When Titania fell in love with him, he did not for one second begin to get suspicious. He quickly grew very comfortable with Titania’s servant fairies hovering around him and fulfilling his every desire. He was oblivious to the fact that Titania could have been drunk or something. I mean, humans wouldn’t know about love potions, right? He totally believed he was at the level of a fairy queen, and that it was perfectly… acceptable and normal that she fell in love with him.
I like Chambers’ point on the Nurse also being a comic creation. Even though she doesn’t turn into a donkey, she adds a touch of humor in the tragedy. Her bawdiness allows for plenty of awkward situations for Juliet, which in my opinion, are comical. Also, like Gabi, I think the sail part was hilarious! Before even seeing the movie, I just pictured some large woman angrily walking around flaunting a white sheet.
I agree with Justin- Bottom did no have much to be arrogant about. He was a mechanic. That alone categorizes him as low class. Additionally, his grammar and acting are appalling. So… why? Why is Bottom so big- headed? I think that in life when people regard someone as “great,” that person begins to think they are great. Just think. It even happens in school. Popular people are only popular because we think they are. If nobody cared, would they? It’s confusing, but I think its true.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Oh and want to say that I agree with everyone.
Bottom is an ass.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
OMG, before I even summarize, let me tell you, even if I find some stupid reason to disagree with Chambers, that last line is so true, and the most comical of allJ.
Basically, what E.K Chambers is trying to say is that, besides the nurse (whom I did not seem to humor that much, except for in the movie, where we got to see a couple of funny scenes), the only other, major comical character that Shakespeare has created, for purely the causes of having a good time while we read the play is Bottom. He also goes onto say in the last line that Bottom has been the same throughout the entire play: before he was an ass’ head, while he was a bottom, and after he was turned back to normal. Throughout the entire play he just can’t get over himself. It is probably his arrogance that makes his part so hysterical. From the second Bottom entered the play, he has shown his sense of pride. Opting that he is the perfect actor that can play all parts. He believed that he could not only play all the parts, but also that he could do better than his fellow mechanicals. This part, for some reason made me think that Bottom felt as if he was a level above the rest of the mechanicals. It was as if he wanted to jump higher to the next level, but the funny part is that he can never really defy what is set in place for you when destiny takes over. He loves attention, especially when it from someone as high as the queen of the fairies, Titania. He probably thought of himself as a supernatural, majestic being, when Titania, who was under the love juice/potion, placed love lavishly upon him. Wait till he stops thinking about himself all the time, and realizes that he is just another shabby mechanical, at the bottom of the social stature pyramid. Wow, this guy is so smart that he did not realize, either before or after the modification of his head that he truly is an ass.
I think that the authors most important point is that Bottom is a self absorbed man, or rather an ass, who can’t think about anything else, but himself. He too busy preoccupied, thinking about himself that he fails to realize that his head has been transformed into an actual bottom. Bottom is not much of a round character, like we discussed in class, because he is the same all over. Comical to us, and arrogant. He is a flat character like Gia said. He seems to be one of the main points of focus, but that is only because he is the main center of attention… in the comedy central that is.
And, I agree with Chambers. It is true. Bottoms is too much into worrying about himself that he really does not notice that his head has been turned into and actual bottom. Bottom is an ass! J
May 6th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
E.K Chambers is saying that Bottom is a comedic character in Midsummer’s Night Dream. Because of the fact that he is basically an ass he can easily be used for comedy and can never be taken seriously by anyone.
The Nurse is definetly not in the race of becoming the most comedic character of Shakespeare. This is because Bottom has already won with flying colors. Bottom is arrogant, egotististic, ignorant, and oblivious. He always views himself as the best and better than everyone one else. During the rehersal and planning of the mechanicals’s show for Theseus, Bottom always interrupts Quince and acts as though he himself is the leader of the group. Bottom also thinks that he can play all the parts by himself and also play them better than anyone else. Bottom always thinks he is right and tries to act in a sophisticated manner using monsiuer and “fancy” words and odd wording that the other mechanicals must find witty and cunnning.
Titania falling in love with Bottom just inflates his ego even more even though he believes that it was only a dream. He uses the fact that Titania has ordered all her servants to serve Bottom in her trance of love for Bottom. He uses them like he always deserved servants and acted like he was above them even though we all know that fairies beat asses anyday.
I agree with E.KChambers, Bottom is both a common day and renaissance “ass”.
I don’t know where everyone sees Puck or Robin Goodfellow in the above analysis. Maybe im just being dumb but where is Puck compared to the nurse?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Like many people mentioned before, the last sentence was rather humorous
Anyway, E.K. Chambers I do believe is saying that aside from the nurse, Bottom is Shakespeare’s first laugh out loud funny character. Even from when we first met Bottom, one character trait remained with him throughout the story; his self love. He enjoyed to express his idea of “superiority” and “talent” over the others especially Quince. When the queen of the fairies, Titania, became infatuated with Bottom, he calmly accepted such strange affections without questioning. Never, whether this was before, during, or after the transformation, had he ever acknowledged that he was of no greatness, but simply an ass.
In my opinion, the author’s most important point was how Bottom was such a humorous character in Shakespeare’s plays. The first sentence of Chambers was what I would say was the theme of the whole passage. Bottom, being truly simple adored himself and that made him a funny character. I would say that I completely agree with the critic. Like Gabi, I will have to disagree with Ben. I thought the nurse was a very sweet and funny character. Her bawdiness made her amusing and a memorable character. When Mercutio laughed at the nurse’s appearance saying “A sail…” the nurse had used a wrong choice of words. She had intended to tell Mercutio to stop talking, but instead her words were misinterpreted. Chambers was certainly correct when he says Bottom’s self possession never failed him. When we first met Bottom at the part assigning for Pyramus and Thisbe, he immediately thought he was so awesome that he should play all the characters! Even towards the end with Titania, he addressed the queen’s love with an “of course” type of explanation and immediately without question accepted help from the servants and the gifts from the queen. Also, how Bottom mixed up words was somewhat funny as well. The reader knew Bottom was of no true greatness, but the way Bottom loved himself and wanted to show how awesome he was made him great to the reader.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Basically what Chambers is trying to say is that from the second Bottom is introduced to the very last scene, he’s an ass. Despite his crude description, he is said to be Shakespeare’s first supreme comic creation with the exception of that bawdy nurse in Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion, there’s really nothing else to do here but agree with Chambers. All the evidence availible proves that Bottom is really a bottom. His name is Bottom…a pleasant way of saying ass. Puck randomly gave him a donkey’s (ass’s) head and the foolishness in Bottom’s behavior represents an ass. Chambers states that the nurse is the figment of imagination from Shakespeare that provides comic relief and Bottom is another great example. I believe that everyone in this play has a role. Oberon and Titania represent stability, Puck provides conflict, the lovers represent blindness, Egeus is the authority figure, Hippolyta and Theseus are the voice of unity, and Bottom provides us with our laughs. I happen to agree with Ben on this one, I only found the nurse to be bawdy. I think Shakespeare had a very dry sense of humor in Romeo and Juliet but his humor in A MIdsummer NIght’s Dream was more sarcastic. I also think Ben is right when he said that Mercutio was funnier than the nurse. At least to me, Mercutio’s moodiness paralled everyone else’s while it was also over-doing it which made him a funny character. The nurse was funny at times but from my perspective, Bottom was definitely the pioneer of Shakespeare’s comical characters.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Bottom] is, with the possible exception of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, the first of Shakespeare’s supreme comic creations.. .. From beginning to end of the play his absolute self-possession never for a moment fails him. He lords it over his fellow-actors, as though he, and not Quince, were poet and stage-manager in one; he accepts the amorous attentions of a queen with calm serenity as no more than might naturally have been expected; nor does he ever, either before or after his transformation, betray the slightest suspicion of the fact that he is after all only an ass.
The author compares Bottom to the Nurse. Indeed they are very much alike. Bottom is quite comical and we get a good laugh from him, although some of my classmates thought that the Nurse wasn’t comical, I disagree. The Nurse’s raunchy behavior was quite comical in the tragedy. Bottom was just a plain ass and what isn’t comical about an ass?
Both these characters stayed the same throughout the plays. They didn’t change or evolve from the main situation. The main characters evolve: Romeo/Juliet and Hermia/Helena/Lysander/Demetrius. The Nurse and Bottom stayed the same in character.
The Nurse and Buttom were the ‘butt’ of the jokes. (no pun intended) The Nurse was made fun of when she had her giant flying ’sail’. Bottom was turned into an ass head which is hilarious.
Bottom is selfish, I dont think that the Nurse was selfish. The Nurse pretty much agreed on what the crowd was saying, and Bottom just focused on what he wanted.
I agree with the author because in a way, the Nurse and Bottom truly are similar in these very different plays.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Chambers is trying to say that from the introduction to the last scene, Bottom is portrayed as an ass, both literally and figuratively. He and the nurse from Romeo and Juliet showed off Shakespeare’s funny side – the nurse with her bawdy humor, and Bottom with his conceitedness.
During the whole play, Bottom thinks he is amazing. He never doubts himself when they are making the play – he tries to take all of the roles for himself, but when Quince tells him he can’t, he settles for the big role instead. In the forest, when he comes out with the ass head that Puck put on him and his friends ran away, he never stopped to question why they did – he automatically assumed that they were just pulling a joke on him. When Titania fell in love with him due to the love juice that Oberon gave her, he was surprised at first, but then made himself comfortable. He ordered around her servants like they were his own, trying to sound professional as he did so, but wound up looking stupid.
When I read what Ben and Sherry wrote, about Mercutio being funnier than the nurse, at first I agreed – Mercutio was hilarious, especially because I see guys like him every day, and it is nice to know that they were around in Shakespeare’s time, too. But then I thought about it, and I don’t think that Chambers meant characters like Mercutio when he said this. Because Mercutio was funny, there’s no denying that, but he intended to be funny. He cracked joke all the time, even when dying. But the nurse, like Bottom, didn’t try to be funny, they just were. Their characters were so ridiculous that they gave us a laugh. They were really two of Shakespeare’s most entertaining characters.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Bottom is the first of Shakespeare’s humorous characters that he created excluding the possible exception of the nurse of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the whole play his whole prideful personality stays solid. He acts as though he is the poet and the stage manager together instead of Quince. Bottom easily accepts the treatment that he’s getting from the love filled fairy queen and not thinking much of it like he deserve it. After, he had changed into a donkey he never even had the slightest thought that he is just an ass.
What the author’s most important point here is that Bottom is a character whose personality never changes through the play. He is still same after he is treated like royalty by the fairy queen and does not recognize that he is donkey. Nor does he even expect that he is just an ass.
I Agree with The points of this author. Bottom is not at all changed by circumstance while every other character does change and react differently to their own circumstances. Also, after all that has happened to him and he wakes up, he goes about thinking that it was just a dream. Bottom rejoins the other mechanicals right where he left off after they all ran away from him.
I agree with Ben that Bottom is self centered. In the play he wants to do all the parts as if he could do everything. He acts like he is also the stage manager as well. He thinks so highly of himself that when Titania treats him with service equivalent to a kings, he takes it as a casual thing, as if he is worthy of it. Bottom thinks so great of himself that he never even realizes how prideful he is.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Chambers is saying that Bottom is the most comic character Shakespeare has created in his complete love for himself and, as Charissa said, how he is unwavering in his choices and goes with the flow of the story. Granted, he is a flat character, as the Nurse was, but his ego adds comedy to the story. He isn’t changed by what happens; he lets things around him happen as they do. The other characters do react and move the story along.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Haha! A perfect description of Bottom!
Here, Chamber’s comment really seems to speak the truth. As Shakespeare’s first comical character, Bottom is simply created to add humor and excitement to the story. Chambers describes Bottom as an oblivious character, one who is steadfast throughout his decisions. He travels with the flow and as Marnie stated, he adds great ego to the story. Bottom is an individual who doesn’t consider himself as an inferior person in society. As much as many may look down on him and ridicule him, Bottom seems to consider himself equal to those around him. He appears as an unusual character who believes that there is nothing wrong with him when in reality, he seems to be an impractical ass. Chambers basically states that Bottom is filled with egotistical, arrogant qualities, and I agree completely.
As Darra stated, Bottom was transformed into an ass, but he didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he enjoyed the luxury of the fairies and didn’t question the insanity of the whole situation. This not only presents him as a conceited character, but also as a laid-back individual as well. Although Bottom is unaware of what is going on, he does not want his perfect treatment by Tatiana to stop. He naturally goes with the flow, enjoying every moment of his dreamlike experience with the fairies.
I definitely agree with this critic- Bottom is a simple, yet remarkable character. Shakespeare simply created him to stir up humor and excitement throughout the story. I must say, his strategy really worked. I mean, how many times have we laughed while reading this?!!
Furthermore, I must disagree with Ben. Although the nurse is not as conceited or contemptuous as Bottom, she still emerges to be a humorous and amusing character. The way she goes about running from here to there and questioning everyone around her, lightened the seriousness of Romeo and Juliet in many ways.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Bottom is by far, one of Shakespeare’s most entertaining characters. The only exception that the critic suggests, is the nurse from Romeo and Juliet, but I think that Bottom is funnier. Overall, Bottom is far from humble. He says how he can be any part in the play, and should play every part.
I found the part with Titania and Bottom very funny. Bottom decided that he had power, and started to boss Titania’s servants around. It put emphasis on just how egotistical he is. He didn’t even find it odd. It only happened because of the potion. Not because of his looks, and definitely not his personality.
I think that the critic’s most important point, is that Bottom stays that way. Throughout the play, Bottom stays the same, and nothing happens to change his personality. I agree with this, and liked it better that way. I think that the original Bottom was extremely funny, and that he put a lot more humor into the play.
I agree with Josh that Bottom is never changed by the circumstances. Even when he is Titania, he is exactly the same. Well, except for his head being turned into a donkey.