Scene 1
As the act begins, the audience sees Bottom very content as the fairies wait on his every command. Meanwhile, Oberon fulfills his desire to retrieve the Indian boy, so now Titania can be released from the magic flower's spell. Oberon places the undoing herb onto her eyes and she awakes. Reunited once again, Oberon and Titania dance to the mesmerizing music that lures the four mortals and Bottom to a deep sleep.
Back at the palace, Theseus and Hippolyta are into the final preparations of their wedding, and set out with Egeus to the woods to celebrate May Day. It is also the day Hermia is to make her decision of who she will marry. The party of three stumble upon the four lovers fast asleep and then awaken them. From this part of the scene, it is clear that all is well once again, Lysander loving Hermia and Demetrius now in love with Helena. They seemed to have thought all that happened was just a very realistic dream. Theseus reconsiders Hermia having to marry Demetrius since he now loves Helena. Theseus finally declares that Hermia marry Lysander and Demetrius marry Helena on the same day he is to be wed to Hippolyta. As for Egeus, he is shocked and literally has nothing to say.
Returning back to Bottom, he awakes at last, and decides to write a poem he will recite at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. He too feels all events that occurred were just apart of a dream, a midsummer night's dream.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Midsummer Night's Dream: Act 3
Scene 1
This portion of the play is quite amusing as Puck or Robin turns Bottom's head into a donkey's head. Of course his fellow actors are surprised and terrified. Soon after the actors hurry away, Bottom is stationary and comes across the sleeping fairy queen, Titania, who's eyes had been blinded by the juice of the magic flower, in fact the same one that was used on Lysander. As a result, Titania falls madly in love with the donkey-headed Bottom who is confused at her strange behavior. The scene ends with Bottom being tended to by Titania's servant fairies.
Scene 2
The scene begins with Robin telling Oberon of Titania's false love to the donkey-headed Bottom. Then, Demetrius enters and tries to persuade Hermia that he did not kill Lysander as she had suspected after Lysander disappeared in the woods the night they were going to escape from the palace. Robin and Oberon are mindful of this conversation and Oberon is furious at Robin for anointing the wrong person. Both are now aware they must set things right and begin with anointing Demetrius' eyes so he will then fall in love with Helena and not Hermia. Their plan works and they have partially solved the problem at hand. The only thing left to do then is make Lysander fall back in love with Hermia once again. Meanwhile in the mortal world, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena finally meet face to face. Each is angry at another either for stealing the one they love or flustered and angry at the actions of the other three. All these feelings result in a cat fight between Hermia and Helena, Hermia being angry at Helena for taking Lysander away from her and Helena being angry because she believes she is still being fooled by all of them. As both of them storm off in a fuss, the two men are left to battle it out. At last, Robin steps in and disguises his voice as Lysander and Demitrius to lure them away from each other and keep them on the run until each is too tired to carry out the pursuit. The act comes to a close with Robin fulfilling his goal and anoints Lysander's eyes with an herb to undo what was previously done.
This portion of the play is quite amusing as Puck or Robin turns Bottom's head into a donkey's head. Of course his fellow actors are surprised and terrified. Soon after the actors hurry away, Bottom is stationary and comes across the sleeping fairy queen, Titania, who's eyes had been blinded by the juice of the magic flower, in fact the same one that was used on Lysander. As a result, Titania falls madly in love with the donkey-headed Bottom who is confused at her strange behavior. The scene ends with Bottom being tended to by Titania's servant fairies.
Scene 2
The scene begins with Robin telling Oberon of Titania's false love to the donkey-headed Bottom. Then, Demetrius enters and tries to persuade Hermia that he did not kill Lysander as she had suspected after Lysander disappeared in the woods the night they were going to escape from the palace. Robin and Oberon are mindful of this conversation and Oberon is furious at Robin for anointing the wrong person. Both are now aware they must set things right and begin with anointing Demetrius' eyes so he will then fall in love with Helena and not Hermia. Their plan works and they have partially solved the problem at hand. The only thing left to do then is make Lysander fall back in love with Hermia once again. Meanwhile in the mortal world, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena finally meet face to face. Each is angry at another either for stealing the one they love or flustered and angry at the actions of the other three. All these feelings result in a cat fight between Hermia and Helena, Hermia being angry at Helena for taking Lysander away from her and Helena being angry because she believes she is still being fooled by all of them. As both of them storm off in a fuss, the two men are left to battle it out. At last, Robin steps in and disguises his voice as Lysander and Demitrius to lure them away from each other and keep them on the run until each is too tired to carry out the pursuit. The act comes to a close with Robin fulfilling his goal and anoints Lysander's eyes with an herb to undo what was previously done.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Midsummer's Night Dream: Act 2
In this act we are introduced to Robin Goodfellow or Puck who's mischevious ways have led him to mess with the mortals (Lysander, Helena, Hermia, and Demetrius). Meanwhile, Oberon and Titania are having their own problems. They are making a big fuss about a boy who could be a possible threat to Oberon. Oberon decides to use the magic flower on the mortals to mess with their love life. From this one little flower, the mortals' lives are changed and altered that may cause some slight problems.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Midsummer's Night Dream: Act 1
In class, we have begun the play A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare. I am very excited to read this play because the format in which Shakespeare writes is quite unique and can be interpreted in many ways. When you find the correct way to interpret it, the context can be extremely beautiful and more than what it really seems. That beauty and mystery is what I really like about Shakespeare and his plays. Anyways, this is a short summary of the first act in A Midsummer's Night Dream.
Scene 1
The play begins with Theseus and Hippolyta planning their wedding. As they discuss their plans, Egeus and his daughter, Hermia come to visit them and enter the scene. Egeus declares his frustration with his daughter for not wanting to marry the man Egeus wants her to marry, Demetrius. Shortly after his explanation, Demetrius and Lysander walk in, which only adds to Egeus' frustration. Hermia is in love with Lysander who most definetely loves her back. The five of them discuss what they can do about their situation. Theseus explains to Hermia that either she will obey her father's wishes or be hanged or live a life of virginity. He further explains to Hermia that she owes her life to her father and should make him happy. As the dispute comes to a close, Lysander and Hermia are left alone to discuss what to do about Demetrius. They finally decide to elope and run away together, as they feel it is the only way for them to be together.
Later on, Hermia informs Helena, her good friend, of her discussion with Lysander. She herself, however, loves Demetrius and is willing to do anything, even hurt her friend for his love. So, she devises a plan and decides, full of spite, to inform Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plan to run away and elope so as to gain his trust and get closer to her one true love.
Scene 2
In another corner of the kingdom is a group of players wanting to put on a play for the newlyweds to be, Theseus and Hippolyta. They secretly are devising who will play the lead role of the play. Bottom, a thinks-he-know-it-all player is cast as the lead role. As all other parts are distrubuted, all players are quite pleased at their play that parallels quite well the lives of Theseus and Hippolyta.
Scene 1
The play begins with Theseus and Hippolyta planning their wedding. As they discuss their plans, Egeus and his daughter, Hermia come to visit them and enter the scene. Egeus declares his frustration with his daughter for not wanting to marry the man Egeus wants her to marry, Demetrius. Shortly after his explanation, Demetrius and Lysander walk in, which only adds to Egeus' frustration. Hermia is in love with Lysander who most definetely loves her back. The five of them discuss what they can do about their situation. Theseus explains to Hermia that either she will obey her father's wishes or be hanged or live a life of virginity. He further explains to Hermia that she owes her life to her father and should make him happy. As the dispute comes to a close, Lysander and Hermia are left alone to discuss what to do about Demetrius. They finally decide to elope and run away together, as they feel it is the only way for them to be together.
Later on, Hermia informs Helena, her good friend, of her discussion with Lysander. She herself, however, loves Demetrius and is willing to do anything, even hurt her friend for his love. So, she devises a plan and decides, full of spite, to inform Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plan to run away and elope so as to gain his trust and get closer to her one true love.
Scene 2
In another corner of the kingdom is a group of players wanting to put on a play for the newlyweds to be, Theseus and Hippolyta. They secretly are devising who will play the lead role of the play. Bottom, a thinks-he-know-it-all player is cast as the lead role. As all other parts are distrubuted, all players are quite pleased at their play that parallels quite well the lives of Theseus and Hippolyta.
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