A Midsummer Night’s Dream�Act III

Presentation By

Dr. Deepanjali K. Borse

Assistant Professor, Department of English

S. P. H. Arts, Comm. and Sci. Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Malegaon Camp

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Act III: Entanglements�Scene I: Transformation of Bottom

The scene is in the wood

• Titania is still lies sleeping peacefully
• Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout and Starvelling meet for a rehearsal in the wood
• Bottom’s uncertainty for a play as he thought that the death of Pyramus will upset the ladies in the audience so he suggests to add a prologue telling the audience that it is merely the weaver who is taking the part of Pyramus.
• This is agreed upon. But again Bottom brings up another objection that the roaring of the lion in the play will also upset the ladies. So he suggests to add another prologue explaining the audience that it is not a real lion and that half of Snug’s face should be shown through the lion’s neck.
• Puck enters from behind and is surprised to find such a coarse/rough fellows.

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Scene I�cont.

• Bottom speaks his lines and then according to stage direction, leaves the stage, followed by mischievous Puck. Other members of the cast continue with the rehearsal.
• Puck and Bottom re-enter, but, in place of his own head, Bottom has now an ass’s head. (But Bottom doesn’t know about this change)
• All artisans, observing this strange transformation are in a state of terror.
• Puck determines to enjoy himself and follow Bottom wherever he go. Bottom is unable to understand the actions of his friends. He walks up and down in an open space of the wood and started to sing loudly.
• Titania is awakened by the singing, which delights her. The first living object seen by the fairy queen on her awakening is Bottom.
• Because of the magic fluid which has been poured into her eyes by Oberon, she falls madly in love with bottom, the weaver.

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Scene II: Further Complications

Scene is in another part of the wood

• Oberon is thinking whether Titania has yet awakened and the magic fluid has taken effect.
• Puck enters and informs him that Titania has fallen in love with a monster and also tells that he has dropped the magic juice into the eyes of the Athenian male.
• Demetrius and hermia enter, and Oberon realizes that Puck has committed a mistake.
• Hermia rebukes Demetrius for being a murderer and asks him to kill her as well.
• Oberon scolds Puck for making such an error and commands him to search for Helena so that he may make Demetrius fall in love with her when he awakes.
• Puck returns with Helena and a love-sick Lysander
• Sleeping Demetrius wakes up and upon seeing Helena, he falls in love with her. Now Lysander and Demetrius are rivals for Helena.

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Scene II�cont.

• It is now Hermia’s turn to be confused and Helena thinks that her friend has some plan to mock her, is angry with Hermia.
• Lysander tells Hermia that he is in love with Helena. It is now Hermia’s turn to rebuke Helena. All four pass angry words.
• Oberon has been silently observed all this unpleasantness decides to end it.
• He instructs Puck to put a magic fluid into Lysander’s eyes when he is asleep so that when he awakes all that has passed will be like a dream and he will love Hermia once more.
• Oberon will return to Queen and beg for the Indian boy as well as will release her from monster’s charm.
• Puck hurries away to carry out his instructions. He leads the rivals a merry dance through the wood looking for each other until they are so exhausted that they lie down to sleep.
• Puck then squeezes the juice into Lysander’s eyes and saying that all will be well and departs.

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Thank You