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A Midsummer Night’s Dream�Act V

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 V: Epilogue�Scene I: Pyramus and Thisbe

Scene: a large room in Duke’s palace in Athens

Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate and the lords and ladies of the court are gathered in a large room in the Duke’s palace in Athens.
Theseus asks Philostrate, the master of ceremonies about the preparations of entertainment. Philostrate offers the choice of several forms of entertainment which he reads from a paper in a formal and dignified tone.
Theseus listens but rejects each programme as being unsuitable for the occasion.
But he impressed when Philostrate mentions a short play prepared by the artisans of Athens.
Philostrate is horrified at his master’s choice and tells the assembled guests that the play is not worthy of the Duke’s interest and none of the actors are fitted for the parts they play, the hero and heroine actually kill themselves in a scene.

Scene: I�cont.

This criticism, however, lessen Theseus’s enthusiasm and he commands to perform the play immediately. Philostrate, therefore, is sent to bring back the actors i.e. the artisans.
Quince appears on the stage and begins to read the prologue which explains the plot and action of the play without using punctuations.
The actors play their parts with indifference in a play which is ridiculous in the plot and stupid in dialogues.
When the stage lion roars, the audience cheer and clap.
The play eventually comes to an end with the suicide of the two lovers and although it has been a poor and unskillful play, it has proved successful because it has made everyone happy and merry.
At midnight, the party breaks up and all retire to bed.
When all is quite once more, Oberon, Titania, Puck and the forest fairies gather to bless the wedding couples.

Puck realizes his misdeeds and he wishes good luck to all couples and swears that he will make amends for the trouble he has caused to mortals who have ventured too far into the fairy wood.
This scene brings all characters happily together at the end of the play. It presents the clown’s/artisan’s play as a type of entertainment provided for great weddings and it mocks/imitates the popular drama of the play.