What we did in class

The moon as an image.

What it conjures up, evokes, is a reference to…

-       Something magical

-       Honey moon

-       Love

-       Dreaming

-       It is said to have an influence on mood or feelings

-       Coldlessness Coldness and fruitlessness (see Theseus’s description of life as a nun)

-       Fright = fear = horror (associated with mystery, werewolves, mythological creatures that appear only at night…)

-       Night, darkness

-       Cycle of fertility

-       Change , inconstancy, fickleness, instability

-       Stability = immutability (going back to normal)

-       Lunacy

-       Round shape, symbolises pregnancy, sensuality = sexuality

-       Moonlight shadows / bluish light that reveals different aspects of things

-       tides

- ...

Extract 1 - a few comments (continued)

EGEUS
Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, And what is mine my love shall render him. And she is mine, and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius.	Transaction (see Shakespeare in Love) Reminiscent of “vexation” 16th century England: patriarchal.
LYSANDER
I am, my lord, as well derived as he, As well possess'd; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, If not with vantage, as Demetrius'; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, I am beloved of beauteous Hermia: Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head, Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, Upon this spotted and inconstant man.	Pleading his cause. .. show he is a better suitor. Secret weapon (revelation) Unfaithful = fickle
THESEUS
I must confess that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; But, being over-full of self-affairs, My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; And come, Egeus; you shall go with me, I have some private schooling for you both. For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father's will; Or else the law of Athens yields you up-- Which by no means we may extenuate-- To death, or to a vow of single life. Come, my Hippolyta: what cheer, my love? Demetrius and Egeus, go along: I must employ you in some business Against our nuptial and confer with you Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.	We expect Hip. looks unhappy / upset / dismayed
EGEUS
With duty and desire we follow you.	He does what he says, and says what he does. (supremacy of spoken words)
Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA

Scene 2 - a few comments (part I)

	Grotesque / men plodding onto the stage
QUINCE
Is all our company here?	Seems to be the leader
BOTTOM
You were best to call them generally, man by man, according to the scrip.	Wants to take charge / advising Quince to…
QUINCE
Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our interlude before the duke and the duchess, on his wedding-day at night.	The connection between the scenes is established
BOTTOM
First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a point.	Uses the imperative / giving orders
QUINCE
Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby.	Oxymoron = contradiction in terms Hyperbole = exaggeration
BOTTOM
A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.	Boasting (in fact we see later that he doesn’t know about the play)
QUINCE
Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.
BOTTOM
Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.
QUINCE
You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.
BOTTOM
What is Pyramus? a lover, or a tyrant?	Confirms…
QUINCE
A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love.
BOTTOM
That will ask some tears in the true performing of it: if I do it, let the audience look to their eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some measure. To the rest: yet my chief humour is for a tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all split. The raging rocks And shivering shocks Shall break the locks Of prison gates; And Phibbus' car Shall shine from far And make and mar The foolish Fates. This was lofty! Now name the rest of the players. This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein; a lover is more condoling.	Butchers the name 'Hercules' Showing off
QUINCE
Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.
FLUTE
Here, Peter Quince.
QUINCE
Flute, you must take Thisby on you.
FLUTE
What is Thisby? a wandering knight?	Ignorant / high-pitched voice(?)
QUINCE
It is the lady that Pyramus must love.
FLUTE
Nay, faith, let me not play a woman; I have a beard coming.	Mise en abyme
QUINCE
That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will.
BOTTOM
An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too, I'll speak in a monstrous little voice. 'Thisne, Thisne;' 'Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisby dear, and lady dear!'	Over confident Boastful Misuses words His malapropisms