"The fourth act opens and ends with Bottom at center stage. What is your opinion of Bottom's character? How might he be the antithesis, or opposite, of Theseus's character?"
Does anyone know how to answer the last part of the question? I didn't even realize they could be in any way related to each other :-/
In Focus I'm doing a play and I'm Bottom! (I'm a girl if you 're wondering and in the 5th grade) Theseus is kind of boring, but Bottom is very over-dramatic.
Here are several really good websites about Shakespeare and his works and his times:
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/
http://www.bardweb.net/
http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/ <~~Use this.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/ <~~Use this, too.
In William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Bottom is a comic and bumbling character, who serves as the weaver and amateur actor in the Mechanicals' group. While opinions of Bottom's character may vary, he is often seen as entertaining, humorous, and somewhat foolish.
As for the second part of the question, Bottom can be seen as the antithesis or opposite of Theseus's character in a few ways. Theseus is the Duke of Athens and represents order, authority, and rationality. In contrast, Bottom is a commoner and embodies chaos, spontaneity, and irrationality.
One significant difference is their social status. Theseus holds a position of power and is respected by society, while Bottom is a mere tradesman and not considered as important. This difference in status contributes to the contrast between their characters.
Furthermore, Theseus is depicted as a wise and rational leader, making authoritative decisions, while Bottom frequently makes poor decisions and acts impulsively. Theseus is guided by reason, while Bottom is guided by his emotions and desires.
Additionally, Theseus symbolizes the courtly and sophisticated world, whereas Bottom represents the rustic and unrefined world of the Athenian mechanicals. These two characters embody different aspects of society and demonstrate contrasting attitudes and behaviors.
Overall, Bottom's character serves as a contrast to Theseus, highlighting the themes of order versus chaos, rationality versus irrationality, and societal hierarchy versus commoners.
To answer the last part of the question, you can analyze the contrasting traits and qualities of Bottom and Theseus's characters to identify how they can be viewed as opposites or antitheses.
First, consider Theseus's character. Theseus is portrayed as a noble and authoritative figure, representing order, reason, and rationality. He exemplifies traits such as wisdom, leadership, and adherence to societal norms. Theseus is depicted as a symbol of authority and embodies the ideals of the classical ruler.
In contrast, Bottom's character is presented as comical, ignorant, and full of flaws. He is portrayed as an amateur actor who is overly confident in his abilities but lacks any real talent. Bottom often speaks without thinking and is prone to making foolish remarks. Despite his shortcomings, Bottom is genuinely enthusiastic and full of zest. He values his own imagination and has a flair for the dramatic.
Bottom's character can be seen as the antithesis of Theseus because he represents the opposite qualities. While Theseus stands for order and reason, Bottom is the embodiment of chaos and irrationality. Theseus is a dignified ruler, while Bottom is a lowly tradesman. Theseus embraces societal norms, while Bottom challenges them through his involvement in the amateur theater.
By contrasting the qualities and characteristics of Bottom and Theseus, you can perceive how they function as opposites in terms of their behavior, attitudes, and societal roles. These differences enable a deeper understanding of their respective roles within the play and highlight the thematic exploration of order versus chaos, reason versus imagination, and societal norms versus artistic expression.