A Midsummer Nights Dream Character Analysis of Bottom the Weaver The play A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare offers a wonderful contrast in human mentality. Shakespeare provides insight into mans conflict with the rational versus emotional characteristics of human behavior. Athens represents the logical side, with its flourishing government and society. The fairy woods represents the wilder, irrational side where nothing seems to follow any sort of structure. The character of Bottom the weaver is a direct reflection of these two worlds. He brings the rational and irrational elements of the play together in several ways. Nick Bottom is indeed one of Shakespeares most memorable creations. He is first introduced during the casting of Pyramus and Thisbe(1.2.253). Bottom is ready to take on anything. He wants to play every part in the play. This can be seen as he says: An I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. Ill speak in a monstrous little voice: Thisne, Thisne!- Ah Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thisbe dear and lady dear(1.2.43-45). Further along he states: Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any mans hear good to hear me. I will roar that I will make the Duke say Let him roar again; let him roar again. (1.2.58-60) Clearly, Bottom has complete confidence in his ability to sweep from one end of the emotional scale to the other. Perhaps he feels that playing only one role in the play is constricting and he does not want to limit his talent to one specific person. This is the basis of the difference between him and the lovers. He does not want to feel restricted by anything or anyone, thereby casting aside the idea that loving only one person is possible. As he asks: What is Pyramus? A lover or a tyrant? (1.2 17) and shortly thereafter remarks: 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 stones. I will condole, in some measure. To the re...
