An author, C. Elizabeth once said, “Real is not dreams. Dreams are not real. Unless you can find the fine line...and erase it.” In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by Shakespeare, the fine line between reality and dreams is truly tested. In the first four acts, dreams influence one’s mind and imagination takes over the characters’ minds. From fairies to unimaginable love interests, it is obvious that one is not in reality. In Act 5 Scene 1, however, everything returns to the norm and reality returns. However, reality and imagination are tested in this scene once again, the ridiculous play the Mechanicals put on comparing and the realistic commentary of Theseus, Hippolyta, Demetrius, and Lysander. Also in this scene, Shakespeare often breaks the fourth wall to apologize to the audience for the play. At the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1, Shakespeare breaks the fourth wall when Theseus is talking to Hippolyta. He describes how the poet turns the characters in his imagination, into life, with his words:
“The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as …show more content…
The most prominent examples are very similar to one another: Quince’s prologue at the beginning and Puck’s speech at the end. Quince’s first part of his prologue is Shakespeare breaking the fourth wall, and apologizing for the play to come:
“If we offend, it is with our good will.
That you should think, we come not to offend,
But with good will. To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end...”
Puck’s speech at the end is Shakespeare breaking the fourth wall, apologizing for the whole of the Mechanicals’ play. He also says that the whole play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was not any of the characters’ dreams, but instead, ours:
“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle
“The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as …show more content…
The most prominent examples are very similar to one another: Quince’s prologue at the beginning and Puck’s speech at the end. Quince’s first part of his prologue is Shakespeare breaking the fourth wall, and apologizing for the play to come:
“If we offend, it is with our good will.
That you should think, we come not to offend,
But with good will. To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end...”
Puck’s speech at the end is Shakespeare breaking the fourth wall, apologizing for the whole of the Mechanicals’ play. He also says that the whole play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was not any of the characters’ dreams, but instead, ours:
“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle