Prosthetic Fantasy In A Midsummer Night's Dream

The prominent writing entitled, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is credited to the labor and skill of the distinguished William Shakespeare. The employment of prosthetic fantasy in Shakespeare’s, “Dream” can be found throughout the entire play (Farrell, 2015). This magical, romantic-comedy is set in Athens. Although Shakespeare’s writing encompasses several characters, we will center on an upcoming performance for the impending wedding of Theseus, Duke of Athens and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Provided that, we will also focus our attention around four Athenian lovers, Hermia who is in love with Lysander and Helena who is in love with Demetrius. These characters, while at periodic odds with one another and family, soon confront the mighty …show more content…
Probably the most literal magical transformation in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” occurs with the literalized transformation of Nick Bottom (Mikics, nd). In scene 3 Oberon’s fairy, Robin Goodfellow (Puck) is presented as invisible to those around him and witnesses a rehearsal taking place in the woods for the duke and queen’s wedding (3:1:72). Unbeknownst to himself, Nick Bottom becomes magically transformed by Puck with a head of an ass. As Bottom emerges in this comedy drama as his character Pyramus, everyone sees Bottom’s mutation for the first time. Ironic and perhaps symbolic even while practicing this performance, Pyramus [Bottom] states, “If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only thine”. Here Pyramus is stating that even if he were handsome he would still love Thisbe (3:1:97 & 98). At this point, everyone practicing the play sees Bottom and becomes so frightened that they run away, leaving Bottom all by himself. Bottom, soon after is told of his transformation; however, he does not believe that he has been magically changed into a body with an asses head. Shakespeare’s use of imagery allows exaggeration between Bottom’s characters, while drawing a comparison between Bottom and the fictional