Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Simpleness and Duty - The world of the artisans and the significance of the play within the play

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, University of Heidelberg (Anglistisches Seminar), course: Literature and Film: Shakespeare, language: English, abstract: This term paper treats the simplicity of the workmen in A Midsummer Night's Dream and the significance of the embedded play-within-a-play. The first part discusses the simplicity of the workmen and their characteristics that make them who they are. First, an analysis of the main artisan figure, Nick Bottom, will be given. This analysis is classified in his characteristic traits, formed by his behavior and his being, and his language. Those two categories will show the simplicity of his figure and his role in the play. His companions, the other workmen, are then grouped and treated in general before detailed characteristics about each individual artisan are itemized. The second part of this term paper handles the importance of the play-within-a-play. A general overview and definition about this literary device will be given in order to discuss the importance of the specific story in the play. The reference of the Pyramus and Thisbe story as the play-within-a-play in A Midsummer Night's Dream will complete this term paper on its topic.