Student Essay on What Fools These Mortals Be

What Fools These Mortals Be

Summary:   Throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy written by William Shakespeare, foolishness is established very effectively as noticed by Puck, a fairy, when he states, "What fools these mortals be" (3.2.115). Moreover, not only do the lovers, and the players demonstrate foolishness but the fairies themselves. In dealing with love these characters are forced into foolishness.

Throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy written by William Shakespeare, foolishness is established very effectively as noticed by Puck, a fairy, when he states, "What fools these mortals be" (3.2.115). Moreover, not only do the lovers, and the players demonstrate foolishness but the fairies themselves. In dealing with love these characters are forced into foolishness.

As the lovers turn love into a game of cat and mouse, foolishness is demonstrated. Helena is chasing Demetrius, one that despises her, while Demetrius is chasing Hermia who is with Lysander. The motive behind this chase through the woods is because of Helena who is a fool in pursuing Lysander and Hermia's plan to Demetrius just for some affection as when she expresses in her soliloquy, " Pursue her; and for this intelligence/ if I have thanks, it is a dear expense" (1.1.248-249). In the forest at the dark hours of time, Hermia acts foolishly in requesting Lysander to "lie further off yet, do not lie so near" when danger could be awaiting them in the woods (2.2.44). As a result chaos is caused when Lysander falls is love with Helena, and Hermia is left all alone with no comfort. Through the pouring of the love juice the two men fall in love with Helena. She acts foolishly when she contradicts herself by believing that Lysander and Demetrius "must join in souls to mock [her] (3.2.150). Consequently, an argument is sparked between the two men and the two women. While these pairs are fighting, Puck realizes that love has changed them into fools. They are so desperate for love that they will fight for it. When all of the lovers fall asleep at the same time from supposedly being exhausted in searching for their foe, they are fools because their foe could show up unexpectedly to do them mischief.

The players act foolishly because they select a great love story called Pyramus and Thisby to enact as their drama, which tortures it to laughter. In addition to this, they assign the roles randomly as shown when Bottom says, "Now good Peter Quince, call forth your actors/ by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves" (1.2.14-15). Furthermore, they believe that a wall must physically separate Pyramus and Thisby as stated by Quince, "we must have a wall in the great/ chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, did/ talk through the chink of a wall" (3.1.56-58). This role is assigned to Snout, which adds loads of laughter and comedy to a serious love story. Bottom is a foolish character in the name itself because he is desperately in love with himself, he loves to hear himself speak and he wants to take every role in the play as revealed when he says, "Let me play the lion too: I will roar" (1.2.65). Bottom feels that it is his duty to direct the play when the director, Peter Quince. He talks on and on suggesting everything that comes to mind. Some of his suggestions show foolishness and are humorous as shown when he tells Quince to write a prologue that says, "[they]/ will do no harm with [their] swords and that Pyramus is/ not killed indeed" so the ladies will not fear the killing that takes place (3.1.16-18). When Bottom turns into a donkey his partners are so shocked by his appearance that they flee like fools saying, "O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. / pray, masters! Fly, masters! Help!" (3.1.96-97), not stopping to help him, yet when they return to the city, they wish he were with them to give them guidance as shown when Quince asks, "Have you sent to Bottom's house? is he come home/ yet"" (4.2.1-2) Therefore Bottom is left all alone in the woods and falls in love with Titania since he is the center of attention in fairy world. This shows that he is a fool because he does not care or worry about his physical state or the drama he must perform in.

The fairies show foolishness, especially Oberon, because he feels that he must take responsibility for the love of the lovers when he states, "A sweet young Athenian lady is in love/ with a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes" (2.1.260-261). This aspect arises because of the argument between Oberon and Titania that deals with the ownership of an Indian child. During this dispute, they act foolishly because they are supposed to love each other but instead they are discussing supposed loves each has with another. This leads to the pouring of the love juice as Oberon gets Puck to do his bidding, only telling him to pour the juice on a man wearing "Athenian garments" (2.1.264). This attachment is a foolish mistake; consequently resulting in love entanglements. Puck is foolish because he follows Oberon's orders when other means of resolving disagreements can be exercised. Not only does Puck follow Oberon's orders but also does additional work to create further entanglements by making Titania fall in love in Bottom with an ass's head on. This event makes Titania look like a fool, as when she truthfully says to Bottom, "Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful" (3.1.137). All this commotion that the fairies produce demonstrates their foolishness. Oberon does not learn from his mistakes and when he attempts to resolve love entanglements he again trusts Puck to do his bidding demonstrating foolishness. Despite the disagreement in the beginning Oberon begins to feel lovesick and wants Titania back. Therefore he says, "And now I have the boy, I will undo/ this hateful imperfection of her eyes" (4.1.61-62). This statement shows how foolish his love for Titania is because his love is unconditional.

As shown, there are many events in which these characters show foolishness in the course of love. Through entanglements they act foolishly generating humour. However, it must be understood that love can take on many forms and without foolishness; the comedy would be taken away from the play.