Attendants appear in several scenes during the play, and are sometimes mentioned in the stage directions as "others" or as Theseus's train. In lV.i, Theseus addresses attendants directly, instructing them to do various tasks. The attendants have no speaking parts.
Nick Bottom, the weaver, first appears in I.ii, with the other mechanicals, or clowns (Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, and Starveling), as they are sometimes called. It is often noted that the mechanicals' names reflect their work. "Bottom," critics explain, refers to the bottom, or skein, around which yarn is wound. Bottom directs Quince to tell the group which play they will be performing and to tell everyone which parts they will be playing. Quince assigns the role of Pyramus to Bottom. Bottom seems enthusiastic about playing this part, and he volunteers also.....
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