A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act 4 – “I have had a dream, past the wit of man…”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act 4 – “I have had a dream, past the wit of man…”

Shakespeare had become a very polished and succinct writer by the time he wrote ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Act 4 of the play moves at a cracking pace with a number of plot lines resolving themselves in about 15 minutes of stage time or 300 lines.  The act starts with Titania, Bottom and the Fairies enterIng. Bottom is pampered and he asks Cobweb to find him honey before he falls asleep in Titania’s arms. Titania dismisses her fairies and she also falls asleep.

Soon Oberon arrives with Puck and tells the story of how he convinced Titania in her lovestruck state to give up the Indian child he wanted. Oberon decides to undo the love charm on Titania and he wakes her up. Titania is bewildered to see the ass-headed Bottom in her arms and leaves with Oberon. Puck then removes the head from Bottom but Bottom remains sleeping.

The court of Athens comes to the forest whilst on a hunt. Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus and other Athenians enter and discover Hermia, Helena, Lysander and Demetrius sleeping. They are woken up by hunting horns, hardly a subtle wake up alarm. It is D-Day for Hermia. The Athenian youths can’t remember what has happened but it is obvious that Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius. Theseus acknowledges this, overrides any of Egeus’ complaints and turns his own wedding into a triple treat of Korean wedding proportions:

“Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:

Of this discourse we more will hear anon.

Egeus, I will overbear your will…

These couples shall eternally be knit…

Away with us to Athens; three and three,

We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.”

As the expanded wedding parties depart, Bottom awakes and relates his “rare vision”:

“I have had a most rare vision.

I have had a dream, past the wit of man to

say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go

about to expound this dream. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of his dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream,

because it hath no bottom…”

Bottom goes off to find Peter Quince and his fellow would-be players.

The Mechanicals meet at Peter Quince’s house feeling that the worst has befallen Bottom at the hands of the ass-headed creature. It looks like the play will be called off. Then Snug enters to tell them that a triple wedding has taken place and that all the newlyweds are keen to see their play. Just when all seems lost, Bottom arrives and all seem very pleased to see him. All want to hear Bottom’s remarkable story but Bottom claims there is no time and that they must get their “apparel together”, string their beards, put new ribbons on their pumps and “meet presently at the palace” as they prepare for their premiere and final performance.