SUGGESTED ANSWERS

"Shakespeare wants us to smile kindly at the craftsmen, not scorn them." Do you agree? Refer closely to the scenes in whihc the craftsmen appear and discuss Shakespeare's portrayal of them in the play.

Possible viewpoints:

YES. Shakespeare wants us to ‘smile kindly’ at them; he has them appear ridiculous, but he also shows how innocent and earnest they are

NO. Shakespeare sets them up as bumbling fools, reinforcing the stereotype that those from the lower classes are simpletons


SMILE KINDLY

- Show that the mechanicals are portrayed as earnest and sincere, trying their best to put up a good show (look for evidence to support this: their efforts at rehearsing)

- Bottom, the most outstanding of the group, is a comic figure, but he spouts wisdom at times: ‘love and reason keep little company together nowadays’. His behavior borders on arrogance, yet we cannot help but admire his positive attitude and ‘can do’ spirit (look for evidence to support this- for example, his reaction upon waking up from his night in the woods, ‘I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream.’

- Talk about their performance of the play ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. The performance was terrible by all accounts, but Theseus’ reminder to the rest that ‘If we imagine no worse of them than they of / themselves, they may pass for excellent men’ could reflect Shakespeare’s own view, that we should not be so haughty, and appreciate the craftsmen’s play for its ‘might, not merit’. (Look for similar evidence)

- The craftsmen have a significant role in the play, especially Bottom. They are written as comical figures, but even the nobles (the four lovers) go crazy in the woods, of course aided by the love juice. It is the craftsmen who keep their composure more, persevering in the face of difficulty, when Bottom was ‘missing’. If even the nobles are ‘fools’ as Puck gleefully comments, the surely Shakespeare does not single out the craftsmen for ridicule or scorn. (Look for evidence that shows the craftsmen’s positive attitude, and the lovers’ wild, foolish behavior)


SCORN
- Show how the mechanicals are portrayed as bumbling fools (Evidence should be given to show their ignorance about the conventions of stagecraft, and the numerous errors they make in speech)

- Describe how Bottom, the group’s de-facto leader, is transformed into a lowly animal, a ‘beast’ used to humiliate the fairy Queen. There are numerous references to Bottom as an ass, whether or not he was transformed. It seems as though the lower class is being made fun of, as they are portrayed as hapless simpletons.

- The play, Pyramus and Thisbe, is performed so badly that the audience is in stitches, unable to disguise their contempt for the play. Demetrius, Lysander, Theseus and Hippolyta all interrupt the play several times, making critical comments. Once, Bottom actually ‘stopped acting’, breaking the fourth wall, and reassuring the Duke that they were on cue. There was very little respect shown to the craftsmen by their audience, although Theseus apparently is sympathetic towards them. It is worth noting though that he too makes critical comments.

- The craftsmen are brought in for comic relief, and appear to be manipulated by forces beyond their control. They are shown to be at the bottom of the food chain, subject to the whims and fancies of their ‘superiors’. Provide relevant evidence—Puck’s convenient use of Bottom in Oberon’s scheme for revenge.

It is okay to take either stand, as long as you can justify your answers with appropriate evidence.

Some other things to mention / possible observations / relevant facts
- The names of the mechanicals suggest their occupations. They are described by Puck as ‘hempen homespuns’, and by Philostrate as ‘hard-handed men who work in Athens here.’

- Philostrate’s description of the play reveals his contempt for their efforts, probably having previewed it earlier—according to him, it is ‘brief’, yet even this is ‘too long’, and ‘tedious’. It is supposed to be ‘tragical’ yet his tears were ‘merry’ tears, as he couldn’t stop laughing! He says the mechanicals ‘have never labored in their minds till now.’

- He discourages Theseus from choosing the play as it is ‘nothing, nothing in the world’, and feels that surely they do not wish to ‘find sport in their intents / extremely stretched and conned with cruel pain / To do you service.’

- Hippolyta is wary of watching the play, as she ‘love(s) not to see wretchedness
o’ercharged / And duty in his service perishing.’ She feels that perhaps that it would be cruel to choose their play and possibly put the mechanicals in a situation where they are out of their depth, or will make fools of themselves. (This could be linked to the idea of ‘scorn’ in the question). Ironically though, her comments about the play later are quite scathing.

- Theseus’ magnanimous (magnanimous= high-minded; noble: a just and magnanimous ruler. Preceding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character etc.: a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.) Comments about the play and the craftsmen seem to put things into perspective.

- For never anything can be amiss / When simpleness and duty tender it.

- The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing / Our noble sport shall be to take what they mistake; / And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect / Takes it in might, not merit.

- Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity / In least speak most, to my capacity.

- The best in this kind are but shadows, and the / worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.

- If we imagine no worse of them than they of / themselves, they may pass for excellent men.


Theseus’ words / sentiments reveal a generous attitude towards the craftsmen, and this may show that Shakespeare wants us to ‘smile kindly’ at them. After all, we witness their earnest efforts to prepare for the play, and their naïve (and ridiculous) ideas about staging a play. They are innocent in nature, however, and we forgive them their mistakes as Shakespeare makes them endearing in their errors. Bottom, with his immensely positive disposition (disposition= the predominant or prevailing tendency of one’s spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude: a girl with a pleasant disposition) is an inspiration to his fellows, and to us as well. He reacts positively to any situation, and never looks back.

(Feel free to take an opposing view—you would then have to present the points above in a negative light i.e. endearing becomes ignorant etc)