The Character of Bottom in A Midsummer Night's DreamThe Character of Bottom in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is often stupid, but he is not a fool. His exuberance and energy combine with practicality and ingenuity, with an alarming lack of self-awareness. In any case, he is not at all silent before the Duke, as Theseus has known others. We make fun of Bottom in many situations, but it is worth noting that these are situations in which any man can appear ridiculous: amateur theatrics are almost synonymous with unintentional comedy, whether in planning (1.2) , repetition (3.1) or representation (5.1); any artisan afflicted with a donkey's head and appetites, and loved by the queen of the fairies, would have difficulty maintaining his dignity. It is true that Bottom, with his ambitious speech, his ignorance of music and poetry and his simple attitude, is even more comical than most of the others. however, men in these situations. Bottom is, we presume, competent in his trade and respected by his comrades. According to them, only Bottom can take on the demanding role of Pyramus. They admire his presence, his panache and his vocal power. Theseus' comment about his "passion" may suggest some exaggeration in the game, which would be in keeping with Bottom's character. , but we should not assume that the lines are mispronounced, but rather poorly written. “He who wrote it” draws the most censure from Theseus. It's hard to see how, given these lines, Bottom could be anything other than comical. in the interpretation of the piece. And Shakespeare once indicated that "hard-handed men" who have "never worked in their minds" cannot be expected to perform the theater competently (Bottom would not expect an actor ). be... middle of paper ......characteristics, but in the incongruity of this "deadly crudeness", the grotesque, earthy and frank Bottom, and the beautiful, airy, eloquent and perhaps dangerous queen of fairies. The "bank on which wild thyme blows" and the beautiful fairy song "Philomel with lullaby", as well as the delicious morsels offered by Titania's servants - it is difficult to imagine a creature more alien to all this than Bottom. We laugh at his incompetence, at the incongruity of the situation, at the blatant illustration of the gap between “reason and love”; we are troubled by the indignity Titania endures, alarmed by the danger Bottom may find himself in, but reassured by the fact that he takes it in his stride. Bottom is a comic counterpart to Theseus and Oberon: the natural leader in his own world, to whom others report. And when he meets their worlds, he does more than defend himself.