A Midnight's Summer Dream Puck Compare And Contrast

533 Words2 Pages

A Midnight’s Summer Dream by William Shakespeare is considered a comedy with many characters having different roles in the play. However, there are two characters in the play whose sole purpose is comical relief. Puck and Bottom are very similar to each other and have the same role for different people. Even though they are comic relief characters, both Puck and Bottom play a vital role to the tone and plot of the story. Puck is the fairy who serves Oberon, the Fairy King. Puck creates a fun and playful tone to the story by playing practical jokes on the villagers. Unlike Bottom, Puck is actually very insightful and intelligent; however, Puck likes to go his own way and not follow directions. In Act 3 scene 1, Puck says, “What hempen home-spuns have we swagg'ring here, …show more content…

What, a play toward! I'll be an auditor An actor too perhaps, if I see cause.” Oberon orders Puck to find a love potion to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena. Puck being the comic relief accidently uses the potion on the wrong person. Later on in the play, the interaction between Bottom and Puck happen. Puck very rightly turns Bottom's head into the head of the proverbial ass because Bottom is indeed acting like a donkey in terms of being an idiot. Bottom wants to play Pyramus, Thisbe, and the lion, which is foolish. Puck and Oberon find it hilarious that Titania has fallen in love with a man bearing the head of an ass! Titania praises Bottom; first he demurs, but then immediately (and comically) he accepts her attention. He is also humorously enthusiastic—he wants to play all the parts in the play the men will present to the Duke. What angel wakes me from my flowery bed? (III.i.120) ...mine eye [is] enthralled to thy shape; And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move

Open Document