13 May 2008

What are these people like? - Midsummer post #4

This is the fourth Midsummer post and is due before class starts on Thursday, May 15.

Shakespeare created numerous memorable characters, who exhibit the human traits that people still have today. A Midsummer Night's Dream is no different. In this play, there are both human characters (mortals) and fairies, and all of them are unique.

Choose one of the characters we've met so far and describe what makes them unique. As part of your answer, choose a line or two of dialogue that the character speaks and use it to help explain that character's personality. Think of descriptive words and phrases to help illustrate just what kind of personality traits your chosen character has. Choose some lines of dialogue that accurately and clearly illustrate his or her personality.

Remember, when you cite dialoge from the play, follow this format: "Full of vexation come I, with complaint/Against my child, my daughter Hermia." (Act I, sc.1, lines 22- 23)

Good luck...

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

i choose oberon because i can tell his caracter a little bit better than that of the rest of the play he is a dark and noble ruler that knows how to fix a problem so long as he has a cometent minion "What hast thou done thou hast mistaken Quite abd laid the love-juice on some true loves sight." Act 3 scean 2 pg 43. logan vanacore

Anonymous said...

Nick Bottom has a very loud and confident personallity. He is over-the-top, and sometimes his confidence might make him seem egotistical and overconfident to other people around him. When Bottom and the other mechanicals are arranging to put on a play, he thinks that he can play every role better than any of his fellow performers. He says, "I will move storms; I will condole in some measure. To the rest - yet my chief humor is for a tyrant. I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all slip" (10). In these lines, Bottom is telling the other people how great of an actor he thinks that he is.
Emily Period 6

Anonymous said...

The character that i chose from a Midsummer Night's Dream is Hermina. I think the thing that makes her unique is that Lysander and Demetrius both are in love with her. The reason why i think this is because she hasn't done anything to make both people fall in love with her and the only one that she has really fallen for is Lysander, but her father refuses to have that. He has chosen Demetrius for his daughter to marry even though she doesn't want to marry him. “So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere i will my virgin patent up unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty.” (Act 1, sec. 1, lines 79-82). I also think that Hermia is self dependent because she would rather do want she wants instead of having her father's approval on who she loves. Another thing that i think is unique about Hermia is that it seems like she and Helena were once friends, but now can not stand each other because of the love feelings between Lysander and Demetrius. It also seems as if without all the guys loving her that she is alone especially when Lysander says that he dose not lover her anymore.
Annemarie p-4

Anonymous said...

To me, Nick Bottom is the sort of person who thinks that he is the greatest at everything he does. Because of this, he has an air of self-arrogance around him and at times he almost becomes irritating to those around him. A perfect example of this is when the mechanicals are getting their parts for their plays, he wants to do everything better than everyone else even though it isn't fair to the other actors. Like with Thisby's part, he tells them "I'll speak in a monstrous little voice," (Act I, scene ii, line 46) or with the lion's part: "I will aggravate my voice so that I roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you and 'twere any nightingale." (Act I, scene ii, lines 75-76)He is also incredibly paranoid and thinks that people are jealous of his acting abilities. Like when he has the head of an ass he thinks that they want to play a trick on him, when in reality they are terrified of his transformation; "I see their knavery. This is to make an ass of me, to frighten me, if they could;" (Act III, scene i, lines 112-113)

Peter per.4

Anonymous said...

i think Helena kind of stand out because none of the guys like her and she's inlove with Demetrius. She would express her feelings to him even when he tells her he doesn't like her. But she keeps trying to pursue him. "And i am sick when i look not on you" (act II,Scene I,line 213)

Anonymous said...

I believe that Nick Bottom is the most unique character in the play. He is the so called "low life" of the play, and stands out from every other character. He acts out and is not afraid to cause commotion. I think he is the least reserved out of all the characters and he is the least afraid to cause a ruckus. "Let me play the lion too...I will roar, that I will make the Duke say, "Let him roar again." (Act 1, scene 2, line 65) This quote shows that Bottom is not afraid to praise himself. He is not scared to talk highly of himself or go after something he truly desires. "We will meet, and there we may rehearse obscenely and courageously." (Act 1, scene 2, line 98) This quote displays how Nick Bottom is not afraid to stand out. He is not frightened to be courageous and take risks with his acting. I believe these facts make him stand out more than the other characters in the play.

Lindsay, Per. 4

Anonymous said...

I believe Helena stands out the most and her situation and personality are the most fascinating. Poor Helena is stuck in a situation of unrequited love. She loves Demetrius with all of her heart and soul, and yet he is blatantly rude to her. Of course, blinded by Cupid’s arrow, she over looks this hatred and it only makes her desire to be with him stronger. For most people, after a came of cat-and-mouse, they’d just give up and mope. Not Helena. She has perseverance and strength. On page 23, in lines 199-201, Demetrius explains his dislike toward Helena and asks why she does not understand his message. But in reply, Helena says, “And even for that do I love you the more.” (Act II, sc I, pg 23) It is that simple to her. They are meant to be together. And on page 24, lines 220-226, Helena explains her world with Demetrius in it and how he affects the world around her. She says, “It is not night when I see your face...For you in respect are all the world. Then how can it be said I am alone, when all the world is here to look on me.”(Act II sc I pg 24) This explains through her character that she is a loving, sometimes too persistent, unlucky girl with no love in return. She experiences the common love symptoms: gooey eyed, jitters, and completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Helena is a perfect example how what people experience when they fall in love and has the personality to show it.

Jenna G, Period VI

Anonymous said...

I think that the character Oberon is unique, not only because he is a fairy, but because he exhibits all of the characteristics that make humans so great and so horrendous at the same time. As shown near the beginning of the play, Oberon can be incredibly selfish and petty: “And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes, and make her full of hateful fantasies.” (Act II, sc. i, lines 257-258) As can be seen here, Oberon is potentially humiliating Titania simply because she is not bending to his will. He is vindictive, cruel, and hurtful; all because he can be. This Oberon is incredibly unlikable, and reminds us of those people we do not wish to dwell on; the sadists, psychopaths, and generally insane members of our society. However, Oberon does have a good side. After observing Puck’s mistake, and the misery it was causing both of the girls, he wishes to put things right: “When his love doth espy, let her shine as gloriously as the Venus of the sky.” (Act III, sc. ii, lines 105-107) This Oberon is truly concerned about the humans, and wishes that they were all happy. He acts out of generosity and compassion, both admirable qualities. This Oberon is one that can be looked up to and admired, someone that may remind us of the philanthropists and volunteers of the world. His light is a direct contrast to his dark, and it seems phenomenal that two startlingly different personalities can exist in the same body. However, humans are the exact same way. Murderers can be creative and have moments of compassion, tyrants can further minority rights, and sociopaths can be generous. Humans are so wonderful in their ability to be both the light and the dark, much like Oberon; a fair noble, and a tyrannical dictator.

Anonymous said...

I think Bottom is a very unique character in the play, but if he were here today, he wouldn't be so different from anyone else. This is because he is very stubborn and arrogant. He seems dumb compared to the rest of the characters in the play because he mixes up his words often. One example is when he says "We will meet, and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously." (Act I, sc. 2, lines 98-99) He is also very arrogant because he thinks he is the greatest actor ever and wants to be all the parts in the play they will perform; he will do anything he has to in order to play parts such as lion: "...I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove..." (Act I, sc.2, lines 74-76). Many people today are very arrogant or very stubborn, so Bottom would not be unique in today's world.

Anonymous said...

the above comment was Colleen period 4

Anonymous said...

I think that puck has a very unique personality. For someone who holds the great responsibilities of the king of fairies, he is very child-like and immature. He gets laughs out of making people fall, scaring them and mimicking animals. he gets a laugh out of everything and life to him seems to be one big joke. he never is caught acting serious around fairies or humans and if things get to boring he finds a way to make a joke. “I am that marry wanderer of the night. I jest Oberon and make him smile when i a fat beanfed horse beguile neighing in likeliness of a filly foal” (Act 2, sc.1, lines 43-46) Puck talks about how its his responsibility to make the king laugh and bring joy and happiness. Not once in the play so far does Puck ever do or say anything completely serious. he has such an interesting personality because his silliness contrasts the seriousness of all the other characters.

Anonymous said...

I think the most unique character in the play would be Nick Bottom. He has a different personality and i think hes sort of underestimated by everyone. He speaks his mind and shows what he wants and feels. For example when he says he will play the lion in the play, "Let me play the lion too.I will roar that I will make the Duke say, "Let him roar again." This quote is significant because it shows bottom and his unique personality and how he expresses that he wants to play the lion and roar to the duke.

pat p.6

Anonymous said...

I would say that the most unique character would have to be Oberon. He has the same selfish reactions to certain problems and situations that humans would, and almost abuses his power as a fairy. When he didn’t get his way with the Indian boy, he took out his anger on Titania and made her fall in love with the head of an ass. “And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes, and make her full of hateful fantasies.” (Act II, sc. i, lines 257-258) This makes him feel satisfied, because although he may not be getting his way right now, he still has the upper hand in the matter. Many humans act this way too, sometimes subconsciously, we tend to want to get the last word when we don’t have our way, or somehow make things go just how we want them to go. I think he abuses his power of being a fairly, simply because he can get away with it, he can do these things to Titania, or to anyone for that matter, because he has the power to. He sees himself as invincible which makes him look arrogant and stubborn. Not any of the other characters really share the traits that Oberon has, which is why I think he is the most unique character in a Midsummer Nights Dream.

Anonymous said...

I think that out of all the characters in the play, Puck is the most unique. He is describes himself as, “I am that marry wanderer of the night. I jest Oberon and make him smile when I a fat bean fed horse beguile neighing in likeliness of a filly foal” (Act 2, sc.1, lines 43-46) Puck is the servant fairy for Oberon who does whatever he is asked. I feel that Puck is the unique character in the play because he shows so much responsibility and order that he gets to experience the chaos of love. He is unique in the way that he magically serves his master and gets amusement out of how confused he has made the lovers. He only shows one kind of emotion, which is being the jester or jokester. He never acts humanly around the woods. His personality is reflecting off of the others sadness or anger. He lightens up the play in sense. He is the most unique character in the play because of how different and diverse he acts.

Anonymous said...

I think puck has a uniqu because unlike the other characters he not very serious like the other. He more of a jokester. like in (Act 2 scene 1 line 43-58) he talks about how he changes in animals or objects to pull pranks on people. That is why I think punk is the must uniqu characters in Midsummer Nights Dream

Aaron Per 6

Anonymous said...

I think Puck is the most unique character. He has a lot of responsibility and none of the other characters have that kind of responsibility. He is Oberon’s partner in crime. He does whatever Oberon asks him to do. “Fear not, my lord! Your servant shall do so.” (25, II: i: 268) Oberon has a lot of power, but he doesn’t have responsibility like Puck does. Puck has power and responsibility. He is responsible for his actions and for Oberon’s. Along with being Oberon’s side kick, Puck has a lot of personality. He has to make Oberon laugh as well as be responsible for him, so puck has a very good sense of humor, or at least Oberon thinks he does “Thou speakest aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon and make him smile…” (18, II: i: 442-44)
Megan Period 6

Anonymous said...

After meeting all the characters, I find Hermia to be the most unique, I think she is intelligent, and witty. She seems to have a fiery personality, and she seems very independent. She stands out because she doesn’t seem to let anyone stop her,she seems to be able to stand up for herself. At times, she becomes defensive about her height but can fight back against Helena when she teases her. I believe that Hermia has more passion than most of the other characters, which makes her rise above the others. “Little” again? Nothing but “low” and “little”? Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Let me come to her.” (Act III, Scene ii, Lines 326-328)

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, Oberon is a very unique character. His personality has two sides. He is the king of the fairies, yet he is so insensible and selfish. Even though, Titania had more rights over the Indian boy, he wanted to snatch him from her and make him a warrior to his advantage. When Titania doesn't submit willingly, he plans a revenge against her. "Well; go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove Till I torment thee for this injury."(Act II, scene i, lines 146-147) However, his evilness does not show on the situation with Demetrius and Helena. He sympathizes Helena for loving Demetrius so much and getting abused by him. He wanted Helena to get her love and tries to help out their situation using magic. Even though, his act towards Titania was malicious, his sympathy for the lovers was kind. "When they next wake, all this derision Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision, And back to Athens shall the lovers wend With league whose date till death shall never end."(Act III, scene II, lines, 370-373) When things were messed up by the use of potion, he wanted to stop all the drama and fights by making it all a dream for them. It's strange that he didn't seem to think of all the disturbances he was causing when he was in fight with Titania.

Anonymous said...

One of the charceters we have meet so far is Puck. Puck is one of the characters in the stry that starts all this trouble for the humans and fairies. Puck makes a lot of trouble by putting a spell on Nick Bottom one of the humans. Puck gives him the head of an ass and then a Puck also buts a spell on Titania the queen of the fairies to fall in love to who ever she sees first when she wakes up. So when see wakes up she falls in love with the man Nick Bottom that has a face of an ass. An example of Puck causing trouble is when Puck is in the woods " What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here, so near the cardle of the Fairy Queen? What a play Toward? I'll be an auditor An actor too perhaps, if i see cause." (Act III page 35) this shows how he is amused by the humans trying to make a play. so Puck is one of the trouble makers in the play.
Andrew per. 4

Anonymous said...

I think that Puck is one of the most unique characters in the play. Puck is an unusual kind of fairy. He is not the typical fairy. He has the same powers as a fairy but is very obedient to his master, Oberon. Puck always does what he is told and tries to impress Oberon. He clearly stated, "I am the merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon and make him smile." (Act I, sc.1, lines 43-44) Puck is commited to his master and obeys him. He is also very proud of his accomplishments, such as casting the love spell on Lysander and Titania. Puck also gets very amused with teasing mortals. He was expaining what he does and how he spends his time and explained how he changes his shape to tease humans. He seems a bit immature and finds humor in other's troubles, but also cares about those like his master Oberon. Puck is very unique, especially because of his different personalities.
Maria period 6

Anonymous said...

I think that Puck is a character that exhibits unique qualities. He has multiple abilities that make him a powerful character. His ability to alter human control makes him special. He knows that even if he messes around with mortals, they won’t know it’s him. He also thinks that mortals can be naive. An indication of his powers is on (Act II, scene I, p.23) when he says to Oberon “I’ll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes”. This shows one of his many powers in action.
Sean Smith Per. 4

Anonymous said...

The most vital characteracter in A Midsummer Night's Dream in my opinon is Puck. Puck brings the fairy world and the mortal world together and he is involved in most of the problems of the book.
"Thou speakest aright;
I am that merry wanderer of the night.
I jest to Oberon and make him smile
When I a fat and beanfed horse beguile,
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal;
And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl,
In very likeness of a roasteed crab." (Act II, scene i, line 43)

Puck is Oberon's hench man and he does anything that Oberon tells him to including "lurk I in a gossip's bowl". He did that by medaling in Lysander, Hermia, Denmetrius and Helenas' affairs. Actions like that Make Puck connected to every senario in the book.

Anonymous said...

Out of all the characters I would say that Puck is the most unique. All he really does is mess around and makes things confusing. Like in act 2 scene 1 lines 43-58 he talks about how he can change his shape into a stool and as someone is sitting down he turns back into a fairy and makes them fall.
Nick period 6.

Anonymous said...

In Midsummer, Shakespeare uses many descriptive and unique ways of describing each character in his stories. Out of the many characters that we have met so far, Bottom has been one of them who stands out the most to me. He is part of the mechanicals and during the scene where they are preparing for the play he shows his true self. “We will meet, and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously.” (12) He proves himself to be an outgoing person that thinks he is very sophisticated and yet can’t even use proper English when trying to describe something. I think what Nick Bottom was meaning to say when he said that was we shall rehearse, very well and efficiently. Nick bottom is a loud, outgoing person in Shakespeare’s play and it is why he is so unique.
Mike R (P.6)

Anonymous said...

i would say nick bottom has a very loud and obnoxious personality. Its weird how he has a " head of an ass", but it seems like it fits the character he plays in a way. hes always making a scene about something, and taking things over the top. He seems very conceited, and into himself, like wen he mentions how when their picking roles in the play, " i will move storms, i will condole in some measure." He knows hes good at what he does.

jess period 4

Anonymous said...

I think that the most unique character in the play so far is Oberon. He is the fairy king but is unlike Titania. He is the one that starts the whole mess of everyone falling inlove with the wrong person just so that he could get the indian boy from Titania. Although he is dark and messes everything up he relises what he did was wrong and fixes it. He makes Lyander fall back in love with Hermia and Demetrius fall in love with Helena. "What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite and laid the love- juive on some true-love's sight. Of thy misprision must perforce ensue some true love turn'd and not a false turn's true" (ActIII,sc.2,lines 87-91)

Anonymous said...

The character I chose is Hermia. In the beginning of the story, hermia was loved by both Lysander and Demetrius, but she only loved Hermia. However, when Demetrius and Lysander were touched by the "love flower," they fell in love with Helena, and Hermia seemed jealous. It seems to me like if Hermia doesn't get attention, she reacts negatively. The words I would use to describe her are headstrong, rebellious, and jealous.

Anonymous said...

I think that Nick Bottom stands out as a very unique character in the play. Even though he is not one of the Main characters like Lysander, Helena, and Oberon, he still plays a big part in the drama that is occuring in the play. He isn't the smarter person in the play and is supposed to be looked at as a funny character. But throughout the play even when he has the head of an ass we can see that he is a deep person and does have some wisdom. The quote, "love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind and therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind." (act 3) shows how bottom is much smarter than he looks and he does have the capacity to love making him a very unique character on the play.


Mike p. P-4

Anonymous said...

Nick Bottom is unique as he has the most self important, over the top attitude and he thinks he's better than other people. He thinks he can do everything and anything as is displayed in Act 1 scene 2. Quince is giving out parts to the actors to play and even after Bottom has been assigned his part he tries to convince Quince that he could play the other parts as well. Bottom also isn't the smartest of intellects although he tries to be. He tries to display knowledge which he doesn't have. Bottom, when he is told the play they will be performing is Pyramus and Thisby, responds "A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry."(Act1,Sc.2,lines 13-14)when in fact the story is a tragic drama in which the main characters die.
Josh Per.4

Anonymous said...

Bottom is a very unique charecter in the play. He is very confident in himself. He thinks that he can play every part in the play that they are putting together. "Let me play the lion too. I will roar, I will do any man's good heart to hear me...". "I will sing, they shall hear i am not afraid." Bottom even gets the head of an ass at one point in the story.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, Nick Bottom is one the most unique characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is egotistical, stubborn, and completely self-centered and narcissistic. Although he is only a weaver and a "mechanical" in the play, he holds himself at a much higher standard than all the other commoners in the play. For example, when Peter Quince is handing out parts for the mechanical's play, Pyramous and Thisby, he thinks that his acting abilities are so amazing that he could be capable of playing all of the parts. "Let me play the lion too. I will roar, that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar, that I will make the Duke say, 'Let him roar again; let him roar again.'" (Act 1, scene ii, lines 64-67) But what he often doesn't realize is that he is making an "ass" out of himself by being so confident and cocky. Because really, he is a terrible actor and he doesn't know that he is really making a fool of himself. That's why when Puck sees this, he gives Bottom the head of an ass.

Anonymous said...

I believe the most interesting character of the whole play is the character Oberon. Oberon is a character that is very different. He is a fairy but he is more like a human than the humans in the play are. On one side of his personality is that he is selfish and vindictive while the other side is he is kind to humans. When we first meet Oberon him and his wife are fighting about who controls the fate of a young Indian boy. Their fighting has caused the seasons to get thrown off balance and is affecting the world in an adverse way. When Titania, his wife, points this out and pleads for them to compromise he says, "Do you amend it then; it lies in you: Why should Titania cross her Oberon? I do but beg a little changeling boy, To be my henchman." He is stubborn and unmoving acts very selfishly. Oberon shows his better side after watching the conversation between Demetrius and Helena. He tells Puck to cast a spell on Demetrius to love Helena. This was unnecessary for him to do and it was a very kind thing for him to do.

Anonymous said...

above comment is Dominic Period 4