# Scene II explained — A Midsummer Night's Dream

> Chapter companion for A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The mechanicals gather at Quince's house to assign roles for their play, 'Pyramus and Thisbe,' to be performed at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding. Bottom eagerly volunteers for multiple parts, but Quince insists he play Pyramus. The group agrees to rehearse in the palace wood by moonlight to avoid detection.

## Themes in this chapter

### Theater and Performance

The mechanicals' casting and rehearsal highlight the theme of performance, with Bottom's overconfidence and the group's comedic attempts at drama.

### Order vs. Chaos

Quince tries to impose order in casting, but Bottom's disruptive enthusiasm and the chaotic assignment of roles reflect the tension between structure and disorder.

## Character check-ins

### Nick Bottom

Eagerly volunteers for multiple roles, including Pyramus and the lion, and discusses his acting style.

### Peter Quince

Directs the casting and assigns roles, insisting Bottom play Pyramus and organizing the rehearsal.

### Francis Flute

Assigned the role of Thisby, though reluctant because he has a beard coming.

### Tom Snout

Assigned to play Pyramus' father.

### Robin Starveling

Assigned to play Thisbe's mother.

### Snug

Assigned the lion's part, but is slow of study and only needs to roar.

## Key lines

> Is all our company here?

Has everyone arrived?

_Quince checks attendance before starting the casting._

> That will ask some tears in the true performing of it: if I do it, let the audience look to their eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some measure.

That role will require real tears; if I play it, the audience will weep—I'll stir up emotions and mourn deeply.

_Bottom boasts about his ability to evoke tears as Pyramus._

> I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale.

I'll adjust my voice to roar as softly as a baby dove, as gentle as a nightingale.

_Bottom offers to tone down his lion roar to avoid frightening the ladies._

> We will meet; and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously.

We'll gather there and rehearse in a very bold and outrageous manner.

_Bottom uses 'obscenely' in a malapropism, meaning 'obscurely' or 'vigorously'._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters