Hubris In A Midsummer Night's Dream

“Hubris itself will not let you be an artist” (Wall). Hubris defines itself as over the top pride. When one believes they hold all the power in a situation, they achieve nothing, because they see only the “small picture” of themselves as the “star of the show”. Bottom, a weaver, in William Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, believes that he can perform all the parts in the play. He thinks the audience enjoys his acting. The character’s hubris, in the beginning of the play, indicates that selfishness costs through self-humor.

Bottom’s overconfidence leads to the disinterest of the audience. Shakespeare portrays him through writing, “An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too...Let me play the lion too..” (1.2.44-61). Already

Bottom’s hubris casts a shadow, as he desires to play all parts within the play. His reward comes earning an ass’ head. The joke now lies on him. Shakespeare highlights Bottom’s ignorance in stating, “O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I see on thee? / What do you see? you see an ass-head of your own, do you” (1.3.55-57). His selfishness aids him in ignoring what his own actions reveal to others. While many see the fool with a donkey head, he remains oblivious to their retorts, replying that they portray themselves as fools. Regardless of their opinion, Bottom determines to stay “royalty”. He believes in his immunity for respecting others, firmly stating that others must respect his actions. Theodor Weiss confirms, “Bottom is meant to be an ass and nothing but an ass” (Riga 1). With certainty, he agrees that selfishness contains repercussions. In attempting to become important, the donkey-headed fool loses maturity, thus reducing himself to a joke. The play the workers participate in deals with self-worth. While some self-credit always remains useful, over-rating gives way to selfish actions. Bottom’s character in the play turns into a laughing stock, because he determines to dominate the

While he remains an abomination, he also provides a lesson for the audience. Kevin Kline comments, “Bottom...is an artist at heart. The urge to ally himself to ideas or representations of an heroic or transcendent nature is one of the defining principles of his character…” (Riga 1). In a different light, it seems as if Bottom wants people to view him as a hero. He views that by volunteering to play every role, he therefore takes on the traits of bravery. The audience views him as the title character who provides a captivating role. From the audience’s perspective, the donkey-headed man’s interference provides a plot with little to no variety, inspiring boredom. At present, Bottom works as a weaver, in that time, a lowly job. In a way he wants to prove that his competence in provid just as much “richness” of mind as the upper class. Volunteering to hold every role within the play emphasizes that he wants the audience to see that the lower class contains just as much artistic talent as the upper class. Bottom’s comedic and dominating actions hold a deeper purpose, in that he wants the wealthy to see that low income jobs can provide just as much