So this is in reference to Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 26-45-ish. I was reading this and found myself laughing, and I’m not sure if I’m missing something/crazy or if I understood correctly but are Bottom and Snout seriously discussing the fact that they think it’s necessary to warn the ladies of the theater that the lion is not real, so that they aren’t too scared? I know this play’s a comedy and there are some silly parts but this just really got me. Especially after watching the acting of the play-within-a-play from the movie that we watched in lecture, I just found it hilarious that the actors really thought the ladies would be so scared of the lion. “Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion” (Snout). Anyway, I got a laugh out of that and wanted to clarify that they are being serious and I understood correctly, and wondering if anyone else got a little kick out of this?
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Yep, they're actually talking about whether the ladies will be afraid of the “lion”. I don't know what book you have but the Riverside has some background on the bottom saying that Shakespeare might be referring to an incident in Scotland where they were going to use a real tame lion to pull a chariot but replaced it with an African man so as not to frighten the spectators. I think this discussion is here for comedy aspects and maybe also a reflection of hierarchy. Theseus could have become angry that the ladies were frightened and if so he could have ordered the actors’ deaths. Bottom shows this fear when he describes what should be said to explain the lion: “If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life.” (Act 3, Scene 1 Lines 43-44). Shakespeare could also be using this to show how women were seen in these times or in the levels of hierarchy. While certainly the actors are below the king, they are still men that are above women. To them women cannot think for themselves or see what is obvious. They are feeble creatures that must be taken care of and taught lessons. If you look ahead (Act 5, Scene 1 Lines 219-222 ) to where the lion enters and gives his prologue he says “You, ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear /The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor /May now, perchance, both quake and tremble here,/When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.” After he finishes Theseus says a line that I think would imply agreement with the lion and how he said the women might react: “A very gentle beast and of a good conscience.” (Act 5, Scene 1 Lines 227-228).
You’re not crazy and it is ridiculous, but there you go. There’s my over-analyzation.
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