What do we learn about the characters in Act 1 of a Midsummer Nights Dream?

We learn a lot about the characters through the language and features we find in the play. Scene 1 The first impression we get of Theseus and Hippolyta is their high social status. We see this through the way in which their lines are written in iambic pentameter. This was a common form of writing for the upper classes and sets these characters apart from the poorer people in the play who speak in prose. We get a sense of power and authority from Theseus and Egeus by the commands they give to others. Go, Philostrate and Stand forth, Lysander shows that they were used to commanding others. The harsh tone and imperatives often used shows us that these two characters are used to being obeyed and expect others to respect them. As she is mine gives us another insight into the characters of the play. In Elizabethan times when this play was written, the culture was firm on the fact that men were the higher authority and owned women and daughters. In the phrase as she is mine, Egeus shows this ideal that the audience would be very familiar with. Hermias character then opposes her father by answering back and defying him. This shows a stubbornness and determination in her personality and would have shocked the audience as much as Egeus himself! Lysander and Demetrius do not have a long role in Act 1 of the play but from Lysanders plans to run away from Hermia we can get a sense of his independence and beliefs. We see that he strongly believes in love as he uses that sort of language frequently. How chance the roses there do fade so fast? shows the way in which he opens his feelings to Hermia. This forbidden love gives the characters a positive tone although there is a sense of foreboding behind the scenes. Demetrius has a single line in Act 1 but from that we can get a small insight into his character. He tells Lysander to yield his crazed title (to marry Hermia) to my certain right. This shows us the confidence he places in himself and gives us the impression of him being as flatterer to authority as he has managed to win over Egeus. Helena shows us that her character has a lot of self-pity as she puts herself down and compares herself to Hermia. We learn that her character is not liked by Demetrius as she loves him however he loves Hermia instead. We feel some sympathy because of her sadness. Oh happy fair! makes us feel compassionate toward her as her feelings are not returned, however we can find humour in the fact that whatever she does she cannot win Demetrius heart. The more I love, the more he hateth me. Scene 2 There is a stark contrast between the characters in these two scenes. The characters in scene two are known as the mechanicals as they are the working class members in the play. This changes the way they speak and the first thing we notice is that their lines are written in prose. This clearly distinguishes them from the upper classes who speak in iambic pentameter. This is the first thing we learn about those characters.

Bottom is one of the most prominent of the mechanicals. This shows us immediately that he feels he has a higher ranking than he really does. He orders about Quince who is organising their play to perform which makes us believe he is attempting to place himself on the same level as those characters such as Theseus and Egeus. However, Shakespeare uses language to show a farcical and humorous aspect to his character. On many occasions Bottom attempts to use strong vocabulary but gets mixed up with his words. You were best to call them generally. Here Bottom means to say severally but gets the wrong word. May we rehearse most obscenely. Here Bottom means to say seemly but again creates a comical character of himself. This is what we learn about the characters in Act 1 of a Midsummer Nights Dream