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A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 4, Scene 1: "The same portion of the wood"
The four lovers are still sleeping in the woods as the attention shifts to Bottom and Titania. He is tended on, spoiled, and indulged by the fairies, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed, who jump at his every hysterical command. His words change to those of a donkey, as he craves hay and remarks that he needs a shave. The fairies leave Bottom to sleep as Titania cradles him in her bed. Oberon is still looking onto the scene as Titania is pictured on top of Bottom. He develops pity for his beloved fairy queen, for he knows that his trick has gone too far. Titania is entangled in bed with an ass! Oberon decides to undo all the magic he has done, for he now has the Indian boy in his possession. "May all to Athens back again repair / And think no more of this night's accidents / But as the fierce vexation of a dream" Act 4, Scene 1, lines 70-72.
Topic Tracking: Love's Foolishness 12
Topic Tracking: Jealousy 7
Topic Tracking: Dreams/Sleeping 10
He squeezes the juice over her eyelids and she awakens in shock: "My Oberon! What visions have I seen!/ Methought I was enamored of an ass" Act 4, Scene 1, lines 79-80. Oberon shows Titania the sleeping Bottom. Puck removes the donkey's face and Oberon declares that all will be well in the morning. Bottom will return to his fellow players unbeknownst to the evening's events, the two sets of young lovers will marry with Theseus and Hippolyta, and the reunited Oberon and Titania will bless the marriages.
Topic Tracking: Jealousy 8
Topic Tracking: Magic 9
The fairies leave as Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus ride into the woods on a hunting trip. They talk of their great battles of the past with Hercules and Cadmus, flirtatiously competing with one another. They come across the four lovers sleeping peacefully on the ground and Theseus reminds Egeus that this is the day in which Hermia must announce her decision: to marry Demetrius, become a nun, or die. They tell the noblemen of their actions and how they came to the woods, all confused yet all content with their mates now. Theseus is confused and asks Lysander, "I know you two are rival enemies: / How comes this gentle concord in the world, / That hatred is so far from jealousy, / To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?" Act 4, Scene 1, lines 146-149. He is delighted with their response and plans for a triple wedding in Athens. The four lovers are amazed at the conversation they just had with the Duke, Duchess, and Hermia's father. They feel strong, but also feel as if they just woke up from a dream. They recount the night as they follow the royals to Athens.
Topic Tracking: Dreams/Sleeping 11
Topic Tracking: Jealousy 9
Bottom awakens from his slumber in flowing chatter and deep confusion. He jumps into "play mode," as he looks for Quince, Snout, and the rest of the players. He is ready to play Pyramus in the play. He says, "God's my life, stolen hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream" Act 4, Scene 1, lines 208-210. He plans to have Quince write a ballad of his dream that will be called "Bottom's Dream," because it has no bottom. In his typical humorous prima-dona style, he plans to recite it before the play.
