Comedy- Mid Summer Nights Dream

I don't know a single person who doesn't like a good comedy. Something light and funny with unexpected twists and turns often produces laughter from even the most stoic of critics. The confusion Shakespeare creates in order to produce the comedic effect is just as amusing as the puns he creates so lavishly. I love the genre comedy and if i do watch a movie is it often of this genre. While comedy is wonderful, as we learned in class it is often hard to nail down what it is that makes something funny. Sort of like nailing jello to a tree.

Speaking of nailing jello to a tree, I imagine that these fools would try to do just that kind of thing (if they had jello in their time):
SNOUT:Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?
STARVELING:I fear it, I promise you.
BOTTOM:Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves: tobring in--God shield us!--a lion among ladies, is amost dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearfulwild-fowl than your lion living; and we ought tolook to 't.
SNOUT:Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.
BOTTOM:Nay, you must name his name, and half his face mustbe seen through the lion's neck: and he himselfmust speak through, saying thus, or to the samedefect,--'Ladies,'--or 'Fair-ladies--I would wishYou,'--or 'I would request you,'--or 'I wouldentreat you,--not to fear, not to tremble: my lifefor yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, itwere pity of my life: no I am no such thing; I am aman as other men are;' and there indeed let him namehis name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.

This is probably part of the most ridiculous exchanges within the entire play. Bottom and his troope of actors (haha) are so smitten with themselves that they seem to think their acting is so wonderful and lifelike that they may frighten the Ladies. The most amusing part of this passage would be the diction. Shakespeare intentionally makes these fools misuse words and misspells other in order to contribute to the chaos factor which helps create the humor.