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Kula and Milo, PYRAMUS AND THISBE: Comic Playlet

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Kula and Milo, PYRAMUS AND THISBE: Comic Playlet

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Set in ancient Babylon, Pyramus and Thisbe is an enchanting and mythical romance that tells the tale of two lovers cursed by fate, forbidden by their parents to pursue their sought-after (or desired) unity. Due to the raging tension between the rival families, the lovebirds were forced to be distant with one another. However, both Pyramus and Thisbe were neighbors, separated by a wall that narrowed their chances to bond. Luckily, fate and destiny were not exactly against their side, with there being a small crack in the blockading wall, allowing the swains to communicate and share the affection they have for each-other. Unable to contain their yearnings for much longer, Pyramus had the idea to run away from their households, confessing their love under a mulberry tree near Ninus’ tomb. Arriving first, Thisbe encounters a lioness stained in the blood of recently slayed prey. In both shock and fear, Thisbe rapidly sprints away from the predator, unintentionally leaving and dropping her veil on the grassy ground. When Pyramus finally reached their meet-up spot, his eyes, keen and horrified, glare upon the sight of Thisbe’s veil covered in red blood. Believing that his beloved got brutally devoured by a bloodthirsty creature, Pyramus feels a plethora of emotions rushing through him. Bathed in guilt (because he was the one that had the thought to meet near the tomb), Pyramus unsheathes his blade and stabs himself in the heart. Thisbe, upon entry, is devastated to see her lover dead and cloaked in disgusting gore. Because of this, Thisbe also kills herself, joining Pyramus in the next life.

One of the most well-renowned and notorious tellings of Pyramus and Thisbe was written by the Roman poet Ovid, in his poem called ‘Metamorphoses’. According to several historians, historical accounts, and scholars, Ovid’s version is proved to be the oldest recorded in history.

A millennia and a few centuries later, the Bard of Avon himself, William Shakespeare, utilized and adapted the story to his own works. For example, Ovid’s rendition of Pyramus and Thisbe heavily inspired Shakespeare to write his storytelling masterclass: ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Moreover, as the royal, theatrical act performed by a troupe of untrained ‘mechanicals’, William Shakespeare decided to choose the story of Pyramus and Thisbe as his ‘play within a play’ in a Jacobean comedy of his: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Because of these references and tributes towards Pyramus and Thisbe, the tale of the two ill-fortuned lovers continue to carry on throughout history.

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, the mechanicals' attempt to depict the play of Pyramus and Thisbe in a forest. Nick Bottom acted as Pyramus, Francis Flute acted as Thisbe, Tom Snout acted as the wall that separates the two lovers, Robin Starveling acted as Moonshine, Snug acted as the lion, and Peter Quince serves as the director/narrator. Although the group approaches the production with serious intentions in mind, they come off as laughably terrible due to their complete lack in acting skill whatsoever.

Furthermore, Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ explores several themes that are rather similair with Pyramus and Thisbe. Ideas such as: what people are willing to do (and sacrifice) for love, the immense power love has over it’s ‘victims’, and ‘forbidden’ love are all reoccuring thematics present in both narratives.

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Our Most Important Findings:

Courtship:

Not Just Romance: In Elizabethan times (1558-1603), "courtship" meant more than just trying to find a romantic partner. It included how people behaved at court, diplomacy, and even showing respect to important people. This shows that love and politics were closely linked.

Poetry as a Tool:

Elizabethan love poems weren't just for art; they were used for practical reasons in courtship. People used them to win over a lover, gain favor, enjoy the freedom of pretending to be someone else, and even improve their social status or wealth. One story shows how poetry from writers like Shakespeare and Donne was seen as "useful" for wooing.

Women's Active Role:

This study highlights that Elizabethan women were active participants in courtship discussions through poetry. They weren't just the focus of male desire, but they also wrote, read, and talked about love poetry themselves.

Women and Books:

Even if many Elizabethan women didn't write, they were still very involved with literature. Many could read, and even more could understand stories and poems by listening to them being read aloud. This means women had significant access to culture and poetry.

Women Gaining Power:

Courtship, despite its traditional forms, actually gave women some power. When men tried to persuade women with poetry, it forced men to listen to women's responses and objections. This allowed women to "speak out and write back" and make choices based on their own will and desires.

During the Elizabethan Era (1558–1603), courtship and marriage weren’t just about love—they were shaped by religion, class, gender roles, and social rules. While people did fall in love, most marriages were more about practical things like family status, money, and duty than romance.

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Beliefs about Witchcraft of Shakespeare’s Time

400 years ago, witches were blamed for misfortunes such as poor weather, crop failure, or illnesses.

Witches were believed to work with the devil to carry out his malicious desires.

They were rumoured to fly, disappear, transform into animals, predict the future, or cause insanity.

King James I and Hunting for Witches

King James I was convinced that witches had sent a storm to try to kill him.

He wrote a book about witchcraft, named Daemonologie.

In 1604, he was able to pass a law which made witchcraft punishable by death.

For those who were accused of witchcraft were tied and thrown into water, if they were guilty they would float and were to be hanged, on the other hand, if they were innocent, they would sink and drown.

However, the system was abused as people would falsely accuse others of participating in witchcraft to steal land, and unlucky women (with stillborn babies or birthmarks) were often blamed.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Europe were tortured, hung, and drowned from 1604 until 1736.

The Scheme Behind Macbeth

Shakespeare exploits the infamy of witches for his own wants of instilling immense fear, manipulating the audience, and approval from King James I.

The play is tailored to be in direct contrast with King James I and his religious devotion; along with targeting his obsessive loathing towards witches

Shakespeare focuses on reinforcing the devilish traits of the witches in his play, this is seen in a fairly known scene of 3 witches chanting in trochaic meter, with stage directions mimicking the experience of a trance.

A particular scene in the play where the witches chant for a storm, torturing a drowning sailor, mirrors King James’ strong belief that a coven of witches summoned a storm to drown him.

The strategy behind Macbeth shows the nature of Shakespeare to its core. He is not only a well-esteemed artist, but he is an incredibly intelligent individual when it comes to knowing his target audience. He pays no mind to spreading words of worry against witches, he strives to emotionally manipulate the fears of people for ensuring success.

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Fairies are supernatural beings with magical powers that dwell on earth, often near humans

Origins trace back into meideval belief, yet mthey tend to connect with earlier ideas (ex. nature spirits, pagan dentities and ancestral souls)

They may appear at various sizes-- from human sized to small as a few inches tall

They may live underground, in mounds, caves, or under roots of trees

They are usually conceived as being characteristically beautiful or handsome

Fairies of the past were feared as dangerous and powerful beings who were sometimes friendly to humans but could also be cruel or mischievous

There are different types of fairies which are pixies, brownies (and boggarts), puck (robin goodfellow).

Pixies are small, elflike tricksters dressed in green who dance under the moonlight, lead travelers off roads, and enjoys mischief

Brownies (and boggarts) are household spirits and they perform chores at nigh in exchange for offeting like bread and milk-- but vanish if insulted or given.

Puck (Robin Goodfellow) known for both being helpful and michief

Fairy rings are rings of mushrooms or darker grass that were believed to mark where fairies danced. Entering one could trap or curse a person.

The term fairy comes from the Old French word faerie, which originally meant “enchantment” or the realm of the fays.

Fairies appear in the folklore of many cultures, including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French traditions.

They were often believed to be spirits of the dead or nature spirits that had been demoted from earlier pagan religions.

In literature, fairies became popular in medieval romances and were often portrayed as magical women who could help or harm humans.

By the 19th century, fairies became more romanticized and child-friendly, especially in Victorian stories and fairy tales.

Some legends claimed that time passed differently in the fairy world—humans who visited might return to find many years had gone by.

Iron, bells, or herbs like St. John’s wort were thought to protect people from fairies.

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Gabriel and Chloe: Symbolism of Moon and Night

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Gabriel and Chloe: Symbolism of Moon and Night

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Symbolism of the moon

1. An image of cycles and transformation

Because the moon cycles through so many phases (new moon, crescent, full moon etc.) it’s often used as a symbol of change. These could substitute the emotional shifts, growth or life cycles of a character.

2. Emotional and Inner World Reflection

The moon is also connected with deep or hard to put into words feelings. It may show what a character is feeling, struggling with or learning.

3. Uncertainty and Mystery

The moon is often linked to the unknown, secrets, or the subconscious as inconspicuousness is most often present during nighttime. It creates suspense, or tension, in a scene.

4. Nurturing and Femininity

The moon is often associated with feminine power, featuring characteristics such as motherhood, caring, and sensitivity.

5. Light in the Dark and Guidance

In uncertain or dark times, the moon can be a symbol of hope or light.In times of emotion or danger, it might serve as a silent protector or guide.

6. Interpretation of Various Moon Phases

Truth, ferocity, and even insanity can be represented by a full moon. A new moon can signify a mystery, untapped potential, or a fresh beginning. Hope, development, and the start of something new are all suggested by a crescent moon.

Symbolism of the night

1. Mystery and freedom

The night offers a mystical, mystical place that differs with the organized world in the daytime Athens. Night signifies freedom and identity because one can show his suppressed wants, feelings, and fantasies without judgment as characters cannot be judged by other members of society.

2. The Transformation and The illusion

Identities are fluid under the darkness and characters undergo a radical turn of emotions. Enchanted and confused relationships between Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius, and Helena take place. Night is a blur of the edges between reality and fantasy, good sense and the heart.

3. Disorder and Unpredicatability

Night enhances the mischief and magic of characters such as Puck and therefore produces funny misunderstandings and emotional distress. There is no order in the dark; later on, the insight and illumination follow before the dawn comes.

4. Self-actualization

Night is a metaphor of new experiences as it represents a transition between uncertainty and enlightenment. Characters have to have briefly but strong illusions and dreams, at the end becoming wiser about themselves.

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Beliefs About Dreams From The 16th Century

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Beliefs About Dreams From The 16th Century

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1. Religious Views

a. Many people believed that dreams were messages from God or signs from angels or demons.

b. Dreams could be warnings, prophecies, or moral lessons.

c. Some saw dreams as tests of faith or punishments for sin.

d. The Church often warned that dreams might be deceptive or temptations from the devil.

2. Classical Influence

Aristotle and Galen: Ancient Greek and Roman texts were still influential. Aristotle thought dreams were natural phenomena related to digestion and sensory residues. Galenic medicine connected dreams to bodily humors.

Oneiromancy: This was the ancient practice of dream interpretation, revived during the Renaissance with renewed interest in texts like Artemidorus' Oneirocritica (The Interpretation of Dreams).

3. Folkloric and Superstitious Views

Omen Dreams: Dreams were often seen as omens or predictors of future events.

Dream Books: Widely circulated manuals offered symbolic interpretations—e.g., dreaming of teeth falling out could mean death or loss.

Witches and Spirits: In a time of witch trials and intense superstition, dreams were sometimes linked to demonic visitations or witches traveling in spirit.

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William Shakespeare was an infamous English poet, actor, and playwright. He was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is often celebrated on the 23rd of April. Shakespeare was a creative writer during the Elizabethan era; however, his works remain famed to this very day. Regarding his familial life, William had 8 siblings, but soon became the eldest child after the passing of his two older siblings. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glove-maker who fulfilled civic duties in Stratford. At the age of 26, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. They rushed into marriage due to Hathaway already being pregnant at the time of their wedding ceremony. Together, they had three children: Susanna, Hamlet, and Judith. Hamlet passed away at the age of only 11 years old. Shakespeare in London:
Shakespeare’s career started in London.
The first two long poems, ‘Venus and Adonis’ (1593) and ‘The Rape of Lucrece’ (1594).
Shakespeare was a dramatist of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company of actors.
During his career, he wrote many famous works, ‘King Lear’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘The Winter’s Tale’, and ‘The Tempest’.
Shakespeare’s Works and Legacy
Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and other poems. After his death, actors from his company published 36 of his plays in the First Folio.
He became wealthy from the theatre and bought New Place, a large house in Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1597. He often travelled between London and Stratford.
Shakespeare’s works are still performed and studied today. His legacy continues through many adaptations and collections like The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.