Candice Eyre
Thtr 146, 11-16-04
Scene 6 assignment
William Shakespeares' "A Midsummer Nights' Dream"
Scene VI, act I by Candice Eyre
The actual story ends with everyone going to bed to celebrate their union night and Puck tells every one that it has all been a dream. But…
During the night after all have gone to sleep there is a ruckus outside in the forest.
Oberon awakes during the wee hours of the morning to find the Goddess Thespia in the forest clearing conjuring up a storm.
She makes the clouds roll in quickly to fill the sky, making it blacker still. She whips the wind into a frenzy. The trees are blown so hard they kneel to the ground as if in offering to the beautiful Goddess.
Oberon walks up to the Goddess and asks her why she is so angry. She responds by making an apparition of the three couples appear in front of them, just as they looked during their wedding ceremony.
Thespia says she is angry because they did not invite her and they should not be so happy since she was not there. She curses them all to a 1000 years of never-ending nightmares.
[Walking up to the angry Goddess]
Oberon:Thespia why doest thou create such wrath?
'Twas not the day a blissful entreaty?
With lovers sworn and nightly duties done
Such mirth should come from all those surrounding.
Thespia:As the sun but passes through the sky
I have ruled o'er the world through out this time—
Of which it means little to me this night.
That which thou hast but forsaken of me
You ask that which makes me want to hinder?
When thou'st already should have known the truth
Look upon the forest floor. There upon—
The clearing see thyself from early evening.
See the wealth of happiness spring forth from
The couples, thrice the love and joy do give
Each other and those surronding
But doest thou see what is not there within?
Why a Goddess, loved by all supposed,
Was in thy eyes—not seen, to be invited.
Oberon:T'wer but such an oversight my Goddess,
For all the days have been put asunder,
My mind and that of those I so see here
Have been but on one goal, and occupied.
No slight was meant and mercy asked from thee.
Thespia:Too late! Too late! For my wrath has surpassed
Thines ability to get it aside.
No mercy for a thousand years for thee
Upon your head I hang the blame, do heed;
[Conjuring a curse]
Three lovers pair
I plainly see
For in despair
Are couples three
Nightmares, no awaking from
The curse must be
Thy deed is done.
[Thespia disappears]
[Walking back to his marriage bed]
Oberon:O woe, O woe, we all are in the hounds
House now; we are but all accursed dream.