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Dramatic Irony
Explanation and Analysis—The Ass's Head:
In Act 3, Scene 1, Robin transforms Bottom’s head into that of an ass while he is separated from his fellow players. When he returns, his friends are horrified by his transformation, but Bottom, who cannot see himself, believes that they are making fun of him. He creates dramatic irony by speculating about their intentions in front of the audience, which has witnessed his transformation and understands its source. Bottom makes an unknowing pun, further accentuating his ignorance. He says:
I see their knavery. This is to make an ass of
me, to fright me, if they could. But I will not stir
from this place, do what they can.
The audience has seen his transformation and therefore understands why his friends have responded the way they have to his appearance. The dramatic irony in this scene creates a sense of pity for Bottom, who is suffering from Robin’s magical manipulation. His inability to understand what has happened is made more comical by how obvious it is to everyone around him. Even his friends’ attempts to explain that something has changed don’t clue him into the fact that there is another force at play. Therefore, the audience is included in the joke at Bottom’s expense: they understand why he has been transformed, and they must watch him as he attempts—in his ignorance—to make sense of his situation. This instance of dramatic irony is therefore intended to have comedic effect, as the audience watches a helpless character’s unfortunate circumstances grow more and more absurd.
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