Merry and Tragical? Tedious and Brief? That is Hot Ice and Wondrous Strange Snow.
In Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy, *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, the character Theseus muses on the paradoxical nature of a play he is about to witness: “Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow.” This line, delivered in Act V, Scene I, serves as a microcosm of the play’s themes and Shakespeare’s exploration of the complexities of human emotion and experience. Through this quote, we delve into the interplay of joy and sorrow, the absurdity of life, and the often contradictory nature of art itself.
Contextual Significance
To appreciate the depth of Theseus’s reflection, it is essential to understand the context within which it appears. The Duke of Athens is discussing a play presented by a group of amateur actors, the “Mechanicals,” who are preparing a comedic rendition of the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe. Their earnest but bumbling attempt at art embodies the very contradictions that Theseus articulates. The play is both “merry” and “tragical,” encapsulating the human experience where moments of joy often coexist with sorrow.
Theseus’s line encapsulates the essence of *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, a narrative woven with themes of love, magic, and transformation. The juxtaposition of merriment and tragedy mirrors the experiences of the lovers caught in the magical chaos of the enchanted forest—a place where love is both a source of joy and pain.
Literary Devices and Language
The brilliance of Shakespeare’s language shines through in this quote. The use of oxymorons—”merry and tragical” and “tedious and brief”—highlights the contradictory nature of the human experience. Shakespeare often employs such devices to evoke deeper emotional responses and provoke thought in his audience. The phrase “hot ice” and “wondrous strange snow” further emphasizes the paradoxical qualities of life—elements that seem inherently opposed yet coexist. These phrases compel the audience to reflect on their own experiences, recognizing the beauty found in contradiction.
Historical Context
Shakespeare wrote *A Midsummer Night’s Dream* in the late 16th century, a period rich with theatrical experimentation and evolving notions of love and relationships. The play reflects the transitional nature of Elizabethan society, where traditional views on love were being challenged by emerging ideas of individuality and personal choice. Theseus’s contemplation of the play also reflects the burgeoning appreciation for the theatrical arts, which were becoming increasingly popular among all social classes.
Themes of Contrast and Complexity
The quote resonates with the broader themes of the play, specifically the exploration of love’s complexities. Throughout the narrative, love is depicted as a force that can bring both joy and despair. The lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—experience a tumultuous journey marked by enchantment, misunderstanding, and emotional upheaval. Their experiences echo Theseus’s contemplation, as love becomes a blend of merriment and tragedy.
Moreover, Shakespeare’s fascination with the theater itself is evident in this moment. The “tedious brief scene” of Pyramus and Thisbe serves as a meta-theatrical comment on the nature of performance, drawing attention to the artifice of theater while simultaneously celebrating its capacity to evoke genuine emotion. Shakespeare invites his audience to embrace the paradoxes of life, suggesting that the contradictions we encounter can lead to deeper understanding and appreciation.
Modern Interpretations
In contemporary discourse, Theseus’s quote continues to find relevance. The complexities of human emotion remain a perennial subject of exploration in literature, film, and art. The phrase “hot ice” has entered popular vernacular, often used to describe situations that are inherently contradictory. This duality resonates particularly in discussions surrounding mental health, where individuals may experience simultaneous feelings of happiness and sadness—an experience that is increasingly recognized in modern psychology.
Conclusion
Theseus’s observation, “Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow,” encapsulates the essence of *A Midsummer Night’s Dream* and Shakespeare’s broader artistic vision. It invites us to consider the paradoxes that shape our lives and the narratives we create. In a world where joy and sorrow are often intertwined, it reminds us that the beauty of human experience lies in its complexity. As we navigate our own “merry and tragical” journeys, we are encouraged to embrace the contradictions, finding meaning in the strange and wondrous interplay of life’s many facets. Through this lens, Shakespeare’s work remains timeless, offering insights that resonate across the centuries and continue to inform our understanding of the human condition.
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Selected Text Explanation
Passage Summary
In this passage from *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, we find Theseus, the Duke of Athens, engaged in a discussion with Philostrate, his master of revels, about the entertainment for his upcoming wedding. Theseus is eager to fill the time with various performances but is met with a list of options that range from the absurd to the traditional. The dialogue highlights Theseus's discerning taste in entertainment, as he dismisses several proposed acts, including the violent mythological tales and the satirical mourning of the Muses, deeming them unsuitable for a joyous occasion.
The passage serves as a meta-theatrical commentary on the nature of performance itself. The mention of a "tedious brief scene" about Pyramus and Thisbe underscores the notion of theatricality as both tragic and comedic, encapsulating the paradox of "tragical mirth." Theseus's reflections on the absurdity of this juxtaposition—"hot ice and wondrous strange snow"—suggest a deeper inquiry into the complexities of love and art.
Philostrate's description of the actors as "hard-handed men" who have never before engaged in the arts emphasizes the theme of transformation and the crossing of class boundaries. The manual laborers, who typically toil in the physical realm, are now attempting to create something meant for high society, which introduces the idea of art as both an aspiration and a struggle.
The significance of this scene lies in its exploration of the relationship between art and life, and the inherent humor in the attempts of the untrained to participate in noble celebrations. It sets the stage for the play within the play, which will further explore the boundaries of love, identity, and performance, ultimately reinforcing the central theme of the transformative power of theater.
Original Passage
Select any part of the passage to receive an explanation:
Here, mighty Theseus.
THESEUS.
Say, what abridgment have you for this evening?
What masque? What music? How shall we beguile
The lazy time, if not with some delight?
PHILOSTRATE.
There is a brief how many sports are ripe.
Make choice of which your Highness will see first.
[[Giving a paper.] ]
THESEUS.
[[Reads] ] 'The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung
By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.'
We'll none of that. That have I told my love
In glory of my kinsman Hercules.
'The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals,
Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage?'
That is an old device, and it was play'd
When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.
'The thrice three Muses mourning for the death
Of learning, late deceas'd in beggary.'
That is some satire, keen and critical,
Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.
'A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus
And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.'
Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief?
That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow.
How shall we find the concord of this discord?
PHILOSTRATE.
A play there is, my lord, some ten words long,
Which is as brief as I have known a play;
But by ten words, my lord, it is too long,
Which makes it tedious. For in all the play
There is not one word apt, one player fitted.
And tragical, my noble lord, it is.
For Pyramus therein doth kill himself,
Which, when I saw rehears'd, I must confess,
Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears
The passion of loud laughter never shed.
THESEUS.
What are they that do play it?
PHILOSTRATE.
Hard-handed men that work in Athens here,
Which never labour'd in their minds till now;
And now have toil'd their unbreath'd memories
With this same play against your nuptial.
THESEUS.
And we will hear it.
PHILOSTRATE.
No, my noble lord,
It is not for you: I have heard it over,
And it is nothing, nothing in the world;
Unless you can find sport in their intents,
Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain
To do you service.
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