A Midsummer Night's Dream · Character
Nick Bottom
A boastful weaver and would-be actor who wants to play every part at once—and whose donkey's head makes him the fairy queen's unlikely beloved.
supporting
Also known as Bottom, Bottom Thisby, sweet Bottom, Nick Bottom, Bottom Good Master Mustardseed, Bottom Mounsieur Cobweb
First appearance: Scene II
As a supporting figure in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Nick Bottom is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Eagerly volunteers for multiple roles, including Pyramus and the lion, and discusses his acting style.
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Nick Bottom is the loudest of the 'rude mechanicals,' a crew of tradesmen rehearsing a play for Theseus's wedding, and he cannot resist auditioning for every role—Pyramus, Thisbe, even the lion. His comic…
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See Nick Bottom in Scene IICharacter Web
14 connectionsA slice of how Nick Bottom sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Lovers and Rulers
- Protagonist
- Mechanicals (Rude Mechanicals)
+9 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene is the dramatic climax because it represents the peak of the "play-within-a-play" crisis, where the…
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Nick Bottom appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Nick Bottom unlock in the free preview.
See Nick Bottom in Scene II