A Midsummer Night's Dream

Act 3 Scene 1 Give three reasons from ACT 3 Scene 1 why 'The Mechanicals ' could be thought of as the clowns of the play.

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There is definitely a comic element to the artisans. Most of them are good natured buffoons who debate reality and truth. In Act 3, Scene 1, reality is deceptive, and enchantment reveals truth. It begins with the players attempting to rehearse their play and fearing that their disguises will be mistaken for reality. To their way of thinking, disguise and pretence are perceived as truth. In this way, a man playing a lion can be mistaken for a lion, and things such as a wall or moonlight can be effectively represented by a human being. Their world is defined by outward appearances.