Actions Speak Louder than Words in Michael Hoffmans Film,...

Expression is universal. The majority of all people can interpret exasperated sighs, wide eyes, loud voices, clapping, etc. Even when characters are not physically speaking, movies emit numerous messages through actor portrayal. Audiences visually experience characters’ physical reactions which are not included in books. The actors’ individual portrayals of characters in Michael Hoffman’s 1999 film, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, enhance the extreme personalities of characters already established in William Shakespeare’s play. By using tone of voice and pace of speech, the movie characters offer insight into personality more clearly than expressed in books. Although Shakespeare’s words alone indicate Egeus’s disproval of Lysander, the movie stresses his hatred for disobedience through his speech addressing Hermia, Demetrius, and Lysander in the initial scene. In attempt to demonstrate authority over the noncompliant lovers, Egeus speaks loudly while clearly pronouncing each syllable as if spitting the words out of anger. The movie offers a desperate side to Egeus not illustrated in the text because he is so frantic for control that yelling is his sole way of catching the lover’s attention and regaining the dominance that he craves. The movie also illustrates how Egeus remains consistent with his disapproval of Lysander because when Theseus proclaims the lovers’ marriage, Egueus’ facial expression is furious, demonstrating how he does not grow as a