Finally, one last wall from the realm of mythology: in a Roman

romance, a young man named Pyramus falls in love with the girl next

door, whose name is Thisbe. Sadly, the parents of Pyramus and Thisbe

are not the best of friends, and forbid them from seeing one

another. The couple are thus only able to signal their love from

afar, until they discover a small hole in the wall which seperates

their houses, whereupon their love blossoms further, and a plan is

made to run away and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, the

plan falls through, and everyone (apart from the wall) dies.

This tragic story has been re-told in many different guises. Some

may already have recognised Romeo and Juliet, but Shakespeare

in fact tells the tale twice. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, a

troupe of amature actors, known as the Rude Mechanicals, rehearse

and perform this romance for the entertainment of the lead

characters*. So far, so inconsequential. However,

during their rehearsal, the Mechanicals stumble upon a stage

management problem, as expressed by Snout, and a solution is found,

given by Bottom. Let their words stand as words of wisdom, or even

practical advice, to anyone wishing to erect any form of barrier, be

it metaphysical or physical, between people or places; if more heed

were taken, perhaps the world would be a more peaceful place.

Snout:
You can never bring in a wall. What say you,

Bottom?


Bottom:
Some man or other must present Wall: and let him have some

plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast about him, to signify

wall; and let him hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny

shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

Another wall of men* may

be found in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, wherein

a troupe of amature actors, known as the Rude Mechanicals, rehearse

and perform the story of Pyramus and Thisbe. In this Roman romance,

a young man falls in love with the girl next door. Sadly, their

parents do not approve, and forbid them from seeing one another. The

couple are thus only able to signal their love from afar, until they

discover a small hole in the wall which seperates their houses,

whereupon their love blossoms further, and a plan is made to run

away and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, this plan falls

through, and everyone (apart from the wall) dies. In their telling

of the tale, in which they also unwittingly reflect the main plot of

A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Rude Mechanicals need a wall

to appear on stage. Whilst pondering this issue, they come up with

the following solution:

Snout:
You can never bring in a wall. What say you,

Bottom?


Bottom:
Some man or other must present Wall: and let him have some

plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast about him, to signify

wall; and let him hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny

shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper.