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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.