A lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing.
– William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 3, Scene 1. The six Mechanicals from Athens collect in the woods to rehearse their play Pyramus and Thisbe. Bottom is concerned that having a lion in the play will be too frightening for the ladies. He doesn’t grasp the fact that the ladies will see it isn’t a real lion, but a man dressed as a lion. He doesn’t really grasp the element of illusion in theater. Bottom is the fool who provides comic relief throughout the play.