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! In the midst of the winter of 1595 ʹ 1596, Shakespeare
visualized an ideal summer, and he compose A
Midsummer Night͛s Dream, probably on commission
for a noble marriage, where first it was played.

! Its characters, Theseus and Hippolyta belong to ancient

myth and legend. The lovers ʹ Hermia, Helena,
Lysander, and Demetrius ʹ are of no definite time or
place, since all young people in love notoriously dwell
in a common element. The fairies ʹ Titania, Oberon,
Puck, and Bottom͛s four chums ʹ emerge from literary
folklore and its magic. And finally, the ͞mechanicals͟
are English rustic artisans ʹ the sublime Bottom, Peter
Quince, Flute, Snout, Snug, and Starveling ʹ and so
come out of Shakespeare͛s own countryside, where he
grew up.
! From the title, we do know that it is, at least in
part, a dream. Whose dream? One answer is:
Bottom͛s dream, because he is the protagonist
of the play. Puck͛s epilogue, however, calls it
the audience͛s dream. Another answer is: it
could be anyone͛s dream or any night in
midsummer, when the world is largest.

! Bottom is Shakespeare͛s Everyman, a true

original clown rather than a fool or jester. He is
a wise clown. There is no darkness in him,
even when he is caught up in an enchanted
condition.
! Puck, Bottom͚s antithesis, is a mischief maker at
best. Puck͛s alternate name in the play is Robin
Goodfellow. The word puck originally meant a
demon out for mischief or a wicked man, and
Robin Goodfellow was once a popular name for
the Devil.

! The Puck ʹ Bottom contrast helps define the

world of the Dream. Bottom, the best sort of
natural man, is subject to the pranks of Puck,
helpless to avoid them. Though the Dream is a
romantic comedy, and not an allegory, part of it
suggests that Bottom and Puck are invariable
components of human.
! In Act III, Oberon mentioned about the flower
love-in-idleness; ͞fair vestal, throned by the
west͟; whom Shakespeare refers to as Queen
Elizabeth I. One function of the fairy vision is
to constitute Shakespeare͛s largest and most
direct tribute to his monarch during his
lifetime. Elizabeth͛s choice of chastity opens up
erotic possibilities for others, but at the high
cost of accident and arbitrariness replacing her
reasoned choice.
 —
 



 





! In traditional folklore, the fairy queen has no name.

Shakespeare took the name á
  from Ovid's
Metamorphoses, where it is an appellation given to the
daughters of Titans.

! *

is given her name because of how fragile a

cobweb ʹ reminding us how fragile this fairy is.

! Sweet —
   is given her name because

peaseblossom the flower is a symbol of sweetness.

!  
s are very small so we know how tiny and

vulnerable this fairy is.

! `
  Aalso spelled Auberon) is a legendary king of

the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature.
! A Midsummer Night͛s Dream is set in Greece,
in a wood just outside Athens. Athens is one of
the oldest named cities in the world. It also
has been continuously inhabited for over 4000
years, becoming the leading city of Ancient
Greece in the first millennium BC. Its cultural
achievements during the 5th century BC laid
the foundations of western civilization.

! British Astronomer William Herschel named

the two moons of Uranus he discovered in
1787 after characters in the play, Oberon and
Titania.
*

  


1. Theseus
- duke of Athens
- a hero from Greek mythology
*his presence gives the readers idea that
the play takes place in a mythical
Greek past.
- about to marry the conquered Amazon
queen, Hippolyta
- confident, authoritative and benevolent
2. Hippolyta
- queen of the Amazons
- engaged to marry Theseus
- although she is marrying Theseus
because he defeated her in combat,
she does not act at all like an
unwilling bride
3. Egeus
- a respected noble man in Theseus͛s
court
- complains to Theseus about his
daughter, Hermia, who refuses to
marry Demetrius, his choice for
her
- asks Theseus to impose death
penalty on her if she refuses to
marry Demetrius
4. Hermia
- Egeus͛s daughter
- a beautiful young woman of Athens
- Demetrius and Lysander are in love
with her
- strong-willed and independent
- Hermia͛s childhood friend
5. Lysander
- a young nobleman of Athens
- he is in love with Hermia
- believes that ͞love must conquer all
obstacles͟
- persuades Hermia to run away from
home with him into the forest
6. Demetrius
- a young nobleman of Athens
- used to love Helena, but after she
fell in love with him, he changed
his mind and pursued Hermia
7. Helena
- a young woman of Athens
- she is madly in love with Demetrius
- tends to speak in a self-pitying tone
8. Robin Goodfellow
- a mischievous fairy who delights in
playing pranks on mortals
- sometimes referred to as Puck
- Oberon͛s jester
- responsible for many of the
complications that propel the
play
9. Oberon
- king of fairies
- begins the play at odds with his
wife, Titania, because she refuses
to relinquish control of a young
Indian prince whom he wants for
a knight
10. Titania
- queen of fairies
- resist attempts of her husband,
Oberon, to make a knight out of
the young Indian prince whom
she has taken
! Flute, Robin Starveling, Tom
11. Bottom
- overconfident weaver chosen to
play Pyramus in a play a group of
craftsmen decided to put on for
Theseus͛s wedding celebration
- full of advice and self-confidence
- frequently makes silly mistakes and
misuses language
12. Mechanicals
- a group of craftsmen preparing a
play for Theseus͛s marriage
celebration
- includes: Peter Quince, Francis
Snout, Snug, and Bottom
O


ACT 1
! Theseus, the Duke of Athens, is preparing for a large festival to mark his marriage
to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Egeus, a nobleman, arrives at Court
accompanied by his daughter Hermia, the man she loves ALysander), and the man
he has chosen for her to marry ADemetrius). He begs Theseus for the ancient
Athenian right to either make his daughter marry Demetrius or have the power to
kill her. Theseus offers Hermia two options: she must marry Demetrius or join a
nunnery.

! Lysander makes a plan for him and Hermia to go off into the woods the next night
so that they can get married at his aunt's house outside Athens which she agreed
upon. Helena arrives and laments the fact that Demetrius only has eyes for
Hermia, even though she loves him far more than Hermia ever could. Lysander
tells her not to worry since he and Hermia are sneaking away that night. Helena,
now alone, decides she will tell Demetrius about Hermia's plans because that
might make him start to love her again.

! The Mechanicals Aworkmen) are gathered to start rehearsing a play which they
hope will be chosen as part of the celebrations for the royal wedding. Their leader
Peter Quince hands out the parts for the play, which is based on the legend of
Pyramus and Thisbe, and is meant to be a comedy and a tragedy at the same time.
Nick Bottom enthusiastically wants to play all the parts! They all agree to meet in
the woods outside of the city the next night to rehearse.
ACT 2
! Puck appears with another fairy and reveals that his master, Oberon the king of the fairies, has had
a major argument with his wife Titania over the guardianship of a little Indian boy. Titania has him
and jealous Oberon wants him. Oberon and Titania appear with their attendants and continue their
quarrel. But Oberon is determined to have the boy and makes a plan to have his revenge on Titania.
He sends Puck off to find a flower which produces a magic juice. He says he will streak this on
Titania͛s eyes while she sleeps so that when she wakes she will fall in love with the first thing she
sees. He hopes it will be a lion, bear, wolf, bull or monkey. He will cure her only when she
surrenders the Indian boy to him.

! Demetrius arrives, followed by lovelorn Helena. She adores him but he is having none of it. He says
all sorts of nasty things to her then sets off into the woods with Helena not far behind. Oberon has
watched their conversation and tells Puck that when he has got the magical flower he must use it
on the ͞disdainful youth͟ Ameaning Demetrius) so that he may wake up and fall in love with the
͞sweet Athenian lady͟ Ameaning Helena.) Puck promises to do Oberon͛s bidding.

! Titania gathers her fairies around her and they sing a lullaby. When she is asleep, Oberon squeezes
the flower juice on Titania͛s eyes.

! Lysander and Hermia come along and, feeling tired, they curl up for a sleep some distance apart.
When Puck finds them he assumes Lysander to be Demetrius and streaks the magic juice on his
eyes before returning to Oberon.

! Demetrius runs on, pursued by an increasingly desperate Helena. Lysander wakes up and, seeing
Helena first, declares his love for her. Helena can͛t understand his change of heart and thinks he is
making fun of her. When Hermia wakes up the others have gone and she says she has had a
nightmare and sets off to find Lysander.
ACT 3
! The workmen are ready to rehearse. Bottom suggests Quince write a prologue so that their
audience will understand that no real killing takes place during their play and that the lion is not a
real lion. Quince outlines how they will represent the moon and the wall with the chink in it
through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, will talk. Puck is surprised to find the men so near
the sleeping fairy queen and plots some fun at their expense. While Bottom is offstage Puck
transforms him into an ass and when he comes back all his friends are frightened and run away.
Bottom͛s singing wakens Titania͙who, because of Oberon͛s magic, is instantly in love with him. She
thinks he is wise and beautiful and asks him to sing again. She then gets her fairy band to wait on
him, feeding him with tasty morsels and leads him off into her bower.

! A delighted Puck reports to Oberon that his mistress is love with a monster and the fairy king is
extremely pleased, saying his plan couldn͛t have worked out any better. He wants to know whether
Puck managed to lace the Athenian boy͛s eyes with the love potion and Puck confirms that he did.
Just then Demetrius appears, being horrible to Hermia. Unhappy Hermia finally goes away and
Demetrius lies down to sleep. Oberon realizes that Puck put the juice on the eyes of the wrong
Athenian. He tells Puck to find Helena and fetch her to him so that he can put things right. He
meanwhile squeezes the flower on Demetrius͛s eyes. Speedy Puck returns to say that Helena and
Lysander are at hand. Oberon tells him to stand aside, realizing that the noise of Lysander͛s wooing
and Helena not believing him will waken Demetrius. It does! Demetrius is immediately under
Helena͛s spell. There is lots of squabbling between all four young people about who loves who.

! Oberon is furious at Puck for the muddle he has made and commands that he arrange for Lysander
to be separated from the others so that he can crush the herb into his eyes and cause him to think
that everything has been a dream. He sets off to find Titania and ask for the little Indian boy. In
return he will release her from the spell so she is no longer in love with Bottom. Puck does as
Oberon commanded and while the lovers are asleep he squeezes the juice on Lysander͛s eyes,
reciting a magic spell to make him fall in love with Hermia again.
ACT 4
! Titania and her fairies are making a fuss of Bottom until she sends the fairies away
and falls asleep with Bottom. Oberon tells Puck that Titania has handed over the
little Indian boy so he will undo the magic and Bottom will go back to Athens
thinking the events of the night have been just a dream. When Titania wakes up
she and Oberon are reunited in love. They dance but when Puck says he hears the
morning lark they take flight with Titania wanting to know what has happened.

! Theseus, Hippolyta and the rest of the royal court arrive in a hunting party and
discover the sleeping Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia. Huntsmen sound
their horns, which wake the quartet. Lysander speaks up but Egeus interrupts to
demand justice. Demetrius explains what has been going on, how they have all
been falling in and out of love. Now Demetrius loves Helena and Lysander loves
Hermia. Theseus over-rules Egeus and says that the couples will be married
alongside himself and Hippolyta. Happily they all leave for Athens.

! Now it is Bottom͛s turn to wake up. He tells us that he had had a vision and that he
will ask Peter Quince to write a ballad about it so that he can sing it at the end of
the play before the Duke.
ACT 5
! At court, Hippolyta and Theseus are discussing the strange story of
the night which the lovers have told them. The quartet then arrive
and Theseus wants to know what entertainment has been arranged
to while away the hours until bed time. Philostrate reads out a list
of possible plays, including Pyramus and Thisbe, which he says is
the effort of the hard-working men of Athens. Theseus picks that
one, even though Philostrate warns against it.

! With a flourish of trumpets Peter Quince enters to recite the

prologue. The play is performed and Bottom as Pyramus steals the
show - despite the best efforts of his supporting cast. But Theseus
begs them not to deliver an epilogue! After the play there is a
dance and at midnight the royals and lovers go to bed because it is
͞almost fairy time͟. The fairies to end the play as Titania and
Oberon dance and cast their magic spell and blessing over the
marriage beds of the royal couple and the lovers.
@
  
 
! ËThe course of true love never did run
smoothË. Quote AAct I, Scene I).
! ËLove looks not with the eyes, but with
the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid
painted blindË. Quote AAct I, Scene I)
! My heart Is true as steel. A Midsummer
Night͛s Dream Quote. Act ii. Scene. 1.
! The iron tongue of midnight hath told
twelve;
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.
ͶAfter the play is over, Theseus announces
that it is past midnight.
! Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad.
ͶPuck's comment on the bedraggled Hermia,
as she gives up the pursuit of Helena and
Lysander.
! Lord, what fools these mortals be!
ͶPuck's gleeful comment on the fallings in
and out of love of Helena, Hermia,
Lysander, and Demetrius.
! my heart / Is true as steel
ͶHelena's description of the strength of her
unswerving love for Demetrius.
! So quick bright things come to confusion.
ͶLysander again speaks to Hermia of the
fragility of happiness. AËConfusionË means
darkness and destruction.)
! But earthlier happy is the rose distilled
Than that which withering on the virgin
thorn
Grows, lives, and dies in single
blessedness.
ͶTheseus' reminder to Hermia that here on
earth married women are happier than
unmarried ones.