A Midsummer Night's Dream Characters
The main characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream are Puck, Theseus, Egeus, Demetrius, Hermia, Helana, Lysander, and Oberon.
- Puck is a mischievous fairy who creates chaos by mistaking Lysander for Demetrius.
- Theseus is the Duke of Athens.
- Egeus is Hermia's father.
- Demetrius is the nobleman Hermia's father wants her to marry.
- Hermia is Egeus's daughter, whose refusal to marry Demetrius sets the play's action in motion.
- Helena is Hermia's childhood friend and Demetrius's former lover, who wants him for herself.
- Lysander is a handsome youth who elopes with Hermia.
- Oberon is the king of the fairies, who dispatches Puck to enchant Queen Titania with a love potion.
Characters
In Shakespeare's period, female roles would have been performed by male actors. Some of the comic and ironic effects of his plays thus depend on the audience's awareness of male actors portraying the women in the plays—particularly in the craftsmen's production of Pyramus and Thisbe.
Hermia
Hermia is the daughter of Egeus, an Athenian noble. She is in love with Lysander, but her father wishes her to marry Demetrius instead. When her father tells the duke of her disobedience, Theseus informs her that she must obey Egeus or face the consequences: life in a nunnery or death. Instead, Hermia decides to elope with Lysander and flee Athens. Unfortunately, chaos ensues when Demetrius and Helena follow her and Lysander into the forest. Under the influence of the fairies' magic, Demetrius and Lysander both switch their affections from Hermia to her best friend, Helena, who now becomes her romantic rival. Several of the comic devices during their quarrels reflect their disparity in height, as Hermia is much shorter than Helena. In the end, Hermia is allowed to marry the man of her choosing: Lysander.
Helena
Also a young woman of a noble Athenian family, Helena is in love with Demetrius. Though they were betrothed, the fickle Demetrius deserted Helena to court her friend Hermia—a match Hermia's father approves of. When Hermia and Lysander run away together, Helena alerts Demetrius—thinking that this may help her win back his love—and they follow the eloping couple into the forest. Oberon witnesses Demetrius's rejection of Helena, and pitying her, he orders Puck to give Demetrius a love potion that will make him fall for Helena. Puck accidentally gives the potion to Lysander, and then Demetrius, leading both men to declare their love for Helena. Taken aback by this turn of events, and perhaps lacking in self-confidence, Helena is convinced the two men are playing a cruel trick on her. Puck eventually fixes his mistake by restoring the bond between Hermia and Lysander, leaving Demetrius in love with Helena.
Lysander
Lysander is a young man in love with Hermia. Although Hermia's father, Egeus, would prefer her to marry Demetrius, Lysander does not relent. When pleading their case to Thesus fails to work, Lysander suggests to Hermia that they run away to his aunt's house. Since she dwells outside of Athens, they will be free to from the duke's rule and may marry. Their plan goes awry, however, when Puck accidentally gives a magic potion to Lysander (believing him to be Demetrius). The magic causes Lysander to temporarily fall in love with Hermia's friend Helena—much to Hermia's confusion and dismay. Eventually, the effects of the potion are undone, and Lysander goes back to loving Hermia, thinking his strange adventure in the woods a dream. At the end of the play, the duke changes his mind, and allows Lysander and Hermia to marry.
Demetrius
A somewhat fickle young man, Demetrius was initially in love with—and betrothed to—Helena but switched his affections to Hermia upon seeing her for the first time. With the support of Egeus, Demetrius pursues Hermia relentlessly at the beginning of the play, even though she has openly declared her love for Lysander. Demetrius even follows them into the forest when they attempt to elope. In the chaos of the woods, Demetrius is given a potion that leads him to fall in love with Helena. Unlike Lysander, who has the effects of the love potion reversed, Demetrius remains in love with Helena, which allows both couples to find happiness.
Theseus
Theseus is a legendary duke of Athens. When the play opens, he is preparing to marry Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. He is known in legend for his wisdom and sense of justice. Initially, he sides with Egeus in the dispute over whom Hermia should marry, but by the end of the play, he has changed his mind and allows her to wed Lysander. It is for his spectacular wedding feast that the craftsmen are preparing their play.
Hippolyta
In Greek mythology (and this play), Hippolyta was the queen of the Amazons. She is captured by Theseus and forced to become his wife. Shakespeare portrays her as eventually willing to marry Theseus rather than as a victim of rape, which was the case in earlier portrayals of her.
Egeus
Egeus is an Athenian noble and Hermia's father. He wishes his daughter to make an advantageous marriage to Demetrius. When Hermia refuses, on account of her love for Lysander, Egeus involves the duke and implores him to enforce the law, which states that Hermia must obey him or suffer dire consequences.
Oberon
Oberon is the king of the fairies and a being with magical powers. He is feuding with his wife, Titania, over a changeling boy, whom he wants for a knight. During their feud, he uses magic to make Titania fall in love with Bottom, but he later restores her to her senses. It is Oberon who orders Puck to enchant the feuding lovers, and chaos ensues when Puck gives a love potion to the wrong Athenian man.
Titania
The queen of the fairies, Titania is beautiful and regal. She refuses to relinquish a changeling boy to her husband, and their feud over the boy leads her husband to give her a love potion. Under the influence of the potion, she becomes infatuated with Bottom, whom Puck has enchanted to have the head of an ass. After Oberon claims the changeling boy, he restores her to her senses.
Puck
Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, is a fairy with magical powers who serves Oberon. He is a figure from English folk legend, mischievous but not malevolent. He is a loyal servant but is liable to misinterpreting instructions, and he likes to have a bit of fun of his own while he's carrying out Oberon's missions (for example, turning Bottom's head into that of an ass was Puck's idea).
Nick Bottom
Bottom is a weaver who will be performing in Quince's play at Theseus's wedding. He is a "mechanical," a lower-class figure introduced for comic effect. Puck gives him the head of a donkey and makes Titania fall in love with him. Bottom is somewhat confused by this but retains his cheerful nature. Bottom's extreme self-confidence, despite his foolish ideas and manner, serves as a point of humor throughout the play—particularly when he is paired with the elegant Titania, who has been enchanted into thinking she loves him.
Peter Quince
Peter Quince, a carpenter, is the director of the bumbling troop of craftsmen ("mechanicals") rehearsing the play to present at the wedding of Theseus. Though he is the director, he is often overshadowed by the Bottom, who confidently offers unsolicited and silly advice on how the play should be performed.
Francis Flute
A bellows-mender by occupation, Flute is cast as Thisbe in the craftsmen's production of Pyramus and Thisbe. Flute isn't pleased to have been cast in the role of woman, and he decides that he should adopt a falsetto voice for his speaking parts.
Snug
Snug is a joiner who is cast as the lion in the craftsmen's play. He worries about remembering his lines, until he's informed that his only job is to roar. The role of the lion is later revised to include a disclaimer that Snug is not, in fact, a lion—added due to the craftsmen's fear that his portrayal of a lion might frighten any ladies in the audience.
Robin Starveling
Starveling is a tailor. He starts out in the role of Thisbe's mother but ends up with the role of Moonshine.
Tom Snout
A tinker, Snout is originally cast as Pyramus's father but is later given the part of Wall, where he pretends to be the literal wall that separates the two lovers in the play.
Philostrate
Philostrate is Thesus's master of revels and, in some versions of the play, is the one who offers Theseus the list of performances to choose from (one of which is the craftsmen's play).
Titania's Fairies
Cobweb, Mote, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom are the fairies who serve Titania. She orders them to wait on Bottom when she is under the love spell.
Expert Q&A
What adjectives describe Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream is described as chameleon-like, prickly, prankster, jester, hasty, and realistic. He is also characterized as impish, whimsical, mischievous, naughty, daring, quicksilver, and mercurial. These traits highlight his ability to change forms, his enjoyment of causing confusion, and his playful yet threatening nature, making him a complex and multifaceted character.
What is Puck's appearance in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream is typically portrayed as a young, beardless boy or teenager with a wild, woodland appearance. He wears clothing resembling leaves or moss, reflecting his nature as a woodland spirit, but he does not have wings. His character is impulsive and mischievous, contrasting with the grave and dignified Oberon, king of the fairies. Puck's look is often inspired by images of the Green Man or fauns.
Who are the round, flat, static, and dynamic characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, round and dynamic characters include Demetrius, Lysander, Puck, and Hermia, who undergo significant changes in their relationships and motivations. Flat and static characters, such as Egeus and the fairies working with Bottom, remain consistent and unchanged throughout the play, serving to support the main story without experiencing personal growth or development.
What are three character traits of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream is characterized by his mischievousness, loyalty, and compassion. He is known for playing pranks and causing trouble, as described by other fairies. Puck is also a loyal servant to Oberon, executing orders with speed and enthusiasm. Additionally, he shows compassion, particularly when he sympathizes with Helena's plight, mistakenly believing she is mistreated by Demetrius, and calls him a villain for his perceived unkindness.
What are Puck's physical traits in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream is depicted as a small, quick, and shape-shifting sprite. He is often portrayed in performances as a young, bare-chested man with a feminine physique, sometimes adorned with forest materials. Descriptions also liken him to a mischievous fairy with human form, pointed ears, and gossamer wings, reminiscent of Tinker Bell. Puck enjoys playing pranks and can change his shape into various objects and animals.
How might Puck be perceived as the key character in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck is often seen as the key character due to his role in driving the plot and generating comedy. As a mischievous sprite, Puck connects the human and fairy worlds, notably by transforming Bottom's head into that of an ass. His actions with the love potion create major plot complications, leading to comedic conflicts among the lovers. Ultimately, Puck restores order, apologizing for misunderstandings, and ensuring harmony between the fairy and human realms.
Who is the most important character in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
The most important character in A Midsummer Night's Dream is difficult to determine because there is no single character who is clearly the most important. However, Theseus, Oberon, and Puck are all strong contenders.
What is Puck's other name in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck's other name in A Midsummer Night's Dream is Robin Goodfellow. He is a mischievous sprite or hobgoblin from British folklore, serving Oberon, the king of the fairies. Known for his trickery, Puck mistakenly anoints the wrong Athenian youth, causing chaos among the lovers, and transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey. Despite his pranks, Puck aims to follow Oberon's orders, contributing significantly to the play's plot.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, can Puck, though called a hobgoblin, be classified as a mischievous fairy?
Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" can indeed be classified as a mischievous fairy, despite being referred to as a hobgoblin. In Act II, scene i, a fairy calls Puck a "shrewd and knavish sprite," "Hobgoblin," and "sweet Puck." These descriptions highlight Puck's playful and trickster nature. Puck himself admits to being a "merry wanderer of the night" who enjoys playing tricks, confirming his role as a mischievous fairy.
Do any characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream change due to their experiences?
In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," characters experience significant changes, mainly in their circumstances rather than personalities. Demetrius undergoes a lasting transformation due to the love potion, preferring Helena over Hermia. This change allows Hermia to marry Lysander. Titania and Oberon's reconciliation restores natural harmony, though Titania loses the child she vowed to protect. Bottom's physical transformation into a donkey is temporary, and his personality remains unchanged, despite his fantastical experiences.
Character analysis of Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Demetrius is a complex character in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Initially, he is inconstant and fickle, having abandoned Helena in favor of Hermia. His actions reflect jealousy and possessiveness. However, by the play's end, under the influence of magical intervention, he reverts his affections back to Helena, showcasing his malleable nature and the theme of love's irrationality.
Which quotes reveal Puck's character in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Puck's character in A Midsummer Night's Dream is revealed through his mischievous and playful nature. His quote, "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" highlights his irreverent view of humans, seeing them as sources of amusement. His lines about leading people "up and down" show his love for control and pranks. Despite his tricks, Puck's final statement, "If we shadows have offended..." suggests his actions are ultimately harmless and not malicious.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, what kind of creature is Puck?
Puck is a sprite, a magical creature akin to a pixie or elf, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. While opinions vary on his nature, he is generally mischievous rather than harmful, embodying the playful yet dark aspects of the night. Besides his role in the narrative, Puck also serves as a commentator, interpreting and reflecting on the play's events for the audience.
The comic elements and characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream
The comic elements and characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream include the mischievous Puck, who creates chaos with his magic, and the group of amateur actors led by Bottom, whose bumbling rehearsals and transformation into a donkey add humor. The romantic mix-ups among the young lovers also contribute to the play's comedic tone.
Can Puck be considered the protagonist of A Midsummer Night's Dream? Why?
Puck can be considered the protagonist of A Midsummer Night's Dream due to his central role in driving the plot through his mischief and magic, such as transforming Bottom's head into a donkey's and casting spells on lovers. His dynamic personality and ability to influence the play's atmosphere make him a dominant and three-dimensional character. Puck's playful and mysterious nature mirrors the enchanted forest, reinforcing his position as the protagonist.
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