A Midsummer Night's Dream

Key Information

• Author: William Shakespeare
• Written: 1593-1594
• Setting: Athens and a nearby wood
• Dramatis Personae:
  • Theseus: Duke of Athens
  • Egeus: Father to Hermia
  • Lysander and Demetrius: Both in love with Hermia
  • Philostrate: Master of the revels to Theseus
  • Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, Starveling: Tradesmen
  • Hippolyta: Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus
  • Hermia: Egeus's daughter, in love with Lysander
  • Helena: In love with Demetrius
  • Oberon: King of the fairies
  • Titania: Queen of the fairies
  • Puck (Robin Goodfellow)

Summary of Acts

Act I

Scene I

• The Duke of Athens, Theseus, is preparing for his marriage to Hippolyta.
• Egeus complains about his daughter Hermia, who refuses to marry Demetrius because she loves Lysander.
• Hermia is given a choice: marry Demetrius, face death, or become a nun.
• Lysander and Hermia plan to flee Athens to marry.
• Helena, in love with Demetrius, decides to inform him of Hermia's plan.

Scene II

• A group of tradesmen, led by Quince, prepare a play for the Duke's wedding.
• Bottom is assigned the role of Pyramus in the play "Pyramus and Thisbe."

Act II

Scene I

• Oberon and Titania, the fairy royalty, quarrel over a changeling boy.
• Oberon plans revenge on Titania using a magic flower that causes love at first sight.
• Oberon orders Puck to use the flower on Demetrius to make him fall in love with Helena.

Scene II

• Oberon uses the flower on Titania.
• Puck mistakenly applies the potion on Lysander instead of Demetrius.
• Lysander falls in love with Helena, creating tension with Hermia.

Act III

Scene I

• The tradesmen rehearse their play in the woods.
• Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey.
• Titania, under the spell, falls in love with Bottom.

Scene II

• Puck realizes the mistake with the love potion.
• Both Lysander and Demetrius now pursue Helena.
• Chaos ensues; Hermia feels betrayed.
• Oberon instructs Puck to fix the situation.

Act IV

Scene I

• Titania dotes on Bottom.
• Oberon reverses the spells on Titania and Lysander.
• The lovers are discovered by Theseus, who overrides Egeus's wishes and allows the couples to marry.

Scene II

• Bottom awakes and returns to Athens, puzzled by his "dream."
• The tradesmen prepare to perform their play.

Act V

Scene I

• Theseus and Hippolyta discuss the night’s strange events.
• The tradesmen perform their play, "Pyramus and Thisbe," for the Duke’s wedding celebration.
• The play is comically bungled but endears the audience.
• Oberon and Titania bless the newlyweds’ bridal beds.
• Puck concludes the play, suggesting the events were just a dream.

Themes

• Love and Confusion: The complexities and irrationalities of love are highlighted.
• Magic and Transformation: Magic causes transformations and misunderstandings.
• Reality vs. Illusion: The play blurs the lines between what is real and what is not.
• Order vs. Chaos: The natural and social orders are disrupted, then restored.

Motifs

• Dreams: Often referenced as a metaphor for the surreal events.
• The Moon: Represents change and the passage of time.

Symbolism

• The Love Potion: Symbolizes the unpredictable nature of love.

Important Quotes

• "The course of true love never did run smooth." - Lysander
• "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" - Puck

These notes encapsulate the key elements, themes, and characters from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," providing a structured overview of the play's narrative and its dramatic developments.