A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Title: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Author: William Shakespeare
Premiere: c. 1595, English
Setting: Athens and a mystical forest
Main Characters:

• Theseus (Duke of Athens)

• Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons)

• Hermia, Helena, Lysander, Demetrius (young lovers)

• Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the Fairies)

• Puck (Oberon’s mischievous servant)

• Bottom (a weaver transformed into a donkey)

Plot Summary:
On the eve of Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding, four lovers flee into a forest, where fairy magic causes romantic chaos. Oberon and Titania quarrel, and Puck’s love potion misfires, making Lysander and Demetrius both pursue Helena, abandoning Hermia. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the royal wedding. One of them, Bottom, is transformed into a donkey and doted on by the enchanted Titania. Eventually, Oberon undoes the spells, order is restored, and all return to Athens for three weddings and a comically awful play performance.

Key Themes & Significance:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a luminous blend of comedy, fantasy, and romance. It explores the irrational nature of love, the boundary between dreams and reality, and the comic potential of mistaken identity. The play’s imaginative world and lyrical language have made it a favorite for centuries.