In A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, the story unfolds in Athens, where Duke Theseus prepares for his marriage to Hippolyta. Egeus, a nobleman, brings his daughter Hermia to Theseus, demanding she marry Demetrius, though she loves Lysander. Theseus orders Hermia to obey her father or face life as a nun or even death. Hermia and Lysander decide to escape into the forest to be together, pursued by Demetrius and Helena, who is in love with Demetrius.

In the forest, Oberon, the fairy king, and his queen Titania quarrel over a young boy she refuses to give up. Oberon orders his mischievous servant Puck to use a magical flower to make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees. Puck accidentally enchants Lysander instead of Demetrius, leading to confusion as both men pursue Helena. Eventually, Oberon corrects the chaos, and the lovers are paired correctly.

Titania and Oberon reconcile, and the lovers return to Athens, where Theseus pardons them, and they marry. The play ends with a humorous performance by local craftsmen, and Puck closes by asking the audience to think of the play as a dream.

Theseus – The Duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta. He represents law and order and decrees Hermia must obey her father.

Hippolyta – Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. She symbolizes grace and patience as she waits for their wedding.

Egeus – A nobleman of Athens and Hermia’s father. He insists that Hermia marry Demetrius, igniting the main conflict.

Hermia – Egeus’s daughter, in love with Lysander. She defies her father’s wishes to marry Demetrius and flees into the forest with Lysander.

Lysander – Hermia’s beloved. He is devoted to her and accompanies her into the forest to escape the Athenian laws.

Demetrius – Initially in love with Hermia, though pursued by Helena. He follows Hermia into the forest, where he eventually falls for Helena due to the love potion.

Helena – Hermia’s friend who is in unrequited love with Demetrius. Her love drives her to follow him into the forest, creating a love triangle.

Oberon – King of the fairies, who schemes to resolve romantic troubles using magic but accidentally causes chaos.

Titania – Queen of the fairies and Oberon’s wife. Her refusal to hand over a child leads to a rift with Oberon, who tricks her into falling in love with Bottom.

Puck (Robin Goodfellow) – Oberon’s mischievous fairy servant. He uses the love potion to create havoc but also entertains with his blunders.

Nick Bottom – A weaver and aspiring actor who is transformed into a donkey by Puck. Titania falls in love with him under the potion’s influence, adding humor to the play.

Peter Quince – A carpenter who leads a group of craftsmen planning a play for the Duke's wedding. He is both director and actor in their farcical play.

Francis Flute – A bellows-mender who plays the role of the heroine, Thisbe, in the craftsmen’s play, contributing comedic elements.

Robin Starveling – A tailor who performs the role of Moonshine in the craftsmen's play, adding to the humor of the subplot.

Tom Snout – A tinker who plays the Wall in the craftsmen’s play, symbolizing the literal obstacle between the lovers Pyramus and Thisbe.

Snug – A joiner chosen to play the lion in the craftsmen’s play. He is timid and adds comedy to his ferocious role.

These characters interact across intertwined plots involving love, magic, and transformation, with the play concluding in reconciliation and celebration.

"The course of true love never did run smooth"

Lysander, Act 1, Scene 1

Lysander comforts Hermia with this line, emphasizing the challenges lovers often face.

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"

Puck, Act 3, Scene 2

Puck comments on the irrational actions of the humans under the love potion's effects, highlighting the play’s theme of love's foolishness.

"Though she be but little, she is fierce!"

Helena, Act 3, Scene 2

Helena describes Hermia’s feisty nature, adding humor and irony to their confrontation.

"I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was"

Bottom, Act 4, Scene 1

Bottom reflects on his bizarre experience with Titania, underscoring the play’s dreamlike, surreal quality.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind"

Helena, Act 1, Scene 1

Helena laments her unrequited love for Demetrius, expressing the irrational nature of love.

"If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear"

Puck, Act 5, Scene 1

Puck addresses the audience directly, suggesting that the play was a harmless dream.

Act 1: The play begins in Athens, where Duke Theseus and Hippolyta prepare for their wedding. Egeus demands that his daughter Hermia marry Demetrius, though she loves Lysander. Theseus decrees that Hermia must obey her father or face death or lifelong chastity. Hermia and Lysander decide to flee into the forest to marry in secret. They are followed by Demetrius, who is pursued by Helena, his spurned admirer.

Act 2:
In the forest, Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, quarrel over a changeling child. Oberon orders Puck to use a magic flower to make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees, intending to embarrass her. He also tries to help Helena by making Demetrius fall in love with her. However, Puck mistakenly enchants Lysander, causing both men to fall in love with Helena, leaving Hermia heartbroken and confused.

Act 3:
Puck's mistakes create chaos as the enchanted lovers argue and fight. Meanwhile, a group of craftsmen rehearses a play for Theseus’s wedding. Puck transforms Bottom, one of the actors, giving him a donkey's head, which frightens his companions away. Titania, under the spell, awakens and falls madly in love with Bottom.

Act 4:
Oberon releases Titania from the spell, and she is shocked to find herself in love with a donkey-headed man. Oberon and Titania reconcile. Puck also corrects his mistake with the Athenian lovers, restoring them to their rightful pairings: Lysander with Hermia, and Demetrius with Helena. Theseus finds the lovers in the forest and grants them permission to marry their chosen partners.

Act 5:
Back in Athens, the three couples—Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena—celebrate with a wedding feast. The craftsmen perform their play, a comically disastrous version of Pyramus and Thisbe, which amuses the guests. The play concludes with Puck addressing the audience, asking them to think of the story as a dream if it offended, and wishing them goodnight.