A MIDSUMMER

NIGHT’S DREAM
CHARACTERS
Research from Sparx Notes
LYSAN DER
Lysander is a young man of
Athens. He loves Hermia and runs
away from the Athens with her to
disobey the duke. The fairies put a
love potion on his eyes and falls in
love with Helena. He eventually
fights for Helena under the
influence of the love potion. Once
the spell is removed, he marries
Hermia.
H ERMIA
Daughter of Egeus. Young woman
of Athens and childhood friend of
Helena. Both Lysander and
Demetrius fall in love with Helena,
and she becomes self-conscious.
She accuses Helena of making the
boys fall in love with her height.
She confronts Helena but the love
spell soon gets lifted and Hermia
marries Lysander.
D EMETRIU S
Young man of the Athens.
Loves Hermia but is ultimately
in love with Helena. Due to
this, they create a two-couple
arrangement. He marries
Helena after the love spells are
lifted.
H ELEN A
Young woman of the Athens. In
love with Demetrius. They were
once betrothed but Demetrius fell
in love with Hermia and abandoned
her. Lacking confidence in her
looks, she thinks both men are
mocking her when they are
influenced by the love spell and fall
in love with her. Once the spell is
lifted, She marries Demetrius.
TH ESEU S
The heroic Duke of Athens.
Married to Hippolyta. Theseus
represents power and order
throughout the play and only
appears at the start and end of
the production. Removed from
the dreamlike events in the
forest.
H IPPOLY TA

The legendary
Queen of the
Amazons. Married
to Theseus. Like
Theseus, she
represents order.
EGEUS
• Hermia's father, who brings a complaint against
his daughter to Theseus. Egeus gave permission
to Demetrius to marry Hermia, but Hermia is in
love with Lysander. He is not involved in the
dream-like atmosphere of the forest.
OBERON
King of the Fairies. Is at odds
with his wife, Titania, because
she refuses to take control of
a young man he wants as a
knight. For revenge, He sends
his servant, Puck, to find the
love potion flower that creates
so much of the play's
confusion.
TITAN IA
Queen of the fairies. Titania
refuses the king's attempts
and falls under the
influence of the love potion.
Falls in love with Nick
Bottom, who's head has
been turned into a donkey's
head.
PU CK
Oberon's jester. Very
mischievous loves to play
pranks of the mortals. Also
known as Robin Goodfellow.
Closest to the play's
protagonist as he is the reason
the problems throughout the
play happen.
NICK BOT TOM
• The over-confident Nick Bottom. Chosen to play Pyramus for
the Craftsmen's play for Theseus' marriage celebration. Full
of advice and self-confidence but makes silly mistakes and
misuses language. Titania, who suddenly falls in love with
Bottom, makes him unaware of the mischievous doings Puck
has done which turned his head into a donkey. Once this is
all over, he tells Quince of his adventure.
THE MECHANICALS
• Peter Quince - Leader of the Play for the wedding celebration, gets pushed
aside by the confident Bottom.
• Francis Flute - The mender for the play. Forced to play a young girl in love.
Says all his play lines in a high voice.
• Robin Starveling - The tailor for the play. Plays Thisbee's mother and plays a
part of moonshine.
• Tom Snout - The tinker for the play. Plays Pyramus's Father and the wall.
• Snug – The joiner of the play. Plays the lion but is scared his roars will scare
the ladies in the audience.
• Philostrate – In charge of organizing the entertainment.
THE FAIRIES

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote and

Mustardseed – Ordered by titania to look after
Nick Bottom when she was under the
influence of the love potion.