The Story What happens in a Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream of the moon, which will prove so important throughout the play. A note on using this summary It’s always better, if you can, to fi rst experi- Th e Duke is impatient for the fun of the wed- ence the play through the text – by reading it, ding. Hippolyta reassures him that the time speaking it, performing it. It’s also wonder- will go by quickly. Th eseus instructs Philostrate, ful, if you can, to see a live performance of his Master of the Revels (or party planner!), “Dream,” which is one of Shakespeare’s most to “stir up the Athenian youth to merriments” popular comedies. – that is, to organize some fun parties to pass the time before the big wedding day. Th is summary is designed as a roadmap for times when you get a bit lost in the story, or Th en, a sudden interruption: In barges need a review. We’ve written the summary as Egeus, an important citizen of Athens, drag- a running description of the imagined stage ging with him Hermia, his daughter, and two action, rather than as a story version of the play. young men, Lysander and Demetrius.

Th ere are some very good illustrated story ver- Egeus greets the Duke, who asks what’s going sions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; it has on. Egeus, “full of vexation,” complains that inspired many retellings over the years. But his daughter is refusing to marry the man he our emphasis here is on Shakespeare’s original has chosen for her. He accuses Lysander of art – live performance on a stage. So in our stealing his daughter’s heart with love letters summary we keep the details fairly simple, and gifts and songs sung under her window, and speak of characters entering and exiting, and asks for “the ancient privilege of Athens” as upon the Globe stage. – the power to choose whom his daughter will marry.

Scene One (Act 1, scene 1) According to the old law – if the Duke choose to enforce it – Hermia has two options: Th e play takes place in ancient Greece, in the marry Demetrius, or… face death! city of Athens and the forest around it. Th e ac- tion mostly takes place in one afternoon, the next Th e Duke subtly slips in another alternative, evening and morning, and then that following which is to become a nun and never see a man evening. again. Hermia doesn’t jump for that option.

Th e fi rst characters we meet areDuke Th eseus Hermia boldly stands up for the love she and of Athens and Hippolyta, the Amazon queen. Lysander share, and tells the Duke she can never love Demetrius. Th e Duke responds that As the play begins, Th eseus and Hippolyta he cannot go against the old law. But realizing enter, talking of their upcoming wedding, that he is dealing with a strong-willed young which will occur on the evening of the next woman, Th eseus asks her to “take time to new moon – in four days. It’s a peaceful, pause” and gives her until his wedding day to lyrical beginning, and introduces the image make her decision. Demetrius speaks up and asks Hermia to Helena, left alone, complains about how some give in to his love; then he turns to Lysander people can be happier than others, and com- and tells him to back off . Lysander fi res back ments on the blindness of love, as captured in with the fi rst real joke of the play, a sarcastic the image of blindfolded Cupid, the god of comment that says, in eff ect, “Hey Demetrius love. She feels sorry for herself, and seems to – Egeus likes you so much, why don’t you let hint that perhaps Hermia did give Demetrius me keep Hermia and you can marry the old enough of a response to encourage him. man!” Egeus, needless to say, does not think that is funny. Th en she too has a big, daring idea: She will go tell Demetrius of Hermia’s plan. She Lysander then passionately speaks up for his knows he’ll want to follow her, and perhaps rights before the Duke and argues that he is Helena will get a bit of attention as a reward equal to Demetrius, with one vital diff erence: for her information. She’s so desperate she’ll Hermia loves him. Th en, to demonstrate how spill the secrets of her best friend! unworthy his rival is, Lysander reminds ev- eryone that Demetrius once doted on Helena So, the next night, Hermia and Lysander will before he began his pursuit of Hermia. De- be running off into the woods… followed in secret by Demetrius… who will be followed in metrius is silent, and, we can assume, embar- secret, no doubt, by… Helena! rassed to have this mentioned before Egeus and the Duke. Scene Two (Act 1, scene 2) Th e Duke says he’d heard about Demetrius’s inconstancy, and had meant to talk to Deme- Th e scene shifts suddenly to from the Duke’s trius about it, but had been too preoccupied palace to the working-class section of Athens. We meet a group of craftsmen, who are now with his upcoming wedding. Th en he tells off work. Th ey are meeting to rehearse their Egeus and Demetrius to come with him for a own little play for the Duke’s wedding. Th ere talk (perhaps as a way of giving the young lov- is a contest in Athens for the honor (and prize ers a chance to talk in private?). So Th eseus money) of being selected as the top entertin- and Hippolyta leave with those two, leaving ment for the Duke’s wedding celebration. Hermia and Lysander alone. Th e director is Peter Quince, a carpenter. He Hermia is devastated and on the verge of tears has the play – “Th e most lamentable comedy – what will she do? Lysander comforts her and most cruel death of Pyramus and Th isbe.” with stories of how “true love” is always dif- fi cult. Th en he has a big, daring idea: “Let’s “Pyramus and Th isbe” is a Romeo and Ju- run away!” He proposes that they elope and liet story about two young lovers separated get married. Hermia agrees, and they plan to by their families, who build a wall between meet in the woods the next night. their houses. In the story, the lovers fi nd a hole in the wall and whisper plans to meet at Just then Helena wanders in, still moping over midnight. Th isbe, the girl, gets to the meet- Demetrius’s rejection. Hermia explains that ing place fi rst, but is scared off by a lion, who she’s pushed Demetrius away, but he won’t chews on her scarf. Pyramus, the boy, comes leave her alone; then she breaks the news of late, and fi nds the bloody scarf, and thinks their plan to her best friend. Th e girls hug Th isbe has been killed by the lion, and, feel- and say goodbye, and Hermia and Lysander ing overwhelmed with grief, stabs himself in run off to get ready for their escape the next the heart. Th isbe comes back, fi nds Pyramus night. dead, and takes his sword and does the same. It’s a sad story, but a beautiful play about can play both Pyramus and Th isbe, changing young love. his voice between parts.

Quince enters fi rst, or at least speaks fi rst Next, he wants the Lion’s part, given to Snug, (it’s also possible all the others are waiting and demonstrates what a great job he could do for him), asking, “Is all our company here?” with the roaring. When Quince wryly com- Th e crew is just meeting, probably just after ments that overdoing it might frighten the la- fi nishing work for the day. He is immediately dies, Bottom quickly adjusts, saying he could interrupted by Nick Bottom, a weaver, who “aggravate” his voice (another word confusion) suggests that it is better to call them “gener- to make it as gentle as a dove. ally” – he means “individually,” but makes the fi rst of his many malapropisms, or confusions At this point, Quince loses patience and or word choice – “man by man, according to exclaims, “You can play no part but Pyramus!” the script.” Bottom has no response, but we can guess that he is a bit miff ed, because the rest of Quince’s Also present are: Snug, the joiner; Tom lines are more complimentary, as if he realized Snout, the tinker; Starveling, a tailor; and he might lose Bottom and thus sink the play. Francis Flute, a bellows-mender, and the youngest member of the company. In the end, everyone is given “parts” – their lines only, written out – and asked to learn Quince holds up a scroll of “every man’s name them quickly, by tomorrow night, and to meet thought fi t, through all Athens, to play in our in the woods at midnight. Quince doesn’t interlude before the Duke and Duchess, on want any of the other groups stealing their his wedding-day at night.” Th ere is a compe- “devices,” or ideas. Th ey part, with Bottom’s tition in Athens to create the best entertain- demand ringing in their ears: “Take pains, be ment for the Duke’s wedding reception, and perfect!” these fellows hope to be chosen.

Quince introduces the name of the play, “Th e Scene three (Act 2, scene 1) most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Th isbe,” which Bot- It is fi nally night. For the fi rst time, we are in tom comments on as if he knows it, though the woods outside of Athens. At night, it be- in a few moments he seems to not know comes the “fairy land,” controlled by the king Oberon Titania anything about the characters. Th en Quince and queen of the fairies, and . begins assigning the roles. Bottom is eager to Each has a “fairy train” of helpers. Oberon Puck take on a great dramatic role, and does a bit of primarily has , a mischievous sprite and Moth a melodramatic speech to show off his skill. trickster; Titania has four main fairies – , Mustardseed, Cobweb, and Peaseblossom Th en, as Quince hands out the other parts, – and many others too. Bottom interjects to volunteer to take on those also. Th e fi rst is Th isbe, Pyramus’s lover, Titania’s fairies appear for the fi rst time. Th ey a role assigned to young Francis Flute, who enter to do their nightly work for Titania, complains, “Faith, let me not play a woman sprinkling dewdrops and hanging them in the – I have a beard coming!” (Th ere is this law “ears” of fl owers. in England at this time, you see, that women cannot perform on the stage – so everyone ac- Suddenly, Puck, also appearing for the fi rst time, encounters them and asks what they are cepts that women are played by teenage boys, before they grow beards…) Bottom claims he up to – “How now, spirit, whither wander you?” Titania’s fairies tell him how they’ve been He sends Puck to fi nd the fl ower. Oberon “over hill, over dale” doing their nightly ritual then overhears humans approaching. Invis- for the Fairy Queen. Th en they tell Puck ible, he witnesses Helena chasing Demetrius, that Titania is on the way and that they must who spurns her. Demetrius is looking for return to her. Hermia, because Helena told him about her running away. Helena hopes Demetrius will Puck quickly responds that they should change his mind and fall back in love with her, beware – Oberon is nearby, and is angry, but he doesn’t, and runs away to avoid her. because Titania won’t hand over the lovely hu- man “changeling boy.” (In English folklore, Feeling sorry for the human girl, Oberon de- a changeling boy was a child raised by fair- cides to help her turn the tables on Demetrius. ies – sort of like the old stories of kids being When Puck returns with the fl ower, Oberon raised by wolves). Oberon wants the boy to takes it, but gives Puck “some of it” back, be “knight of his train,” but Titania “with- and instructs his servant to fi nd an Athenian holds the loved boy, crowns him with fl ow- couple in the woods and put some of the juice ers and makes him all her joy.” So the royal on the “disdainful youth,” who was so rude to couple fi ghts every time they meet, and they the lady, so that the man will wake up, see the make such a racket that the fairies all jump lady, and fall madly in love with her! into acorn cups and hide. Oberon and Puck then split up to do their Th e fairies respond by saying, in eff ect, “Say, “love juice” missions! you look like that Robin Goodfellow we’ve heard so much about – are you the prankster Of course, Puck doesn’t know that there is himself?” Puck says he is, and tells a bit about another Athenian couple in the woods at that what he loves to do to amuse Oberon. Puck very moment – Hermia and Lysander….! is in the middle of cataloguing his favorite pranks when Oberon and Titania appear, each with their train (more fairies, if you have extra Scene Four (Act 2, scene 2) performers – or they can come in alone). Th e Titania’s fairies zoom to huddle behind their respective We shift to another part of the forest, masters. resting place. Th e fairies sing a song to put her to sleep for rest. Th en Oberon sneaks up Oberon icily demands the boy from Titania and puts the juice on her eyes, and zooms off . again, and Titania refuses, telling the story of the boy’s mother, who was a “votress” of her Just then, who should come crashing through order – devoted to Titania – and a friend. Th e the woods but…. boy’s mother died, perhaps in childbirth, it’s Lysander Hermia not clear, and Titania is raising the boy “for and ! her sake,” and will not give him up. Th e argu- ment ends in a stalemate, and Titania sweeps Th ey are lost, and exhausted. Th ey lay down off with her fairies. to go to sleep. Puck Oberon vows to get her back for “this injury,” THEN, here comes , zooming through and comes up with a plan to squeeze love the woods. He’s looking for those young juice from a magic fl ower on Titania’s eyes, so Athenians. He sees two young Athenians that when she awakes, she will fall in love with – Lysander and Hermia – and thinks… “Th is must be them! Th is must be the guy I’m sup- “the next live creature” she sees. While she is distracted, he will take the boy. posed to hit with love juice!” Th e only problem is… it’s the wrong guy! It’s entrance, Puck goes… POOF and changes Lysander, not Demetrius! Nick’s head into a donkey’s head!

So, Puck puts the juice on Lysander’s eyes, When Bottom makes his re-appearance, his and zooms off . friends are… terrifi ed! Th ey run through the woods screaming as Puck pursues them, scar- THEN…. ing them just for fun.

Demetrius and Helena areare back! SShe’she’s still Now… Bottom has a donkey’s head… and chasing him, he’s still being mean. Finally he he feels just the same inside! He can’t fi gure runs off again. Th en Helena suddenly sees out why everyone ran away. So, he fi gures… Lysander on the ground. She runs to him “Th is must be a joke they’re pulling on me!” and… wakes him up! (Uh-oh….) He decides to sing loudly to show he is not afraid. Well, his singing is loud enough to And he falls madly in love with… Helena! wake up…Titania!

Helena is shocked, of course. “What about Remember – she has the love juice on her Hermia?” she asks. Lysander suddenly eyes, from Oberon. So she wakes up, sees this HATES Hermia. Helena can’t believe it. singing man with a donkey’s head and… falls Th en she thinks: “Th is must all be a mean madly in love! practical joke. He’s doing this as a cruel joke.” She tells him off and runs away. Titania orders her fairies to bring Bottom to her little nest, so they can rest and have some Lysander is relieved that Helena never saw snacks together. He has no idea what is hap- Hermia. He runs off after Helena, leaving her pening, but it all seems fi ne to him, so he goes asleep and alone in the woods. along with Titania to her fairy world.

Hermia suddenly wakes up – she’sshe’s having a nightmare that a snake is attacking her while Scene six (Act 3, scene 2) Lysander just sits by and laughs. Th en she realizes… Lysander is gone! She’s terrifi ed and Th is is the longest, most action-packed scene runs off calling his name in the darkness. in the play. It begins with Puck fi nding Oberon, and tell- Scene Five (Act 3, scene 1) ing him what he’s been up to – he tells about putting the love juice on the Athenian, and Th is is the second meeting scene of the crafts- about Titania falling in love with the “ass- men. Th ey too are now in the woods, meet- head” craftsman. ing for their secret midnight rehearsal. Th ey work out ways to overcome some obstacles Suddenly, through the woods come… they’re facing with attempting to do this play, then begin to practice their fi rst scene. Demetrius… chasing Hermia this time! He’sHe’s found her, but she is looking for Lysander. While they are working on the play, who She accuses Demetrius of doing something should zoom along but…. Puck! He notices bad to him. He pleads with Hermia, asking Bottom being really loud and dramatic in his for love, saying he has not even seen Lysander performance as Pyramus, and decides to have that night. Hermia runs off disgusted, look- some fun with these silly “mortals.” When ing for her boyfriend. Nick Bottom goes behind a tree for his next Demetrius, exhausted by now, collapses for Finally, the boys run off to fi ght each other rest. for Helena’s love. Helena runs away from an angry and confused Hermia, who stumbles off Oberon turns to Puck and says, in eff ect… by herself. “Th is is the guy you were supposed to put the juice on! You messed up!” Puck says, in Oberon and Puck have been watching all this, so many words, “Sorry, sorry! Hey, you said and Oberon decides it’s time to let the lovers to put the juice on a guy wearing Athenian go back to normal – dawn is coming soon. clothes, and this guy is wearing Athenian So he tells Puck to wear them all out without clothes…!” letting them hurt each other, and then to “un-juice” Lysander so he’s back in love with Oberon tells him to fi x things by fi nding Hermia. Th ey decide to leave the juice on Helena and leading her magically to this spot Demetrius so each girl will have a boy, and in the woods. Oberon will put the juice on everything will be even. Demetrius’s eyes while he sleeps, and then they’ll get those two back together. So Puck So Puck does this, in his own inimitable fash- zooms off while Oberon juices Demetrius’s ion, and everyone sleeps in the woods until eyes. sunrise….

Puck returns, saying Helena is on the way. And here Helena comes… with Lysander Scene Seven (Act 4, scene 1) chasing her, in love! Ooops! Wrong guy. Bottom Th en… Th is is a short scene, in which hangs out with Titania and the fairies – whose Demetrius wakes up… and boom, he is names are Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Moth, madly in love with his old girlfriend! Now and Cobweb. He has a snack, then they all both guys are now in love with Helena. fall asleep. Oberon Puck Helena is so confused, even though it’s kind of arrives with and takes the juice Titania’s fun to fi nally be the one that both guys want. off of eyes. She wakes up, back to She is sure this is all a mean joke, and that normal. She’s horrifi ed that she was in love now Demetrius is joining in on it. Wasn’t he with the ass-head man! Oberon tells Puck to mean to her just a few hours before? Mean- take the donkey’s head off of the “Athenian Bottom while, the boys are about to fi ght over her. swain.” So is left asleep, while the fairies zoom off before sunrise…. Th en, suddenly, in runs….Hermia! She has found Lysander, and she’s so happy. She runs Now, it’s morning, as the scene continues…. up to him. He is as cold as ice. What’s going Duke Th eseus on? Hermia is confused. Th en Lysander says It’s the wedding morning of Hippolyta he loves Helena now. and . Th ey are out hunting with Egeus… remember him, Hermia’s dad? Sud- Hermia is shocked – then she thinks that denly they come across four young people Hermia Helena maybe Helena stole her boyfriend! So then sleeping on the ground! It’s , , Lysander Demetrius Helena thinks that Hermia must be in on the and . joke! So now, the girls are fi ghting instead of the boys! Hermia ends up charging at Helena, Th e Duke wakes them up, and confronts them about Hermia’s choice. Suddenly Demetrius with the boys playing “blockers” and protect- ing Helena from her best friend. tells everyone that he is back in love with Helena, and happy now – my that his love to there is something mysterious about how all Hermia is melted like snow. the dreams tell similar stories, but Th eseus thinks they are just from the imagination of Th e Duke is pleased, though Egeus is not! young lovers. Th e Duke invites the two couples to join him that evening and make it a triple wedding! So Th en, in come the “young lovers,” and the young people follow him – but fi rst, they Th eseus decides it’s time for some entertain- talk about the strange dreams they had the ment. He asks for Philostrate, his “master of night before… revels (entertainment),” and asks for the list of possible plays to see that night. Philostrate Th en… there is one sleeping person left. tells him NOT to pick the craftsmen, because Nick Bottom! he thinks they’re terrible! But Th eseus thinks they sound like guys trying their best, and Bottom wakes up, still thinking he’s at the chooses “Pyramus and Th isbe” for their enter- midnight rehearsal. He looks around. Where tainment. is everyone? He’s confused. Th en, the performance begins! Quince comes Th en he remembers… Wow, I had a strange out, nervous, and scrambles up his prepared dream last night! introduction speech. Th en the performers do a little “preview” of the whole story. Th en He calls it a “most rare vision” and speaks they act it out. Everyone has fun. about how impossible it is to “explain” this Th en… it’s time to go to sleep. dream. “It shall be called ‘Bottom’s Dream,’ because it hath no bottom,” he concludes. He Everyone says goodnight. And at the end… decides to ask Peter Quince to make a ballad the fairies emerge to bless the newly married of the dream. He runs off to fi nd his friends couples. back in Athens. And fi nally, at the end… we have Puck, sweeping the place, and saying goodbye to the Scene Eight (Act 4, scene 2) audience. Bottom Th is is a short scene in which is re- Th e end! united with his craftsmen friends at Quince’s house. Th ey are all very excited to see him. On the way to the house, Bottom somehow has discovered that the Duke wants to consid- er their play for the wedding reception party! So he tells them to all run off and get ready for the performance.

Scene Nine (Act 5, scene 1) Th is is the fi nal scene of the play.

It begins with Th eseus and Hippolyta dis- cussing the strange dreams the four young people keep talking about. Hippolyta thinks