A Midsummer Night's Dream: who's who, timeline and places
Everyone in A Midsummer Night's Dream, what happens when, and where, without spoilers: tell us how far you have read and we show only what you already know.
- HermiaHermia refuses her father’s marriage choice and plans to escape Athens with Lysander.First seen in scene 1
- LysanderLysander loves Hermia and plans to escape Athens with her.First seen in scene 1
- HelenaHelena plans to tell Demetrius about the escape so she can spend time near him.First seen in scene 1
- TheseusTheseus prepares to marry Hippolyta and orders Hermia to obey her father or face punishment.First seen in scene 1
- DemetriusDemetrius is the man Egeus demands that Hermia marry.First seen in scene 1
- EgeusEgeus demands that his daughter Hermia marry Demetrius and accuses Lysander of deception.First seen in scene 1
- HippolytaHippolyta is due to marry Theseus in four days.First seen in scene 1
- PhilostratePhilostrate receives Theseus’s order to organize celebrations for the coming wedding.First seen in scene 1
- BottomBottom receives the role of Pyramus but wants to play other parts too.First seen in scene 2
- Peter QuincePeter Quince gathers six craftsmen and assigns their roles in a wedding play.First seen in scene 2
- Francis FluteFrancis Flute objects to playing Thisbe because he is growing a beard.First seen in scene 2
- PuckPuck serves Oberon, who sends him to fetch a flower whose juice causes love.First seen in scene 3
- OberonOberon quarrels with Titania over her attendant and plans to use magic against her.First seen in scene 3
- TitaniaTitania refuses to surrender her young attendant and connects her quarrels with Oberon to disorder in nature.First seen in scene 3
- Scene 1
Theseus orders Hermia to choose marriage to Demetrius, lifelong chastity, or death.
- Scene 1
Hermia and Lysander plan to escape Athens, while Helena decides to tell Demetrius.
- Scene 2
Peter Quince assigns the craftsmen roles in a play about Pyramus and Thisbe for the Duke’s wedding.
- Scene 2
Bottom offers to play several parts, and the craftsmen agree to rehearse secretly in the woods.
- Scene 3
Titania refuses Oberon’s demand for her attendant, and Oberon sends Puck for a flower whose juice causes love.
- Scene 3
After hearing Demetrius reject Helena, Oberon orders Puck to make the young Athenian love his pursuer.
- Scene 4
Oberon puts flower juice on Titania’s sleeping eyelids.
- Scene 4
Puck mistakenly enchants Lysander, who wakes to Helena and abandons his love for Hermia.
- Scene 5
Bottom returns to rehearsal with a donkey’s head, frightening the other workmen away.
- Scene 5
Titania wakes to Bottom’s singing, declares her love, and orders four fairies to serve him.
- Scene 6
Oberon enchants Demetrius, leaving both men pursuing Helena, who believes they are mocking her.
- Scene 6
Puck prevents the rivals from fighting and applies a cure to Lysander after the lovers lie down.
- Scene 7
After Titania gives him the child, Oberon removes her enchantment and orders Bottom’s head restored.
- Scene 7
Theseus discovers the sleeping lovers and approves their marriages despite Egeus’s objection.
- Scene 8
The craftsmen worry that they cannot perform their play without Bottom.
- Scene 8
Bottom returns, announces that their play is chosen, and sends the craftsmen to the palace.
- Scene 9
Theseus chooses the workingmen’s play, and the court interrupts the performance with jokes.
- Scene 9
The fairies bless the palace and its couples, while Puck asks the audience to treat any offense as a dream.
Hidden until you have read that far.
- AthensAthens is the place Hermia and Lysander plan to escape together.First seen in scene 1
- The woodThe wood is where the craftsmen agree to rehearse secretly the next night.First seen in scene 2
- Palace of TheseusThe palace is where Bottom sends the craftsmen to prepare for their chosen play.First seen in scene 8
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