Characters:

Hermia:

A woman from Athens and the daughter of Egeus. She is close friends with Helena and deeply in love with Lysander. She is self-conscious due to her short stature, despite being one of the strongest women in the play. The forest creates confusion and causes her to act out of her nature, making her insecure. Though Hermia struggles, she is a strong role model and is meant to represent resistance against male authority and restrictive social norms.

Lysander:

A man from Athens who is deeply in love with Hermia. Their love is meant to represent the idea that love can be difficult but can persevere. He becomes a victim of the magic, which skews his feelings from Hermia to Helena. His character is passionate, poetic, and musical. He is also clever and relatively well-balanced as a character.

Titania:

The beautiful Queen of the Forest who rules over the fairies. She disagrees with Oberon at the beginning of the play and resists his ideas. She becomes estranged from Oberon when she is placed under a love spell and briefly falls in love with Nick Bottom. Titania represents what a woman could be in the world of the play: strong-willed and independent. Under the spell, however, she becomes submissive and vulnerable. She also represents nature and grace within the forest. Her character is complex, as external forces cause her to act against her true nature.

Theseus:

The Duke of Athens, seen as heroic throughout the land. He represents power and order throughout the entire play. He is fair and sensible, though he gives little credibility to the fantasies of the lovers at the beginning. He is devoted to making his future wife happy, which is a major part of his character.

Puck:

Also known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is Oberon’s jester. He delights in pranks and is responsible for much of the chaos in the play. He is fun-loving but mischievous and thrives in the forest environment. He is capable of great magic and is loyal to Oberon. Although he causes many problems, he does his best to fix them in his own mischievous way.

Egeus:

Hermia’s father, who demands that his daughter obey his wishes. He leaves no room for argument and refuses to allow Hermia to choose love for herself. He becomes so obsessed with control that he is willing to have his daughter killed if she disobeys him. Although Theseus eventually overrules his decision, Egeus remains angry and rigid.

Francis Flute:

A bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the play organized by Peter Quince. As a man playing a female love interest, he is determined to perform in what he believes is a female voice. He is hesitant and protests at first, but later becomes confident in his role. He is kind-hearted and passionate about the performance, gaining confidence throughout the play.

Tom Snout:

The tinker of the group and the most timid among the mechanicals. His role is to play the wall separating the lovers in the play. He has a bubbly personality but is often overshadowed by the confidence of others. His self-doubt contrasts with his determination to perform his role as best as he can.

Philostrate:

The organizer in charge of the wedding celebrations for Theseus. Somewhat snobbish, he attempts to censor the mechanicals’ play but fails. His official title is “Master of the Revels,” which he takes very seriously. He represents Shakespeare’s critique of theatrical critics of his time.

Helena:

A young woman from Athens and close friend to Hermia. She was once in love with Demetrius, but he abandons her for Hermia. She is insecure about her appearance, and in the forest, she believes the men are mocking her. Helena is lovesick but also represents the emotional and irrational nature of love.

Demetrius:

A man who pursues Hermia despite Helena being deeply in love with him. His actions disrupt the balance between the lovers. He is fickle, selfish, and often cruel. His arrogance in love defines his character, and he ultimately remains under a spell that causes him to love Helena.

Oberon:

The King of the Fairies, who is vengeful toward Titania. He is at odds with his wife and uses magic to seek revenge, which leads to chaos. He is jealous and mischievous, a dangerous combination. By the end of the play, he reconciles with Titania and works to undo the damage he caused.

Hippolyta:

The Queen of the Amazons and Theseus’s fiancée. She represents order and balance in the play. Commanding yet compassionate, she is more sympathetic to the lovers’ experiences. She embodies maturity and true love in her relationship with Theseus.

Bottom:

A weaver who is extremely overconfident and often makes foolish mistakes. He frequently misuses language while trying to give advice. He plays Pyramus in the wedding play, which leads to his transformation into a donkey. His confidence is so strong that he is unaware of his transformation while Titania is in love with him. Bottom wants to play every role and is highly opinionated. He represents the blend of human and animal nature and serves as comic relief throughout the play.

Peter Quince:

A carpenter responsible for organizing the play for the wedding celebration. He is often overshadowed by Bottom’s confidence. Though hardworking and intelligent, he struggles to assert himself. He is determined to make the play successful but lacks authority over the group.

Robin Starveling:

A tailor originally cast as Thisbe’s mother but ends up playing the role of Moonshine. He represents the working class and the humble craftsman. Quiet and non-confrontational, he accepts his role willingly and does his best to perform it.

Snug:

The joiner of the group, cast as the lion. His main concern is frightening the women with his roar. He is anxious yet enthusiastic about his role. Though not very clever, he is eager to perform and gives his best effort.

The Fairies:

Cobweb, Mote, Peaseblossom, and Mustardseed serve Titania. They are playful, gentle, and obedient, especially toward their queen. They care for Bottom at Titania’s command and represent the magical influence of the fairy world on humans.