A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Comedy play by William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1595 and 1596. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.
Plot[edit | edit source]
The play consists of multiple interconnected plots, all set in and around Athens and a mystical forest. The main plot revolves around the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons.
The Lovers[edit | edit source]
The subplot involves four young Athenian lovers: Hermia, who is in love with Lysander; Helena, who is in love with Demetrius; and the complications that arise from their relationships. Hermia's father, Egeus, wants her to marry Demetrius, but Hermia and Lysander plan to escape to the forest to be together. Helena, in an attempt to win Demetrius's love, informs him of their plan, and they all end up in the forest.
The Fairies[edit | edit source]
In the forest, the fairy king Oberon and his queen Titania are in conflict over a changeling boy. Oberon uses a magical flower to make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees upon waking, which happens to be Nick Bottom, a weaver who has been given a donkey's head by the mischievous fairy Puck.
The Mechanicals[edit | edit source]
A group of amateur actors, referred to as the "Mechanicals," are also in the forest rehearsing a play for the Duke's wedding. Their play, "Pyramus and Thisbe," is a comic take on a tragic love story.
Themes[edit | edit source]
The play explores themes such as the nature of love, the contrast between reality and dreams, and the interplay between order and chaos. The use of magic and the supernatural elements highlight the transformative power of love and imagination.
Characters[edit | edit source]
- Theseus – Duke of Athens
- Hippolyta – Queen of the Amazons
- Egeus – Hermia's father
- Hermia – In love with Lysander
- Lysander – In love with Hermia
- Helena – In love with Demetrius
- Demetrius – Initially in love with Hermia, later loves Helena
- Oberon – King of the Fairies
- Titania – Queen of the Fairies
- Puck (also known as Robin Goodfellow) – A mischievous fairy
- Nick Bottom – A weaver, transformed to have a donkey's head
Performance History[edit | edit source]
A Midsummer Night's Dream has been performed in various adaptations, including stage productions, films, and ballets. It remains a staple in the repertoire of many theater companies.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Categories[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
