Mid Summers Night Dream
Characters
Theseus
Powerful
(1.1.20)
“Happy be Theseus, our renownèd duke.”
Hippolyta
Positive
(1.1.7-11)
"Four days will quickly steep themselves in night.
Four nights will quickly dream away the time.
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
10New bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities."
Oberon
Greedy
(2.2.15-23)
(squeezing flower juice on TITANIA ’s eyelids)
What thou seest when thou dost wake,
Do it for thy true love take.
Love and languish for his sake.
Be it ounce or cat or bear,
Pard or boar with bristled hair,
In thy eye that shall appear,
When thou wakest, it is thy dear.
Wake when some vile thing is near."
Titania
Caring
(2.1.107-110)
"Set your heart at rest.
The Fairyland buys not the child of me.
His mother was a votaress of my order,
And in the spicèd Indian air by night
Full often hath she gossiped by my side”
Robin Goodfellow
Destructive
(2.2.64-70)
"Love and languish for his sake.
Be it ounce or cat or bear,
Pard or boar with bristled hair,
In thy eye that shall appear,
When thou wakest, it is thy dear.
Wake when some vile thing is near."
Egeus
Demanding
(1.1.40-45)
Consent to marry with Demetrius,
I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,
As she is mine, I may dispose of her:
Which shall be either to this gentleman
Or to her death, according to our law
Immediately provided in that case.
I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,
As she is mine, I may dispose of her:
Which shall be either to this gentleman
Or to her death, according to our law
Immediately provided in that case."
Hermia
Sneaky
(1:1, 169- 173)
My good Lysander!
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
170
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
Helena
Inflexible
(2.1.190-195)
"Use me but as your spaniel—spurn me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me. Only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
What worser place can I beg in your love—
And yet a place of high respect with me—
Than to be usèd as you use your dog?"
Demetrius
Mean
(2.2.60)
"Stay, on thy peril. I alone will go."
Lysander
Determined
Peter Quince
Leader Figure
(1.2-16)
"Flute, you must take Thisbe on you."
Snug, Tom Snout, Robin Starveling, Francis Flute, Philostrate
Fearful
(3.1.48-49)
"I’ll follow you. I’ll lead you about a round
Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier."
Peaseblossom,
Mustardseed,
Cobweb,
Moth
Obedient
(3.1.81)
And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep.
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.—
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!"
Love leading to madness
Key Characters: Hermia, Helina, Demetrius, Lysander
Key Quotations: My good Lysander!
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
170
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
(1:1, 169- 173)
Conflicts
One of the main conflicts in the play is when the duke says that if Hermia doesn't marry Damitrious, he will have her killed or make her become a nun and never lose her virginity.
Full of vexation come I with complaint
Against my child, my daughter Hermia.—
Stand forth, Demetrius.—My noble lord,
25This man hath my consent to marry her.—
Stand forth, Lysander.—And my gracious duke,
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.— (1.1.22-29)
Symbols/Motifs
Themes
Settings
The use of Humour
Key characters: Lysander
Key Quotations: You have her father’s love, Demetrius.
Let me have Hermia’s. Do you marry him.
(1.1.93-94)