A Midsummer Night's Dream Character Chart (Tenea Janz) by Tenea Janz

Egeus

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

Gentleman of the court of Athens and shows major disapproval of his daughters relationship with Lysander and wants Demetrius to marry her instead. He approached the lovers when finding them in the forest while with Theseus and Hippolyta. Egeus was controlling and still wanted Hermia to marry Demetrius, but it was so sudden that Demetrius didn´t love Hermia anymore, but Helena. It led to Theseus saying to leave the lovers be and to let them marry with him and Hippolyta, which Egeus left afterward. It is unknown about what else happened.(1.1.24-25)¨ Full of vexation come I with complaint Against my child, my daughter Hermia.¨

Hermia

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

Daughter of Egeus and has fallen in love with Lysander. She argued with Theseus and her father because she loves Lysander so much and despises Demetrius. Both her and Lysander plan to run away together in the forest to retreat to Lysander´s aunts house so they can finally marry. They had went to the forest to sleep, but she slept away from Lysander out of modesty. She had a nightmare, more like vision about future events and ¨ a snake stealing her heart.¨ She woke up to Lysander not being there and is looking for him.Hermia arrives and gets upset that Lysander is saying all these things to her like he hates her and doesnt love her anymore, Hermia doesn´t believe it at first, but then saw he wasnt joking and got into a cat fight with Helena. Lysander plans to fight Demetrius to show who´s the better man for Helena since they're now both fighting over her, Lysander still showing distaste towards Hermia. Puck leads them on in the forest with each other's voices, with the females going after them, and they all fall asleep in exhaustion. Puck puts the antidote on Lysander ´ s eyes so he loves Hermia again. After this, they are approached by Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus. Theseus when he heard the lovers say how much they dearly love their significant other, Theseus said for them to be left alone and instead have a triple marriage. They watched the Pyramus and Thisbe play from the rude mechanicals, mistakes often happened in the play and were very dramatic, and even told one of them that it was Ninus, not Ninny. And then afterwards, it is the end. (3.2.287-293)¨What, can you do me greater harm than hate?Hate me? Wherefore? O me! What news, my love? Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? I am as fair now as I was erewhile.Since night you loved me. Yet since night you left me.Why then, you left me—Oh, the gods forbid!—In earnest, shall I say?¨

Lysander

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

He is of high status and is known in society along with Demetrius. He believes hes better at loving Hermia and pointed out how Demetrius is courting Helena. He plans for Hermia to escape and run away together in the forest to meet up and go to his aunt's house so they can finally marry without judgement. He went into the forest with Hermia and they talked about if they should sleep separately or not (Lysander tried to persuade her, thinking he was slick). They decided to sleep away from each other, which ended up with Puck thinking that Lysander was Demetrius and Hermia was the maiden (Helena) whom Demetrius showed hatred towards. Puck put the love potion on Lysander´s eyes. Helena woke him up, and now Lysander loves Helena and says that he wasn´t old enough and that it takes a while for a fruit to ripen before he had, the knowledge that is deemed through a mans actions, seen that Helena was the right one for him. He related to Hermia´s love to junk food and something being too sickly sweet for the stomach, and how the doer of the mistake hates their mistake, so he hates Hermia and doesn´t want her to come near him ever again. He then left Hermia in the night by herself. Lysander chases off after Helena, since Helena thinks that she ´ s mocking her. But once the love potion was put on Demetrius as well, he woke up to see Helena and fell in love with him. Helena loves Demetrius, but in this situation she thought that Demetrius joined in with Lysander to mock her. Hermia arrives and gets upset that Lysander is saying all these things to her like he hates her and doesnt love her anymore, Hermia doesn´t believe it at first, but then saw he wasnt joking and got into a cat fight with Helena. Lysander plans to fight Demetrius to show who´s the better man for Helena since they're now both fighting over her, Lysander still showing distaste towards Hermia. Puck leads them on, and they fall asleep. Puck puts the antidote on Lysander ´ s eyes so he loves Hermia again. After this, they are approached by Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus. Theseus when he heard the lovers say how much they dearly love their significant other, Theseus said for them to be left alone and instead have a triple marriage. They watched the Pyramus and Thisbe play from the rude mechanicals, mistakes often happened in the play and was very dramatic, and even telling one of them that its Ninus, not Ninny. And then afterwards, it is the end.(1.1.148-150)¨Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,Making it momentary as a sound,Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,Brief as the lightning in the collied night;That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, And ere a man hath power to say “Behold!”The jaws of darkness do devour it up.¨

Demetrius

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

Is high in status and well known. Egeus, Hermia´s father, finds favor with him and wants him to marry Hermia. She doesnt like him. But he LOVES her. He is courting Helena, who is sad over him suddenly not paying attention to her and just attached to Hermia. He threatened to harm and kill Helena and left. He came across Hermia a while later when she accuses him of murdering Lysander, but he says that he would feed him to his dogs and that he didnt do it. When Demetrius went to sleep, the love potion was put on him and awoken to Helena who was displeased with Lysander´s s so-called love for Helena when he loved Hermia. Demetrius professed his love for Helena, and Helena thinks he joined in on the cruel prank. Hermia got in the mix and Helena thinks shes in on it too, leading to Hermia being upset at Helena and thinking she stole Lysander´s heart and she commented on Hermia´s short stature leading to a catfight. Demetrius and Lysander went to stop Hermia from attacking Helena, and Demetrius and Lysander ran off into the forest,with Hermia and Helena following, to fight each other to see who is worthy for Helena´s heart. Demetrius was confused when hearing Lysanderś voice and not seeing him. Eventually they got tired out and went to sleep along with the females. The antidote was put on Lysander, Egeus, Theseus and Hippolyta see how they were sleeping and woke them up. Demetrius professes his love for Helena and doesn´ t love Hermia anymore. It leads to Theseus excusing them and letting them marry him to a triple marriage. They married, Demetrius watched the play Pyramus and Thisbe with Helena and the others. And then the Rude Mechanicals did the bergomask dance. That is the end.(3.2.62-65)¨So should the murdered look, and so should I, Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.¨

Helena

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

She loves Demetrius, but he dropped her like a hot cake when seeing Hermia and loves her instead. Helena wants to know just how Demetrius loves her so much. Is it her beautiful looks? How she dressed? How she spoke? But Hermia clearly expressed her hate for Demetrius, only for him to love her so much more. She revealed her plans to run away with Lysander in the forest. So Helena is going to be a snitch/tattletale and tell Demetrius of them running away to hopefully get more attention and even for him to love her. She chased after Demetrius who stated that he does not like her ever, being so rude towards her and threatened to hurt or even kill her if she didnt leave him alone. She found Lysander sleeping on the ground and she woke him up, only for him to say that he loves her and not Hermia and trying to justify it. Helena is upset, wondering if he was the same respectable man anymore since thinking he was mocking her. Lysander chased after Helena and she kept denying him, only for Demetrius to awaken from nearby and also profess his love for Helena. Yet again, she thought both of them joined in along with the fun to torment her and make fun of her. Hermia goes to where they are and is confused of why Lysander left her, thinking he was joking when he said that he hated her and didnt love her anymore. Then Helena thinks that Hermia is in it with them, saying how she should be ashamed of joining in on the cruel prank and mentioning their sisterhood and how she threw that all away to be rude. Once Hermia realized Lysander didnt love her anymore, Hermia blamed Helena for stealing Lysander´s heart. They get into a fued and comment on Hermia´s stature, where she gets upset from the constant commenting about her height and Helena being tall. They both get into a catfight and Demetrius and Lysander step in to help Helena. Demetrius and Lysander run off to prove who would have Helena ´ s heart by fighting and seeing who won. And Helena and Hermia followed. They all fell asleep, woke up and thought they were dreaming when Theseus let them be married to the ones they loved, but it wasnt a dream and Helena and Demetrius got married. Watched a play, and watched the Rude Mechanicals do the Bergomask dance and that is the end.(3.2.206-210)¨Is all the counsel that we two have shared,The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent When we have chid the hasty-footed time For parting us—oh, is it all forgot? All schooldays' friendship, childhood innocence?¨

Theseus

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

He is the fiance of Hippolyta from beating her in a war. He wants to marry her so badly, but she doesn´t, she shows disdain. Egeus (Hermia´s father) consults of Hermia not wanting to marry Demetrius because she ´ s in love with Lysander. Theseus gives her three choices, to abide by what her father says because he owns her and has right over her,to die, or become a nun. He said that its better to not waste herself and to marry. Not seeing them until end of Act 4 and all of Act 5 where he´s shown to have more respect to Hippolyta and giving her bow back to give her power, and she ´ s more accepting of her fate to marry him. They come across the sleeping lovers and wake them up, which Theseus is reminded that it was the day where Hermia made her decision and Lysander had to explain why they were out there, Demetrius as well. The two professed their love to their woman and Theseus said to leave them be and to marry with them, and it is now a triple marriage. They are all married now, and Theseus is choosing what play should be put on before going to their chambers, he was disinterested in all of them except Pyramus and Thisby. They were amused by the ugly performance of the Rude Mechanicals, Peter Quince retching in stage fright, lines being forgotten, hilarious moments, a dog dying and floorboards being broken.. And an ugly Thisbe and dramatic acting to top it off. But it did amuse them the whole time, even when accidents happened on the cramp little makeshift stage. Nick Bottom asked if they should do a Bergomask dance, Theseus declined after their performance but then wanted them too, where they watched the comedic and silly dancing. And that is the end.(5.1.4-17)¨Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason ever comprehends.The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact.One sees more devils than vast hell can hold—That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic,Sees Helen’s beauty in a brow of Egypt.The poet’s eye, in fine frenzy rolling,Doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to heaven.And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name.¨

Hippolyta

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

She is the queen of the Amazons. She is in a group that is only of women because they hate men. She lost to a battle with Theseus and now has to marry him. She shows much displeasure over this fact and is already pissed off that he beat her in the first place and took her belt that held her power. Theseus says that the day of their marriage will go so slowly, but she believes that its going to go fast from how much she does NOT want to be married by the man who dared to defeat her. Not seeing them until end of Act 4 and all of Act 5 where Theseus has shown to have more respect to Hippolyta and giving her bow back to give her power, and she ´ s more accepting of her fate to marry him. They come across the sleeping lovers and wake them up, which Theseus is reminded that it was the day where Hermia made her decision and Lysander had to explain why they were out there, Demetrius as well. The two professed their love to their woman and Theseus said to leave them be and to marry with them, and it is now a triple marriage. They are all married now, and Theseus is choosing what play should be put on before going to their chambers, he was disinterested in all of them except Pyramus and Thisby. They were amused by the ugly performance of the Rude Mechanicals, Peter Quince retching in stage fright, lines being forgotten, hilarious moments, a dog dying and floorboards being broken.. And an ugly Thisbe and dramatic acting to top it off. But it did amuse them the whole time, even with Hippolyta and the other lovers making comments now and them about their lousy acting, even when accidents happened on the cramp little makeshift stage. Nick Bottom asked if they should do a Bergomask dance, Theseus declined after their performance but then wanted them too, where they watched the comedic and silly dancing. And that is the end.(1.1.7-8)¨Four days will quickly steep themselves in night.Four nights will quickly dream away the time.¨

Oberon

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

The husband of Titania and the King of fairies. He had a lovers quarrel with his wife, which it is worth noting that even though he wants the changeling, whom his wife is taking care of- He just wants her attention and is potentially jealous. She argues that their fighting is making natural disasters happen, and Oberon plans to put a love potion on his wife so she gives him the changeling and out of pettiness. He came across Demetrius and Helena and pitied the woman and also ordered Puck to put the love potion on ´The Man with Athenian clothing. It ends with nothing but chaos. His wife falls in love with an ass, Puck mistook Demetrius for Lysander (but it also being Oberon´s fault because it wasn´t really specific) and now Lysander loves Helena instead of Hermia. And when Puck put the love potion on Demetrius, it made things even worse! Leading Puck to go into the forest and lead both Demetrius and Lysander away with each other ´ s voices since they wanted to fight each other to see who is right for Helena. The females followed after them, and they all were exhausted and fell asleep. Puck put the antidote on Lysander, and everything was alright afterwards. Then, Oberon was with Puck once more when seeing his wife asleep next to the jackass, a donkey. He had recapped what happened behind the scenes, him demanding the changeling boy and she gave the boy to him and didn´t show as much of a feisty response as she used to. He missed that and her attention, so he put the antidote on her too. She woke up, relieved that she wasn´t with the ass anymore and showed her feisty nature to him, which Oberon was a bit smug and had a smirk, and they left to bless the beds of the married couples. And they had, blessing them and their children to be beautiful and bless a bride ´ s bed with fertility. And that is the end.(4.1.53-59)¨When I had at my pleasure taunted her And she in mild terms begged my patience, I then did ask of her her changeling child, Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent To bear him to my bower in Fairyland. And now I have the boy, I will undo This hateful imperfection of her eyes.¨

Titania

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

She is the queen of fairies, the good ones, but also with a little mischief. She had a lovers quarrel with her husband Oberon over the changeling boy whose mother was a worshiper of hers and was good friends with her. And so she decided to take care of him. She mentioned how their fighting is leading to natural disasters. And afterward, she falls asleep, Oberon puts the love potion on her and that she would fall in love with whatever she sees that is ugly. And it just so happens to be that one of the Rude Mechanicals, who is Nick Bottom, got turned into an ass. A donkey. Titania wakes up to see him and immediately falls in love. She keeps him from leaving even as he was temporarily afraid. She offers to give him all the jewels he wants and anything he wishes just to keep him there, it ends up working and stuff happens. Behind the scene, Oberon tells her to give him the boy, she gives him to Oberon and asked not to fight with her and didn´t have her usual feisty nature anymore, which he found satisfaction in getting out of her. Afterward, Bottom is just being arrogant and full of himself and ordering the other fairies to do stuff. She ´ s upset from the fact that she wants to kiss him, but he doesnt even notice. When he noticed, she was happy again and they kiss and they fell asleep. The antidote is placed on Titania and so that Bottom is now not an ass anymore, Titania wakes up and is relieved to not be with an ass and asks why she was even in that state. She had her usual feisty flare back and her attention is on Oberon, which he noticeably smirked and liked. They aren´t seen until after the young lovers Demetrius, Helena, Lysander and Hermia are married along with Theseus and Hippolyta. They blessed the marriages and blessed a bride's bed so that it was of fertility, and that they wouldn´t have any ugly kids. That´s the end.(4.1.76-77)¨ My Oberon, what visions have I seen!Methought I was enamored of an ass.¨

Puck (Robin Goodfellow)

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

He is the servant of Oberon, a trickster fairy. He retrieved the flower that cupids arrow shot in the ground. He has made the mistake of thinking that Lysander was Demetrius, but Oberon didn´t give him much to go off besides the fact that he needs to put the love potion on the man with Athenian clothing. And afterwards when realizing his mistake, he led Demetrius and Lysander away in the forest by leading each other with both their voices until they went to sleep. He put the Antidote on the Lysander´s eyes so he would now go back to loving Hermia. Now, after the play the Rude Mechanicals put on, it was like he was speaking to the audience, that if they didnt like it, that he was sorry, but if they did he greatly appreciated it. That is the end. (5.1.414-421)¨ If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended— That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend.¨

Nick Bottom

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

Is one of the Rude Mechanicals who tries to one up Peter Quince and is self absorbed and arrogant. When the play of Pyramus and Thisbe was chosen, he got the role Pyramus. But Bottom wanted all the roles, but Peter Quince insisted for him to stay as Pyramus, especially when Bottom said that he would play the lion but wouldnt scare the ladies so they wouldnt get hanged. They rehearsed in the forest, Bottom didnt know he had a head of an ass and startled the Rude Mechanicals and they were all scared away from the forest. Leaving Bottom alone. Bottom was scared of being alone in the woods and sings of how much he was ´not´ scared. Thats when a fairy had fallen in love with him, he was terrified and tried to escape; but when the precious offer of jewels and all the above, he stayed with her and stuff happened. He was ordering fairies around and too self absorbed to notice Titania wanting his attention and to kiss him, but when he did, they kissed and then they fell asleep. Afterward, he had woken up normal. He touched his head, no ears. He reached for his tail, no tail. He touched his groin and well, you get it. And then it finally occured to him that it had been a dream and to get back to the Rude Mechanicals, but wanting to suggest about a play of what happened in his ´dreams´. He met with the Rude Mechanicals and embraced them, and they were all set for the play. it was rickety and little of space but they preformed on it. Peter had stage fright and wouldn´t stop constantly retching. The guy who played Thisbe was with ugly makeup and mispronounced Ninus as Ninny, The wall (a man played it) had the hole with Thisbe and Pyramus was supposed to speak in, and the hole was to his groin. Bottom forgot some of his lines, and before the play even started, the man who played the man in the moon ´ s dog died, and both Bottom and the guy who played Thisbe were very dramatic when dying. Overall, it did entertain the married couples even though it was pretty bad and dysfunctional. Bottom offered to bergomask dance, Theseus said no at first but then let them. Which they did. It was goofy and comedic, and that is the end.(3.1.108-109)¨ What do you see? You see an ass head of your own, do you?¨

Peter Quince

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

The one who is preparing to perform Pyramus and Thisbe play. Argued with Nick Bottom about a few things for the play and trying to one up each other with foolishness. He went into the forest with the others to rehearse, Nick Bottom gets his head turned into a donkey's head and the Rude Mechanics gets scared off by fairies and left behind Bottom. Later on, Peter Quince shows distress towards the probability of not being able to do their play without Bottom. But the bottom came with the tap of his shoes and they were uplifted. Peter Quince was screaming a bit too much in delight. Bottom had said that they were having their play enlisted to the royally married couple. But there was no say on if they would play. But it turns out they did, and they build up the stage for their play, it was rickety and little of space but they preformed on it. Peter had stage fright and wouldn´t stop constantly retching. The guy who played Thisbe was with ugly makeup and mispronounced Ninus as Ninny, The wall (a man played it) had the hole with Thisbe and Pyramus was supposed to speak in, and the hole was to his groin. Bottom forgot some of his lines, and before the play even started, the man who played the man in the moon ´ s dog died, and both Bottom and the guy who played Thisbe were very dramatic when dying. Overall, it did entertain the married couples even though it was pretty bad and dysfunctional. Bottom offered to bergomask dance, Theseus said no at first but then let them. Which they did. It was goofy and comedic, and that is the end.(4.2.22)¨Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!¨

Key

youngman_a — 2025-01-29 18:24:18 UTC

Blue = City Plot
Red= Lovers Plot
Green = Fairy Plot
Purple = Worker's Plot