one of dukes subjects

an angry, controlling father to Hermia

demands that his daughter Hermia gets married to Demetrius and not Lysander

"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." (Act 1, Scene 1)

is in love with Lysander

daughter of Edgeus who demands she marries Demetrius. Theseus, the Duke of Athens, gives her the ultimatum to marry Demetrius, face death, or become a nun.

Hermia and Lysander plan to escape to the forest to marry. In the forest, they rest, and Puck mistakenly enchants Lysander to fall in love with Helena.

Hermia wakes to find Lysander gone and searches for him. She confronts Helena, thinking Helena has stolen Lysander’s love.

The enchantment is lifted, and Lysander loves Hermia again. They are found by Theseus, who consents to their marriage.

Hermia and Lysander get married and watch the play performed by the craftsmen.

"I would my father look'd but with my eyes." (Act 1, Scene 1)

in love with Hermia & plans to flee with her to escape Athenian law.

In the forest, he is enchanted by Puck and falls in love with Helena.

Lysander pursues Helena, causing confusion & conflict with Hermia and Demetrius.

The enchantment is removed, and he returns to loving Hermia.

Lysander marries Hermia and enjoys the craftsmen's play.

"The course of true love never did run smooth." (Act 1, Scene 1)

Demetrius wants to marry Hermia and has Egeus’s support.

He follows Hermia and Lysander into the forest, pursued by Helena.

Puck enchants Demetrius to fall in love with Helena. The enchantment remains, and he loves Helena.

Demetrius marries Helena and watches the play.

best friends with Hermia

unloved by both Lysander and Demetrius

Helena is in love with Demetrius, who does not return her affections. She decides to tell Demetrius about Hermia and Lysander’s plan to flee.

Helena follows Demetrius into the forest. Puck enchants Lysander to fall in love with her.

Helena is confused and hurt by Lysander's sudden love and thinks she is being mocked. Later, Demetrius is also enchanted to love her.

The enchantment on Lysander is lifted, but Demetrius remains in love with Helena.

Helena and Demetrius are married and watch the play.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind." (Act 1, Scene 1)

duke of Athens

engaged to Hippolyta

defeated Hippolyta in battle to marry her

Deals with Egeus's complaint about Hermia.

Finds the lovers in the forest and listens to their stories. Decides to overrule Egeus and allow the lovers to marry who they choose.

Enjoys the performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe" and celebrates his wedding.

"The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, Are of imagination all compact." (Act 5, Scene 1)

queen of the Amazons

engaged to Thesus

defeated by Thesus & now has to marry him

Accompanies Theseus to the forest and listens to the lovers' stories.

Watches "Pyramus and Thisbe" with Theseus and participates in the wedding celebrations.

"Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; Four nights will quickly dream away the time." (Act 1, Scene 1)

a king of the fairies

loves Titania

Oberon quarrels with Titania over a changeling boy. He plans to use the love potion to distract her.

Oberon instructs Puck to enchant Demetrius and later orders him to fix the lovers' confusion

Oberon lifts the enchantment from Titania and reconciles with her.

Oberon and Titania bless the marriages of the Athenian lovers.

"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows." (Act 2, Scene 1)

queen of fairies

loves Oberon

Titania refuses to give up the changeling boy to Oberon.

She is enchanted to fall in love with Bottom

Titania shows love on Bottom, who has a donkey’s head.

The enchantment is lifted, and she reconciles with Oberon.

Titania blesses the marriages of the Athenian lovers.

mischievous fairy

Puck is tasked by Oberon to use a love potion on Demetrius but mistakenly enchants Lysander

transforms Bottom’s head into that of a donkey.

Puck tries to fix his mistake by enchanting Demetrius causing further chaos among the lovers.

Puck removes the enchantment from Lysander and restores order.

Puck delivers the epilogue, asking the audience to consider the play as a dream if they were offended.

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!" (Act 3, Scene 2)

One of the mechanicals

Enthusiastic about playing multiple roles in the play "Pyramus and Thisbe."

In the forest, Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey.

Titania, under a love spell, falls in love with him.

Bottom enjoys Titania's affection and is spoiled by her fairies. Later, Puck removes the donkey head, and Bottom wakes up thinking it was a dream.

Bottom and the mechanicals perform "Pyramus and Thisbe" at the Duke's wedding. His over-the-top acting is both comical and endearing

"I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was." (Act 4, Scene 1)

one of the six mechanicals of Athens who will perform at the wedding of the Duke Theseus and his wife Hippolyta

Organizes the mechanicals and assigns roles for the play "Pyramus and Thisbe."

Attempts to direct the rehearsal in the forest but is disrupted by Bottom's transformation.

Worried about Bottom's disappearance, but rejoices when he returns.

Directs the performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe" at the Duke's wedding. Despite the play's flaws, it is well-received for its humor.

"Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art translated." (Act 4, Scene 2)