Character Analysis

Robin Goodfellow (Pluck)

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Introducing Puck (Act 2, Scene 1): Puck is introduced as a mischievous sprite who delights in playing pranks on mortals and fairies alike. He describes his various tricks, establishing his playful character.
• Applying the Love Potion (Act 2, Scene 2)****: Oberon instructs Puck to apply a love potion to Demetrius's eyes, but Puck mistakenly applies it to Lysander, causing the first major mix-up in the lovers' relationships.
• Transforming Bottom (Act 3, Scene 1): Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey, adding to the comedic chaos and leading to Titania's enchantment.
• Correcting the Lovers (Act 3, Scene 2)****: Puck attempts to correct his mistake by using the love potion again, this time ensuring that the right pairs of lovers are matched.
• Closing the Play (Act 5, Scene 1)****: Puck addresses the audience directly, asking for their forgiveness and suggesting that the events of the play might have been just a dream, thereby breaking the fourth wall.

Key Themes

• Mischief and Chaos**:** Puck's actions drive much of the play's plot, creating confusion and misunderstandings that highlight the theme of chaos versus order.
• Transformation**:** Puck's use of magic to transform characters and alter perceptions underscores the theme of transformation, both literal and metaphorical.
• The Power of Love: His application of the love potion symbolizes the irrational and unpredictable nature of love, aligning with the play's exploration of romantic entanglements.
• Reality vs. Illusion: Puck blurs the lines between reality and illusion, especially in his final speech, prompting the audience to question the nature of their own experiences.

Key Quotes

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

• Puck observes the absurdity of the human lovers' antics, commenting on their foolishness in love.
• This quote highlights Puck's role as an amused observer and critic of human folly, emphasizing the play's comedic examination of love and relationships.

"If we shadows have offended, / Think but this, and all is mended, / That you have but slumbered here / While these visions did appear." (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Puck addresses the audience directly, suggesting that the play might have been nothing more than a dream.
• This quote reinforces the theme of illusion versus reality, blurring the boundaries between the audience's world and the magical world of the play.

"Up and down, up and down, / I will lead them up and down: / I am feared in field and town." (Act 3, Scene 2)

• Puck takes delight in leading the confused lovers through the forest, showcasing his mischievous nature.
• This quote illustrates Puck's enjoyment of the chaos he creates, emphasizing his role as the play's agent of disorder and comedy.

Nick Bottom

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Casting and Rehearsal (Act 1, Scene 2): Bottom enthusiastically takes on the role of Pyramus in the play Pyramus and Thisbe, suggesting he could also play Thisbe, a lion, or any other role, demonstrating his overconfidence and lack of self-awareness.
• Transformation (Act 3, Scene 1): During a rehearsal in the forest, Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of a donkey. The other actors flee in terror, but Bottom is unaware of his transformation and thinks they are playing a joke on him.
• Titania's Enchantment (Act 3, Scene 1): Titania, under the influence of a love potion, falls in love with Bottom despite his donkey head, leading to a series of humorous interactions.
• Return to Normalcy (Act 4, Scene 1)****: After the enchantment is lifted, Bottom's head is returned to normal, and he awakens believing he has had a strange but profound dream.
• Performance of the Play (Act 5, Scene 1): Bottom and his fellow mechanicals perform Pyramus and Thisbe at the Duke's wedding. The play is hilariously inept, but Bottom's over-the-top performance adds to the comic effect.

Key Themes

• Transformation and Illusion: Bottom's transformation into a donkey-headed figure highlights the theme of transformation and the thin line between reality and illusion in the play.
• The Nature of Performance: Bottom's enthusiasm and incompetence as an actor provide a comedic commentary on the nature of theatrical performance and the gap between ambition and ability.
• Foolishness and Self-Delusion: Bottom's lack of self-awareness and his belief in his greatness despite evidence to the contrary illustrate the theme of foolishness and self-delusion.

Key Quotes

"I will move storms; I will condole in some measure." (Act 1, Scene 2)

• Bottom boasts about his acting skills, claiming he can evoke great emotional responses from the audience.
• This quote exemplifies Bottom's overconfidence and self-delusion, making his character both humorous and endearing.

"Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art translated." (Act 3, Scene 1)

• Quince reacts to Bottom's transformation into a donkey-headed figure, highlighting the magical and transformative elements of the play.
• This quote underscores the theme of transformation and the magical interference that pervades the play.

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

• Bottom reflects on his experience after awakening from the enchantment, believing it to be a dream.
• This quote illustrates the theme of illusion versus reality and highlights Bottom's character as a comic figure who blurs the lines between the two.

"This is to make an ass of me, to fright me, if they could." (Act 3, Scene 1)

• Bottom, unaware of his transformation, thinks his fellow actors are playing a prank on him.
• This quote is a humorous play on words, as Bottom has been made into an ass, showcasing Shakespeare's use of irony and wordplay.

Hermia

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Defiance of Egeus (Act 1, Scene 1): Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, asserting her love for Lysander despite the threat of death or becoming a nun, showcasing her determination and courage.
• Elopement with Lysander (Act 1, Scene 1): Hermia and Lysander plan to escape to the forest to marry freely, highlighting her rebellious spirit and commitment to true love.
• Lost in the Forest (Act 2, Scene 2): Hermia and Lysander become separated, and Hermia wakes alone, displaying her vulnerability and confusion in the face of unexpected challenges.
• Confrontation with Helena (Act 3, Scene 2): Hermia, hurt and confused by Lysander's sudden affection for Helena, confronts her friend, illustrating her fiery temperament and sense of betrayal.
• Resolution (Act 4, Scene 1): Upon waking, Hermia is relieved to find Lysander's love restored, and the lovers are granted permission to marry, underscoring the triumph of true love over adversity.

Key Themes

• True Love: Hermia's unwavering love for Lysander drives much of the play's action and highlights the theme of true love versus imposed marriage.
• Independence and Rebellion: Her defiance of her father's wishes and Athenian law reflects her strong-willed nature and desire for personal agency.
• Friendship and Betrayal: The tension between Hermia and Helena explores the complexities of friendship, jealousy, and misunderstanding.

Key Quotes

"So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, / Ere I will yield my virgin patent up / Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke / My soul consents not to give sovereignty." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Hermia asserts her determination to remain true to her wishes rather than submitting to a forced marriage.
• This quote highlights Hermia's resolve and independence, emphasizing her refusal to be controlled by external pressures.

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

• Hermia wishes her father could see things from her perspective and understand her love for Lysander.
• This line underscores the theme of perception and the conflict between individual desires and societal expectations.

"So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, / Ere I will yield my virgin patent up / Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke / My soul consents not to give sovereignty." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• "O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, / You thief of love! What, have you come by night / And stolen my love's heart from him?" (Act 3, Scene 2)
• Hermia angrily accuses Helena of stealing Lysander's love, reflecting her sense of betrayal and hurt.
• This quote reveals Hermia's passionate nature and the intensity of her feelings when faced with perceived betrayal.

Lysander

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Elopement Plan (Act 1, Scene 1)****: Lysander devises a plan to escape the restrictive Athenian law by eloping with Hermia to his aunt's house, showcasing his resourcefulness and commitment to love.
• Love Potion Mistake (Act 2, Scene 2)****: Puck mistakenly applies the love potion to Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena upon waking, which creates chaos among the lovers.
• Confrontation and Confusion (Act 3, Scene 2): Lysander, under the influence of the love potion, competes with Demetrius for Helena's love, leading to a heated confrontation and confusion among the lovers.
• Restoration of Love (Act 4, Scene 1): The love potion's effects are reversed, and Lysander's love for Hermia is restored. The lovers are found by Theseus and Egeus and their marriages are sanctioned.
• Marriage (Act 5, Scene 1): Lysander marries Hermia in a triple wedding ceremony, bringing closure to his romantic struggles and solidifying his love.

Key Themes

• True Love: Lysander's unwavering devotion to Hermia represents the theme of true love, contrasting with the artificial love induced by the potion.
• The Irrationality of Love: His sudden switch in affection from Hermia to Helena under the influence of the love potion illustrates the irrational and fickle nature of love.
• Transformation and Resolution: Lysander's experiences in the forest highlight the transformative power of the magical world, which ultimately leads to the resolution of the lovers' conflicts.

Key Quotes

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

• Lysander acknowledges the challenges he and Hermia face in their quest to be together, suggesting that true love is fraught with obstacles.
• This quote underscores the theme of the difficulties and trials that accompany true love, setting the stage for the lovers' tumultuous journey.

"Through Athens, I am thought as fair as she. / But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; / He will not know what all but he do know." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Lysander argues that he is as worthy of Hermia's love as Demetrius, highlighting his frustration with the societal and familial pressures they face.
• This quote emphasizes the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations, a central theme in the lovers' narrative.

"I had no judgment when to her I swore." (Act 4, Scene 1)

• After the love potion's effects are reversed, Lysander explains his temporary infatuation with Helena, attributing it to the enchantment.
• This quote reflects the theme of the irrationality of love and the influence of external forces on personal feelings, highlighting Lysander's return to his true self.

Demetrius

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Insistence on Marrying Hermia (Act 1, Scene 1): Demetrius demands Hermia's hand in marriage, supported by her father, Egeus, illustrating his determination and the societal pressures influencing romantic choices.
• Pursuit of Hermia in the Forest (Act 2, Scene 1): He relentlessly pursues Hermia into the forest, showing his persistence and obsession, despite Hermia's clear disinterest.
• Transformation of Affection (Act 3, Scene 2): Under the influence of the love potion, Demetrius falls in love with Helena, reflecting the whimsical and unpredictable nature of love.
• Reconciliation (Act 4, Scene 1): Upon waking, Demetrius's love for Helena remains intact even after the spell is lifted, leading to their eventual marriage and the resolution of the lovers' conflicts.
• Marriage (Act 5, Scene 1): Demetrius marries Helena in a triple wedding ceremony, solidifying his changed affections and the play's theme of love's triumph.

Key Themes

• The Fickleness of Love: Demetrius's shifting affections illustrate love's unpredictable and changeable nature.
• Societal and Familial Pressure: His initial insistence on marrying Hermia highlights the societal and familial expectations governing romantic relationships.
• Transformation and Resolution: The influence of the love potion on Demetrius underscores the transformative power of magic in resolving conflicts and misunderstandings.

Key Quotes

"Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield / Thy crazed title to my certain right." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Demetrius demands Hermia's hand, asserting his perceived right to marry her, backed by societal and familial support.
• This quote reflects Demetrius's determination and the societal expectations influencing romantic relationships, setting up the central conflict among the lovers.

"I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. / Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? / The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Demetrius brusquely rejects Helena's affections and focuses on pursuing Hermia, revealing his single-minded obsession and the initial conflict in the lovers' dynamics.
• This quote highlights Demetrius's harshness and the irrationality of his pursuit, emphasizing the play's theme of unrequited love and the turmoil it causes.

"O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! / To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?" (Act 3, Scene 2)

• Under the love potion's influence, Demetrius suddenly declares his love for Helena, showcasing the whimsical and transformative effects of the magical intervention.
• This quote illustrates the theme of love's fickleness and the role of magic in altering perceptions and relationships, contributing to the play's comedic resolution.

Oberon

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Argument with Titania (Act 2, Scene 1): Oberon quarrels with his wife, Titania, over a changeling boy, demonstrating his desire for control and dominance.
• Use of the Love Potion (Act 2, Scene 2)****: Oberon instructs Puck to use the love potion on Titania to distract her and on Demetrius to resolve the lovers' quarrel, showcasing his manipulative nature.
• Correcting the Lovers' Muddle (Act 3, Scene 2): Oberon realizes Puck's mistake with the love potion and works to correct it, displaying a sense of responsibility and desire for harmony.
• Reconciliation with Titania (Act 4, Scene 1): Oberon reverses the spell on Titania after obtaining the changeling boy, indicating his complex mix of affection and authority.
• Blessing the Marriages (Act 5, Scene 1): Oberon and Titania bless the marriages of the Athenian lovers and Theseus, bringing a sense of closure and supernatural endorsement to the play's resolution.

Key Themes

• Power and Control: Oberon's actions are driven by a desire to control those around him, whether through magic or authority.
• Love and Manipulation: His use of the love potion highlights the themes of love's irrationality and the ethical implications of manipulating emotions.
• The Supernatural: As the fairy king, Oberon embodies the supernatural elements of the play, influencing the mortal world with magical interventions.
• Reconciliation and Harmony: Despite his manipulations, Oberon ultimately seeks to restore balance and harmony, reflecting the play's comedic resolution.

Key Quotes

"Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Oberon greets Titania with a confrontational tone, setting the stage for their quarrel.
• This quote highlights Oberon's pride and the tension in his relationship with Titania, emphasizing themes of conflict and power dynamics.

"Fetch me that flower; the herb I showed thee once: / The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid / Will make or man or woman madly dote / Upon the next live creature that it sees." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Oberon instructs Puck to fetch the love potion, revealing his intent to manipulate others' affections.
• This quote underscores Oberon's cunning and the theme of love's irrationality, as he uses the potion to control emotions.

"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." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Oberon casts the spell on Titania, intending her to fall in love with something ridiculous.
• This quote illustrates Oberon's mischievous nature and the theme of appearance versus reality, as Titania's affections are manipulated.

"Now, until the break of day, / Through this house each fairy stray. / To the best bride-bed will we, / Which by us shall blessed be; / And the issue there create / Ever shall be fortunate. / So shall all the couples three / Ever true in loving be." (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Oberon blesses the marriages of the Athenian lovers, ensuring their future happiness.
• This quote highlights Oberon's role in restoring harmony and the positive influence of the supernatural on mortal lives.

Titania

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Argument with Oberon (Act 2, Scene 1)****: Titania argues with Oberon over the custody of a changeling boy, demonstrating her strong will and independence.
• Enchanted by Oberon (Act 2, Scene 2): Oberon uses a love potion on Titania while she is asleep, causing her to fall in love with Bottom, who has been transformed to have a donkey's head.
• Infatuation with Bottom (Act 3, Scene 1): Under the influence of the potion, Titania dotes on Bottom, providing a comedic subplot that underscores the theme of love's irrationality.
• Reconciliation with Oberon (Act 4, Scene 1): Oberon lifts the enchantment, and Titania reconciles with him, signifying a restoration of harmony in their relationship.
• Blessing the Marriages (Act 5, Scene 1): Titania and Oberon bless the marriages of the Athenian lovers and Theseus, emphasizing the fairies' influence over the human world.

Key Themes

• Power and Control: Titania's struggle with Oberon over the changeling boy illustrates the themes of power dynamics and control within relationships.
• Love's Irrationality**:** Her enchantment with Bottom serves as a humorous example of how love can be irrational and unpredictable.
• Nature and the Supernatural: Titania's influence over the natural world and her involvement in the fairy realm highlights the play's exploration of the supernatural and its impact on the mortal world.
• Reconciliation and Harmony**:** The resolution of Titania's conflict with Oberon and their joint blessing of the marriages reflect themes of reconciliation and the restoration of order.

Key Quotes

"These are the forgeries of jealousy: / And never, since the middle summer's spring, / Met we on hill, in dale, forest, or mead, / By paved fountain, or by rushy brook, / Or in the beached margent of the sea, / To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, / But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Titania accuses Oberon of causing chaos and disturbing the natural order due to his jealousy.
• This quote highlights Titania's power and authority within the fairy realm and underscores the theme of conflict between love and jealousy.

"What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?" (Act 3, Scene 1)

• Titania speaks these lines upon waking and seeing Bottom, enchanted to love him due to the potion.
• This quote emphasizes the irrational and whimsical nature of love under the influence of magic, showcasing Titania's vulnerability despite her usual strength.

"My Oberon! what visions have I seen! / Methought I was enamour'd of an ass." (Act 4, Scene 1)

• After the enchantment is lifted, Titania expresses shock at her behaviour while under the spell.
• This quote reflects the theme of illusion versus reality, as Titania's enchanted state led her to act against her true nature and judgment.

Theseus

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Opening Scene (Act 1, Scene 1): Theseus is planning his wedding with Hippolyta, demonstrating his authority and the theme of romantic love.
• Egeus's Complaint (Act 1, Scene 1): Theseus upholds Athenian law when Egeus demands Hermia marry Demetrius or face death, showcasing his role as a fair but strict ruler.
• Discovery in the Forest (Act 4, Scene 1): Theseus finds the lovers asleep in the forest and overrules Egeus's demands, allowing the lovers to marry whom they choose, highlighting his fair and compassionate side.
• Wedding Celebration (Act 5, Scene 1): Theseus organizes the entertainment for his wedding, including the craftsmen's play, showing his leniency and enjoyment of festivities.

Key Themes

• Authority and Order**:** Theseus represents the rule of law and the structured order of society, contrasting with the chaotic and magical elements of the forest.
• Love and Marriage: His relationship with Hippolyta and his decisions regarding the young lovers highlight different aspects of romantic love and marital harmony.
• Reason vs. Imagination**:** Theseus is often sceptical of the fantastical elements and dreams described by others, emphasizing a rational worldview.

Key Quotes

"Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword, and won thy love doing thee injuries; but I will wed thee in another key, with pomp, with triumph, and with reveling." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Theseus acknowledges the conflict in his courtship of Hippolyta, highlighting his transformation from conqueror to a celebrant of love.
• This quote shows the duality of Theseus's character—both a warrior and a lover, blending authority with affection.

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

• Theseus expresses his scepticism of the fantastical and imaginative, preferring reason and logic.
• This quote underscores Theseus's rational nature and his dismissal of the lovers' fantastical experiences, reflecting the theme of reality versus imagination.