A Midsummer Night’s Dream Characters

Theseus

He is the reasonable and sympathetic Duke of Athens. He is engaged to Hippolyta.

Hippolyta

She is the queen of the Amazons and Theseus’ fiancée. Theseus wins the right to marry her after emerging victorious in a battle.

Egeus

An Athenian nobleman. Egeus polarizes the audience’s opinion; some regard him as the play’s least likable character. He wants his daughter, Hermia, to marry Demetrius. When Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius and confesses her love for Lysander, Egeus decides to punish her.

Hermia

She is the daughter of Egeus. Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius, but she is in love with Lysander.

Lysander

He is an Athenian man who is in love with Hermia and plans to elope with her.

Demetrius

He is in love with Hermia, but was once betrothed to Helena. Egues wishes his daughter would marry Demetrius instead of Lysander.

Helena

Having lost Demetrius’s love, who leaves her to pursue Hermia, she is heartbroken at the beginning of the play. She is a friend of Hermia.

Oberon

Married to Titania, he is the king of the fairies.

Titania

She is the queen of the fairies and is married to Oberon.

Puck/Robin Goodfellow

A mischief monger, Puck is Oberon’s jester. Puck’s tricks are absurd, but funny. He supplies most of the humor in the play.

Nick Bottom

Another extremely humorous character, Nick is a weaver who decides to play Pyramus in the play “Pyramus and Thisbe” performed at Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. He is known for his use of malapropisms.

Peter Quince

He is a carpenter and one of the craftsmen who stage the play “Pyramus and Thisbe” at the Duke’s wedding. He is also the play’s author.

Francis Flute

A bellows-mender and another craftsman who stages the play, Francis reluctantly plays the role of Thisbe in the play.

Tom Snout

Tom is a tinker who embodies “the Wall” dividing Pyramus and Thisbe in the play. He was, however, initially cast as Pyramus’s father.

Robin Starveling

A tailor and another actor in the play, Robin plays the role of Moonshine. He was initially cast as Thisbe’s mother.

Snug

He plays the lion in the play “Pyramus and Thisbe.”

Philostrate

He is the Master of the Revels at Theseus’ court. He is responsible for arranging entertainment for the Duke, including the craftsmen’s play “Pyramus and Thisbe.”

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed

They are fairies and Titania’s attendants.