Humans
Hermia
"O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd! She was a vixen when she went to school, and though she be but little, she is fierce."
Hermia is a beautiful, young Athenian woman and daughter of Egeus, an Athenian courtier. She is usually a serene creature, loyal and persistent, yet she is made bold by love and her temper is mighty. She is a main character in the lovers' plot and is the object of most of the conflicts therein. Hermia is loved by both Lysander and Demetrius, but while she is devoted to Lysander, she is pledged to marry Demetrius against her will. Then, after some magical interference, the love and adoration of Lysander and Demetrius, once felt towards Hermia, is transferred to Helena. In the end, the magic is reversed and Hermia and Lysander are married, but this conflict gives us a good view of Hermia's character as she fights for her love.
The quote above shows another character's view on Hermia's temper, and helped me understand Hermia's character better.
The quote above shows another character's view on Hermia's temper, and helped me understand Hermia's character better.
Lysander
"Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; brief as the lightning in the collied night."
Lysander is an intelligent, young Athenian man who is innately good. He is wise in the ways of love, yet at times he shows his age through his innocence and at other times through his recklessness. He is one of the main characters in the lovers' plot and is usually fighting on the side opposite of Demetrius. Throughout the play Lysander competes with Demetrius for love; in the beginning, Hermia is the prize they are fighting for, then, due to some magical tampering, Helena becomes the object of their adoration. Finally all is set right, and Lysander and Hermia are married. Throughout the story we see Lysander's goodness and dedication to love in his every action.
The quote above shows Lysander's wisdom in the ways of love as he is acknowledging the obstacles that come along with love. It demonstrates his wisdom and his innate goodness as he is prepared to take on whatever obstacles lay ahead.
The quote above shows Lysander's wisdom in the ways of love as he is acknowledging the obstacles that come along with love. It demonstrates his wisdom and his innate goodness as he is prepared to take on whatever obstacles lay ahead.
Helena
"Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks, make mouths upon me when I turn my back; wink at each other; hold this sweet jest up."
Helena is a beautiful, young Athenian woman who serves as a maid to Hermia. Despite this she suffers from a lack of self-confidence due to a past relationship with Demetrius. Although sharing some physical characteristics with Hermia, their personalities could not be more different. While Hermia is serene and kind, Helena is more cynical and pessimistic in her views. She is one of the main characters in the lovers' plot and is the source of many of the conflicts therein due to her desperation for love. In the beginning Helena is unloved, left and forgotten in Hermia's shadow. Throughout the play she strives to gain Demetrius' love, but it is not until some magic is comes into play that she gains his adoration. In the end Helena and Demetrius are married alongside Hermia and Lysander. The quote above shows Helena's insecurities as she believes that Lysander and Demetrius' doting is mocking at first.
This quote summed up her character for me and as a result helped me understand her better.
This quote summed up her character for me and as a result helped me understand her better.
Demetrius
"I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes and leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts."
Demetrius is an honest, young Athenian man who is favored to marry Hermia by her father, Egeus. He is somewhat of a cruel person; he was engaged to Helena but left for Hermia without explanation. He is one of the main characters in the lovers' plot and is usually fighting on the opposite side of Lysander. His love life begins with Helena who he is once engaged to. But then he leaves Helena for Hermia with no explanation, leaving Helena with self-confidence issues. His and Helena's relationship is where we see his cruel personality most clearly. He rejects Helena's attempts to repair their relationship again and again, and each time he is honest in saying that he does not love her. That is true until he is affected by fairy magic; Helena is once again the object of his adoration. They are married along side Lysander and Hermia, and all ends well.
The quote above is an example of Demetrius' cruel personality and, in my opinion, sums up his character. But this is not necessarily bad as he and Helena's more cynical attitudes make them a lot alike.
The quote above is an example of Demetrius' cruel personality and, in my opinion, sums up his character. But this is not necessarily bad as he and Helena's more cynical attitudes make them a lot alike.
Bottom
"I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what a dream what dream it was."
Bottom is an Athenian workman who, with his fellow workers, is putting a play on for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding. Bottom is not the smartest person in the world but believes himself to be, and the admiration of his peers just fuels this belief. This makes Bottom a somewhat pompous and egotistical character. Bottom's character is used as comedic relief throughout the play, most notably with his use of malapolisms. Bottom is most involved in the workmen's plot as he is one of the workmen performing in the play, but he is also somewhat involved in the fairy plot. Bottom is pulled into the fairy plot as a means for Oberon to punish Titania. Bottom's head is turned into that of an ass', and Titania is forced, by magic, to love him. Throughout his many adventures, Bottom remains a source of comic relief through his character and many malapolisms.
The quote above is Bottom recounting his adventures while possessing the head of an ass. This quote reminded me that Bottom is involved in both the workmen's plot and the fairy plot.
The quote above is Bottom recounting his adventures while possessing the head of an ass. This quote reminded me that Bottom is involved in both the workmen's plot and the fairy plot.
Fairies
Oberon
"Well, go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove till I torment thee for this injury."
Oberon, the king of the fairies, is a stubborn but prideful fairy who also possesses a more tender side when it comes to love. He is lover to Titania, but sometimes his personality gets in the way of their relationship. Oberon is Puck's master, and most of the mischief caused by Puck is a result of Oberon's orders. Oberon is most involved in the fairy plot as he is on one side of an argument with Titania. The argument is over a mortal boy who was a son of one of Titania's maidens. When the maiden died the boy was left to the care of Titania. Oberon wants the boy for himself and does not like it when Titania disobeys him. Then we see that Oberon will use any means necessary to get what he wants, he wants to get revenge on Titania for dishonoring him and refusing him the boy. He makes her fall in love with Bottom when he has the head of an ass. In the end Oberon gets what he wants, and he and Titania make up. Throughout this we see a more tender side of Oberon when he is interacting with the lovers. He does his best to make their predicament work out for the best.
The quote above shows the vengeful side of Oberon and helped me understand the complexities of his character better.
The quote above shows the vengeful side of Oberon and helped me understand the complexities of his character better.
Titania
"And this same progeny of evils comes from our debate, from our dissension; we are the parents and the original."
The queen of the fairies, Titania, is a resilient and reasonable fairy who is a lover to Oberon. She is the calmer, more reasonable of the couple which balances out his somewhat prideful and hot headed personality. Titania is mostly involved in the fairy plot but somewhat enters into the workmen's plot where Bottom is involved. She and Oberon are arguing over a mortal boy who is taken care of by Titania but wanted by Oberon. Oberon is focused completely on the boy while Titania is able to see the larger picture, that there squabbling is affecting everyone. But Oberon will not budge from his position and neither will Titania. Thus Oberon exacts his revenge on Titania through the form of Bottom with the head of an ass. Once Titania gives him the boy though, he relents and frees her from the magic enchanting her. They make up, at least long enough for them to bless the lovers' marriage.
The quote above is an example of Titania being able to see the larger picture even in a time of great stress. This helped me understand her character better in that she is one of the characters with a more favorable personality.
The quote above is an example of Titania being able to see the larger picture even in a time of great stress. This helped me understand her character better in that she is one of the characters with a more favorable personality.
Puck/Robin
"Over hill, over dale, thorough bush, thorough brier, over park, over pale, thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere."
Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a fairy who serves under Oberon. He is a troublemaker, mostly unintentionally, but he seems to find a certain joy in other people's predicaments. Puck is mostly involved in the fairy plot, but also affects the lovers' plot and the workmen's plot. Puck is the tool Oberon uses to get revenge on Titania and is sent out to do Oberon's dirty work. Oberon also orders Puck to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena, but Puck accidentally makes Lysander fall in love with Helena, launching the lovers into confusion. Puck loves this and pokes fun at the lovers, conveniently forgetting his own involvement with their predicament. In the end Puck mistakes are rectified and the lovers live happily ever after. Everything Puck does seems to harm others even if he doesn't mean for it to.
The quote above, although not describing Puck, sums up his character for me. A loose end, wandering about, doing what it will, without any concept of consequence at all. This quote reflects Puck's character very well in my opinion.
The quote above, although not describing Puck, sums up his character for me. A loose end, wandering about, doing what it will, without any concept of consequence at all. This quote reflects Puck's character very well in my opinion.