Midsummer

THESEUS The Duke of Athens

THESEUS • Hercules’ cousin • Returning from conquering the Amazons (a race of warrior women) • Engaged to marry the Amazon Queen, HIPPOLYTA) • Projects confidence, authority, and benevolent power

HIPPOLYTA Queen of the Amazons

HIPPOLYTA • Engaged to THESEUS • Defeated in combat by THESEUS

EGEUS Respected Nobleman in THESEU’ court

EGEUS • Complains to THESEUS about his daughter not wanting to marry Demetrius • EGEUS wants to control his daughters’ choices • Wants the death penalty on his daughter if she refuses to marry Demetrius

HERMIA EGEUS’S daughter

HERMIA • • • • •

Beautiful young women of Athens Egeus’s daughter Childhood friend of Helena Strong - willed and independent Defies her fathers’ wish that she marry Demetrius • In love with Lysander

LYSANDER A young Nobleman of Athens

LYSANDER • In love with Hermia • Believes that must conquer all obstacles • Persuades Hermia to leave her family and run away with him to the forest

DEMETRIUS A young Nobleman of Athens

DEMETRIUS • Loved Helena at one time • Changed his mind and pursued Hermia • Liked the fact that EGEUS approved of him. • Love really had no barring on his pursuit of Hermia.

HELENA A young woman of Athens

HELENA • • • •

In love with Demetrius Rejected and abandoned by Demetrius Speaks in a self-pitying tone Continues to pursue Demetrius even though he does not care for her

ROBIN GOODFELLOW A mischievous fairy or “puck”

ROBIN GOODFELLOW • • • •

Delights in playing pranks on mortals Sometimes referred to as Puck He is Oberson’s jester He sprinkles “love juice” in the eyes of various characters to change who they love • He enjoys the conflicts and mayhem that his mistakes cause.

OBERON King of the fairies

OBERON • Is at odds with his wife • Wants an Indian Prince for a knight • Has a desire for revenge on his wife Titania • Sends Robin to obtain a love - potion flower creates so much of the play’s confusion and farce

TITANIA The beautiful Queen of the fairies.

TITANIA • Resists the attempts of her husband to make a knight of the young Indian Prince • Wife to Oberon • Titania has sworn to avoid Oberon’s company and his bed • Upset that Oberon has been disrupting her and her followers’ magic fairy dances.

NICK BOTTOM The overconfident weaver

NICK BOTTOM • He was chosen to play Pyramus in a play for Theseus’s wedding celebration • He is full of advice and self-confidence • He makes frequent mistakes and misuses language • Unaware of the fact that “PUCK” has transformed his head into that of an ass • This demonstrates his foolish arrogance

PETER QUINCE A carpenter and leader of the tradesman

PETER QUINCE • Quince is often shoved aside by Nick Bottom • During the play Quince plays the Prologue

FRANCIS FLUTE A bellows - mender

FRANIS FLUTE • Chosen to play Thisbe in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage • Forced to play a young girl in love • Determines to speak his lines in a high, squeaky voice

ROBIN STARVELING A tailor

ROBIN STARVELING • Chosen to play THISBE”S mother in the play • He ends up playing the part of moonshine

TOM SNOUT A tinker by trade

TOM SNOUT • Plays PYRAMUS’S father in the craftsman’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration • He ends up playing the part of Wall, dividing the two lovers

SNUG A joiner by trade

SNUG • Chosen to play the lion in the play • He worries that his roaring will scare the ladies

PHILOSTRATE Theseus’s Master of the Revels

PHILOSTRATE • Responsible for organizing the entertainment for the Duke’s celebration

PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB,MOTE,AND MUSTARDSEED The fairies whom Titania orders to wait on Bottom after she falls in love with him