A Midsummer Night's Dream

Summary

«A Midsummer Night's Dream» is a comedy by William Shakespeare that intertwines several plotlines. The action takes place in Athens and an enchanted forest. The main characters are four lovers: Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander flee to the forest to escape Hermia's arranged marriage to Demetrius, whom she does not love. In the forest, they encounter magical beings: the fairy king Oberon, his wife Titania, and the mischievous Puck. Oberon, wishing to help the lovers, instructs Puck to use a magical flower to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena. However, Puck mistakenly causes Lysander to fall in love with Helena, leading to confusion and conflict. Meanwhile, Oberon also uses the flower to make Titania fall in love with a simple weaver, Bottom, whom Puck has enchanted with a donkey's head. Eventually, all misunderstandings are resolved: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena are reunited, and Titania and Oberon reconcile. The play concludes with the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, where a group of craftsmen perform a comedic play.