A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a hilarious comedy written in 1595 by the dramatist, actor and poet William Shakespeare (15641616). Making use of dreaming and magic, and involving humans and fairies as characters, it provokes complex situations, poking fun at the fickleness of love. In a funny love triangle, Hermia elopes with Lysander, avoiding Demetrius, who loves her, too, while Helena, her friend, loves Demetrius. In the woods of Athens, the chase is complicated by Puck, a mischievous fairy who casts a spell on Lysander, who becomes infatuated with Helena and renounces Hermia. Meanwhile, Titania, the fairy queen, and Bottom, one of the craftsmen rehearsing a play in the woods, are victims of Puck’s pranks. Upon awakening, Titania falls in love with Bottom, who has now a donkey’s head. The comedy is not without serious themes; it highlights theatrical concerns whereby Shakespeare stresses his views of art by involving the rehearsal of a play within the play.