A Mid Summer Night's Dream Book Summary

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Brief Overview:

• Love and romance constitute the nuclei of Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare. There are three men and women engaged in love who want a happy consummation of their love through marriage but are faced with several difficulties.  

Duke Theseus to marry Hippolytus Queen of Amazon

In the opening part of the play, preparations are being made for the marriage of Theseus, Duke of Athens, with Amazonian Queen Hippolyta in four days. 

Alongside, the love affair of two other young men and women confront entanglement. Hermia is betrothed to Demetrius, but her heart is won by Lysander. Demetrius on the other hand, loved Helena but switched over to Hermia. 

But, Hermia’s father – Egues is strictly against the relationship between Hermia and Lysander. He, with other Athenian citizens, enters the court of Theseus to complain that if Hermia does not obey him, she must be put to death by Athenian law. Theseus, however, does not take quick action but gives Hermia four days to ponder over the matter. 

Plan to Elope:

Meanwhile, Lysander and Hermia plan an elopement from Athens to a place about seven leagues away from Athens, where a widow aunt of his lives and where the Athenian law does not apply. 

In the first step, they plan to move to the woods. However, they confided their secret plan in Helena who discloses this fact to Demetrius to secure and regain Demetrius. 

Flight to the Wood: 

However, things do not take place as per the plan. Demetrius follows Lysander and Hermia. And, Helena follows him into the woods. The two lovers Hermia and Lysander come across "rude mechanicals" – who rehearse a play to be enacted before Theseus and Hippolytus on their wedding night.

Pucks' Mistake Brings Complications in the Play: 

As the men and women fall asleep in the woods the fairies Oberon – the King of the farthest state of India and Titania - the fairy queen arrive from the Elf-land. They are involved in a dispute over an Indian changeling. To avenge Titania, Oberon applies the love juice to her eyelids.

On the other hand, Oberon overhears Demetrius's hurlish rejection of love and to help them, he summons Puck to apply the juice of- Cupid's flower on the eyelids of Demetrius. But as he fails to determine who the real person with the Athenian dress is, he applies the love Juice on the eyelids of Lysander, who wakes up from sleep and falls in love with Helena at first sight.

Rehearsal of a Play and Titania's Infatuation for Bottom: 

As artisans were performing some rehearsal of the play named ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’, Puck is enraged with their intrusion and with his powers fixes an ass’ head on Bottom, with whom Titania falls in love after waking up.

Complication by Oberon:

All of these misunderstandings complicate the situation. Helena and Hermia quarrel and Demetrius and Lysander assert their claim to Helena's love, and challenge each other for a fight to decide the matter.

Resolving of Complication by Oberon:

To amend the mistake, Oberon utilises Puck to apply an antidote to Lysander's eye. Through the same process, Demetrius returns to the fold of Helena.

Oberon even settles the dispute with Titania by applying the antidote. However, she is made to part with the changeling boy in favour of Oberon. When Titania comes to her senses, they get reconciled. 

All the Pairs of Lovers Joined in Marriage:

After all these happenings, Theseus, accompanied by Hippolyta and Egues, comes in the early morning to hunt in the woods. All of them meet each other and solve all the issues. And, all the mortal pairs are married happily ever after. 

Pyramus and Thisbe by Athenian Artisans: 

The play ends with the laughable performance of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' by the Athenian artisans. While the fairies bless the newlyweds Puck ends the scene with a funny climax.