{ "work": { "title": "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "author": "william_shakespeare", "genre": "comedy", "written": {"earliest": 1594, "latest": 1596}, "setting": ["athens", "fairyland_forest"], "subplots": [ "theseus_hippolyta_wedding", "four_athenian_lovers_conflict", "mechanicals_rehearse_play_for_wedding", "fairy_domestic_intrigue" ], "fairies_manipulate_humans": true, "popularity": "one_of_shakespeares_most_popular_and_performed" }, "characters": { "athenians": { "theseus": {"role": "duke_of_athens"}, "hippolyta": {"role": "queen_of_amazons", "fiancee_of": "theseus"}, "hermia": {"loves": "lysander", "father": "egeus"}, "helena": {"loves": "demetrius", "best_friend_of": "hermia"}, "lysander": {"loves": "hermia"}, "demetrius": {"suitor_to": "hermia", "previously_with": "helena"}, "egeus": {"father_of": "hermia", "demands": "hermia_marry_demetrius"}, "philostrate": {"role": "master_of_revels", "serves": "theseus"} }, "mechanicals": { "peter_quince": {"trade": "carpenter", "role": "director", "speaks": "prologue"}, "nick_bottom": {"trade": "weaver", "plays": "pyramus"}, "francis_flute": {"trade": "bellows_mender", "plays": "thisbe"}, "snug": {"trade": "joiner", "plays": "lion"}, "tom_snout": {"trade": "tinker", "plays": "wall"}, "robin_starveling": {"trade": "tailor", "plays": "moonshine"} }, "fairies": { "oberon": {"role": "king_of_fairies"}, "titania": {"role": "queen_of_fairies", "estranged_from": "oberon"}, "puck": {"alias": "robin_goodfellow", "role": "knavish_sprite", "serves": "oberon"}, "titania_servants": ["a_fairy", "peasblossom", "cobweb", "moth", "mustardseed"], "indian_changeling": {"ward_of": "titania", "unseen": true} } }, "plot": { "frame": "wedding_of_theseus_and_hippolyta", "primary_setting": "woodland_realm_of_fairyland_under_moonlight", "act_1": { "scene_1": { "location": "athens", "events": [ {"setup": {"wedding_days_away": 4, "theseus_mood": "impatient", "hippolyta_mood": "time_will_pass_like_dream"}}, {"conflict": {"egeus_demands": "hermia_marry_demetrius", "hermia_wants": "lysander", "ancient_law": "marry_fathers_choice_or_die"}}, {"theseus_offers_alternative": {"option": "lifelong_chastity_as_nun_of_diana", "accepted": false}}, {"secret_plan": {"hermia_lysander_escape_to": "lysanders_aunts_house_via_forest"}}, {"helena_reveals_plan_to": "demetrius", "motive": "reclaim_his_love"}, {"demetrius_pursues": "hermia_lysander_into_forest"} ] }, "scene_2": { "location": "athens", "events": [ {"mechanicals_plan_performance": {"work": "most_lamentable_comedy_and_cruel_death_of_pyramus_and_thisbe", "occasion": "duke_queen_wedding"}}, {"casting": {"director": "quince", "bottom_wants_all_roles": ["pyramus", "thisbe", "lion"], "assigned": {"bottom": "pyramus_only"}}}, {"bottom_quirk": "would_rather_play_tyrant_recites_ercles"}, {"lion_concern": {"snug": "slow_of_study", "quince_assures": "lion_is_nothing_but_roaring"}}, {"next_meeting_at": "dukes_oak"} ] } }, "act_2": { "scene_1": { "location": "forest_outside_athens", "events": [ {"oberon_titania_arrive_for": "theseus_hippolyta_wedding"}, {"fairy_dispute": { "subject": "indian_changeling_custody", "titania_refuses_because": "childs_mother_was_titanias_worshipper" }}, {"oberons_scheme": { "agent": "puck", "potion_source": "flower_love_in_idleness", "flower_lore": "white_until_struck_by_cupids_arrow_then_purple", "effect": "first_living_thing_seen_on_waking_becomes_beloved", "target": "titania", "intended_beloved": "animal_of_forest", "goal": "shame_titania_into_surrendering_changeling" }}, {"helena_demetrius_pass_through": {"helena": "pursues_promising_more_love_than_hermia", "demetrius": "rebuffs_with_cruel_insults"}}, {"oberon_orders_puck_to_anoint": "young_athenian_man"} ] }, "scene_2": { "location": "forest", "events": [ "titania_sleeps_lulled_by_fairies", {"oberon_anoints": "titanias_eyes"}, "lysander_hermia_enter_lost", {"hermia_rejects_lysanders_advance": "sleep_together", "outcome": "separate_corners"}, {"puck_mistake": {"intended": "demetrius", "actual": "lysander", "cause": "had_not_seen_either_before"}}, {"helena_finds_lysander": "wakes_him_checking_if_dead"}, {"lysander_charmed_loves": "helena"}, "helena_thinks_mocked_runs_away", {"lysander_pursues": "helena"}, {"hermia_wakes_from_dream": "snake_ate_her_heart", "then": "finds_lysander_gone_and_searches"} ] } }, "act_3": { "scene_1": { "location": "forest_near_titanias_bower", "events": [ {"mechanicals_rehearse_at": "titanias_bower_area"}, {"puck_transforms_bottoms_head_into": "donkey", "wordplay": "bottom_=_jackass"}, {"other_mechanicals_flee_claiming": "haunted"}, {"bottom_sings_alone": "to_keep_company"}, {"titania_wakes_loves": "bottom_with_donkey_head"}, "titania_lavishes_fairy_attention_on_bottom", "oberon_takes_changeling_while_titania_distracted" ] }, "scene_2": { "location": "forest", "events": [ {"oberon_condemns_pucks_mistake_orders": "fetch_helena_charm_demetrius"}, {"demetrius_charmed_loves": "helena"}, {"both_men_now_love": "helena", "helena_believes": "both_mock_her"}, {"hermia_confronts_lysander": "why_did_you_leave"}, "lysander_denies_ever_loving_hermia", {"women_quarrel": {"helena_charges": "hermia_joined_mockery", "hermia_charges": "helena_stole_true_love"}}, {"oberon_puck_decide": "resolve_overnight_so_all_forget_as_dream"}, "puck_separates_men_by_mimicking_voices", "all_four_sleep_in_glade", {"puck_applies_antidote_to_lysander_restoring_love_for": "hermia"}, "on_waking_lovers_assume_dream" ] } }, "act_4": { "scene_1": { "location": "forest", "events": [ "oberon_releases_titania", {"oberon_orders_puck_to_remove_donkey_head_from": "bottom"}, "fairies_disappear", "theseus_hippolyta_arrive_on_early_morning_hunt_find_sleeping_lovers", {"theseus_overrules_egeus_arranges": "group_wedding", "reason": "demetrius_no_longer_loves_hermia"}, "lovers_walk_back_to_athens_calling_it_dream", "bottom_wakes_alone_calls_it_dream_past_wit_of_man", {"bottom_plans": "have_quince_write_ballad_called_bottoms_dream_to_sing_after_thisbe_dies"} ] }, "scene_2": { "location": "quinces_house", "events": [ "mechanicals_worry_bottom_missing_only_man_for_pyramus", "bottom_returns_actors_prepare_to_perform" ] } }, "act_5": { "scene_1": { "location": "athens_court", "events": [ "mechanicals_perform_pyramus_and_thisbe", "court_laughs_at_bad_acting_as_if_intended_comedy", "all_retire_to_bed", "fairies_enter_bless_house_with_good_fortune", "puck_closes_suggesting_audience_experience_may_be_dream" ] } } }, "sources": { "dating_basis": ["topical_references", "allusion_to_spenser_epithalamion"], "estimated_date": "1595_to_early_1596", "possible_commission_theories": [ {"theory": "aristocratic_wedding", "candidates": ["thomas_berkeley_x_elizabeth_carey", "william_stanley_6th_earl_of_derby_x_elizabeth_de_vere"]}, {"theory": "queens_feast_day_of_st_john", "evidence": "none"} ], "performance_venues": ["the_theatre", "the_globe"], "literary_inspirations": [ 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1808, "critic": "august_wilhelm_schlegel", "view": "unity_in_multiple_plots_donkey_head_reflects_bottoms_nature_pyramus_thisbe_burlesque_of_athenian_lovers"}, {"year": 1817, "critic": "william_hazlitt", "view": "better_as_text_than_staged_kehler_notes_reflects_quality_of_available_productions"}, {"period": "1811-1812", "critic": "samuel_taylor_coleridge", "views": ["entire_play_should_be_seen_as_dream", "helena_guilty_of_ungrateful_treachery", "earliest_to_introduce_gender_issues", "kehler_dismisses_helena_view_as_misogyny"]}, {"year": 1837, "critic": "william_maginn", "views": ["theseus_voice_of_shakespeare", "bottom_lucky_man_unfazed_by_fairy_queen", "oberon_not_to_blame_for_titanias_chagrin"]}, {"year": 1839, "critic": "hermann_ulrici", "view": "play_reflects_platonism_human_life_is_dream"}, {"period": "1840s", "critic": "james_halliwell_phillipps", "view": "many_inconsistencies_but_most_beautiful_poetic_drama_ever_written"}, {"year": 1849, "critic": "charles_knight", "view": 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{"year": 1978, "event": "riverside_shakespeare_company_outdoor", "cast": {"puck": "eric_hoffmann", "titania": "karen_hurley", "oberon": "eric_conger"}, "director": "gloria_skurski"}, {"year": 2015, "event": "maryland_shakespeare_players_queer_production_same_sex_lovers_drag_queen_mechanicals"}, {"program": "shakespeare_in_the_arb", "venue": "university_of_michigan_nichols_arboretum", "since": 2001, "midsummer_productions": 3, "venue_acres": 123}, {"year": 2016, "event": "emma_rices_first_globe_production_contemporary_reworking_gender_switched_bollywood_influences"} ], "adaptations": { "plays": [ {"title": "absurda_comica_oder_herr_peter_squentz", "author": "andreas_gryphius", "written": "1648-1650", "published": 1657, "based_on": "pyramus_thisbe_subplot"}, {"title": "shakespeare_in_hollywood", "author": "ken_ludwig", "year": 2003, "setting": "production_of_1935_film", "oberon_and_puck_cast_as_themselves": true} ], "literary": [ {"author": "karl_marx", "work": "das_kapital_volume_1", "use": "quotes_the_play"}, {"event": "translated_to_esperanto", "by": "louise_briggs", "year": 1920}, {"author": "w_stanley_moss", "work": "ill_met_by_moonlight", "year": 1950, "kind": "nonfiction_wwii_kreipe_kidnap", "title_source": "play_quote", "film_adaptation_year": 1957}, {"author": "botho_strauss", "work": "the_park", "year": 1983, "kind": "play_based_on_characters_and_motifs"}, {"author": "neil_gaiman", "series": "the_sandman", "issue_title": "a_midsummer_nights_dream", "year": 1990, "premise": "shakespeare_performs_for_real_oberon_and_titania", "indian_boy_played_by": "shakespeares_son_hamnet", "award": {"name": "world_fantasy_award_best_short_fiction", "year": 1991, "note": "first_and_only_comic_winner"}}, {"author": "terry_pratchett", "work": "lords_and_ladies", "year": 1992, "kind": "parody"}, {"author": "bernard_cornwell", "work": "fools_and_mortals", "year": 2017, "premise": "creation_and_first_performance_seen_by_richard_shakespeare"} ], "music": [ {"work": 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{"composer": "steve_hackett_genesis", "year": 1997, "kind": "classical_adaptation"}, {"composer": "hans_werner_henze", "work": "eighth_symphony", "year": 1993, "inspired_by_play": true}, {"company": "moonwork", "year": 1999, "creators": ["mason_pettit", "gregory_sherman", "gregory_wolfe"], "feature": "rock_opera_pyramus_thisbe_by_rusty_magee_rest_by_andrew_sherman"}, {"work": "the_donkey_show", "year": 1999, "kind": "disco_era_off_broadway"}, {"work": "a_midsummer_nights_dream_opera_a_cappella", "year": 2011, "producers": ["opera_memphis", "playhouse_on_the_square", "deltacappella", "riva"], "composer": "michael_ching"}, {"work": "be_more_chill", "year": 2015, "feature": "play_within_called_a_midsummer_nightmare_about_zombies"} ], "ballets": [ {"choreographer": "marius_petipa", "company": "imperial_ballet_st_petersburg", "premiere": "1876-07-14", "score": "mendelssohn_plus_minkus_additions"}, {"choreographer": "george_balanchine", "premiere": "1962-01-17", "company": 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{"titania": "helen_mirren", "oberon": "peter_mcenery", "puck": "phil_daniels", "lysander": "robert_lindsay", "quince": "geoffrey_palmer", "bottom": "brian_glover"}}, {"year": 1999, "kind": "animated_short", "studio": "walt_disney_television_animation", "series": "mickey_mouse_works", "featured_in": "house_of_mouse_house_of_scrooge_s3e34_2002", "cast": {"lysander": "mickey_mouse", "hermia": "minnie_mouse", "demetrius": "donald_duck", "helena": "daisy_duck", "theseus": "ludwig_von_drake", "egeus": "scrooge_mcduck", "puck": "goofy"}}, {"year": 2005, "series": "shakespeare_re_told_bbc", "writer": "peter_bowker", "cast": {"bottom": "johnny_vegas", "puck": "dean_lennox_kelly", "theo_conflation_theseus_egeus": "bill_paterson", "polly_hippolyta": "imelda_staunton", "oberon": "lennie_james", "titania": "sharon_small", "hermia": "zoe_tapper", "helena": "michelle_bonnard"}}, {"year": 2006, "series": "the_suite_life_of_zack_and_cody_s2e22", "title": "a_midsummers_nightmare", "premise": "school_play"}, {"year": 2016, "network": "bbc_one", "length_minutes": 90, "writer": "russell_t_davies", "director": "david_kerr", "cast": {"bottom": "matt_lucas", "titania": "maxine_peake", "oberon": "nonso_anozie", "hermia": "prisca_bakare", "puck": "hiran_abeysekera"}} ], "role_playing_games": [ {"setting": "forgotten_realms_dungeons_and_dragons", "archfeys": ["oberon", "titania"]} ], "video_games": [ {"year": 2026, "title": "titanium_court", "kind": "strategy", "feature": "court_steward_named_puck_more_references_emerge_with_play"} ], "astronomy": [ {"year": 1787, "event": "william_herschel_discovers_two_moons_of_uranus"}, {"year": 1852, "event": "john_herschel_names_two_moons", "names": ["oberon", "titania"]}, {"year": 1985, "event": "voyager_2_discovers_uranian_moon", "name": "puck"} ] }, "see_also": ["brag_folklore", "puca", "pyramus_and_thisbe", "summer_solstice"] }