The Main Characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The characters in this play are divided into two groups: the mortals (or real people) and the mythical (fairies).

Let’s meet some of the mythical characters:

1) Oberon, the King of the FairiesInteresting fact: one of the 27 moons of Uranus is called Oberon. It was named after Shakepeare’s King of the Fairies.Here are some images of how Oberon has appeared in different performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. How can you tell, from these images, that Oberon is a powerful and strong king?

What do we learn about Oberon at the start of the play? We know that he is arguing with Titania, who is his wife and the Queen of the fairies, about a servant boy. The boy is working for Titania and she is spending a great deal of time with him. Oberon is jealous and demands that Titania gives the servant boy to him. Titania refuses. Angry and spiteful, Oberon decides to play a trick on her.

2) Titania, Queen of the Fairies

Interesting fact: another one of the 27 moons of Uranus is named after Titania.Here are some images of Titania, also taken from various performances of the play. Can we tell anything about Titania’s character from these images?

What do we know about Titania at the start of the play? We know that she is arguing with her husband, Oberon, and so she knows her own mind and will not be told what to do by him. At the time that Shakespeare was writing this play (1595 – 1596), women were expected to do as they were told; they were not encouraged to think for themselves. However, England was ruled by a woman (Queen Elizabeth I) and so the idea of a strong-minded queen would not have seemed quite so strange. Titania is arguing so strongly with her husband because she has promised the servant boy’s mother that she will look after him. She seems honourable for wanting to keep her word. She is also trying to end the argument because she is concerned that it is having a damaging effect on the woodland, which suggests that she has a caring nature.

3) Puck or Robin Goodfellow, a fairy and servant to OberonInteresting fact: yes, you guessed correctly, yet another one of the 27 moons of Uranus is named after this character, Puck.

Here are some images of Puck from various performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His character is full of mischief – do you get a sense of him being up to no good from these images? Shakespeare did not invent the character, Puck. He is an ancient, mischievous fairy from English mythology.

At the start of the play, Puck is showing off to another fairy about all the clever tricks that he has played on humans. He takes delight in changing his shape, misleading travellers at night, spoiling milk, frightening young girls, and tripping up old ladies. Puck is capable of performing great magic and loves having the opportunity to practise his skills. We also know that

he is very loyal to Oberon because he does whatever Oberon asks him to do.

4) Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Cobweb and Moth, 4 fairies who look after Titania

Interesting fact: these fairies are named after four commonly used ingredients in Tudor medicine (sorry, no moons this time). Cobwebs, for example, were placed on wounds to help them to heal.

Here are some images of the fairy-servants of Titania from various performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

That’s all for Shakespeare Club this week. Next week we’ll take a look at the mortals (real people, as opposed to fairies in the play).