Midsummer's Night Dream: Act 1

In class, we have begun the play A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare. I am very excited to read this play because the format in which Shakespeare writes is quite unique and can be interpreted in many ways. When you find the correct way to interpret it, the context can be extremely beautiful and more than what it really seems. That beauty and mystery is what I really like about Shakespeare and his plays. Anyways, this is a short summary of the first act in A Midsummer's Night Dream.

Scene 1

The play begins with Theseus and Hippolyta planning their wedding. As they discuss their plans, Egeus and his daughter, Hermia come to visit them and enter the scene. Egeus declares his frustration with his daughter for not wanting to marry the man Egeus wants her to marry, Demetrius. Shortly after his explanation, Demetrius and Lysander walk in, which only adds to Egeus' frustration. Hermia is in love with Lysander who most definetely loves her back. The five of them discuss what they can do about their situation. Theseus explains to Hermia that either she will obey her father's wishes or be hanged or live a life of virginity. He further explains to Hermia that she owes her life to her father and should make him happy. As the dispute comes to a close, Lysander and Hermia are left alone to discuss what to do about Demetrius. They finally decide to elope and run away together, as they feel it is the only way for them to be together.

Later on, Hermia informs Helena, her good friend, of her discussion with Lysander. She herself, however, loves Demetrius and is willing to do anything, even hurt her friend for his love. So, she devises a plan and decides, full of spite, to inform Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plan to run away and elope so as to gain his trust and get closer to her one true love.


Scene 2

In another corner of the kingdom is a group of players wanting to put on a play for the newlyweds to be, Theseus and Hippolyta. They secretly are devising who will play the lead role of the play. Bottom, a thinks-he-know-it-all player is cast as the lead role. As all other parts are distrubuted, all players are quite pleased at their play that parallels quite well the lives of Theseus and Hippolyta.