A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Comedy

By William Shakespeare

True love takes the stage at the marriage of Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hipployta, as the fairies of the forest interfere with the lives of mortals attending the wedding feast. Although betrothed to Demetrius, Hermia is in love with Lysander and must choose between bowing to her father’s wishes or a life of chastity. But Helena is in love with Demetrius, who only has eyes for Hermia. At the same time, Oberon, king of the fairies, seeks to punish his wife Titania using a love potion, as the realms of mortals and fairies collide on one magical midsummer night.

Known as “The Bard of Avon,” William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare’s works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare’s innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Dec 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781443443234

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—an older daughter Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood. The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright and poet, but also as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Although some think that sometime between 1610 and 1613 Shakespeare retired from the theater and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616, others believe that he may have continued to work in London until close to his death.

Book preview

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

THESEUS

Duke of Athens

EGEUS

father to Hermia

LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS

in love with Hermia

PHILOSTRATE

Master of the Revels to Theseus

QUINCE

a carpenter

SNUG

a joiner

BOTTOM

a weaver

FLUTE

a bellows-mender

SNOUT

a tinker

STARVELING

a tailor

HIPPOLYTA

Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus

HERMIA

daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander

HELENA

in love with Demetrius

OBERON

King of the Fairies

TETANIA

Queen of the Fairies

PUCK or ROBIN GOODFELLOW

PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED

fairies

PROLOGUE presented by QUINCE

PYRAMUS presented by BOTTOM

THISBY presented by FLUTE

WALL presented by SNOUT

MOONSHINE presented by STARVELING

LION presented by SNUG

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen.

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta.

THE SCENE: ATHENS AND A WOOD NEAR IT.

ACT ONE

SCENE I. Athens. The palace of Theseus.

Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants.

THESEUS Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour

Draws on apace; four happy days bring in

Another moon; but, O, methinks, how slow

This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires.

Like to a step-dame or a dowager,

Long withering out a young man’s revenue.

HIPPOLYTA Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;

Four nights will quickly dream away the time;

And then the moon, like to a silver bow

[10]

New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night

Of our solemnities.

THESEUS Go, Philostrate,

Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;

Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;

Turn melancholy forth to funerals;

[15]

The pale companion is not for our pomp.

[Exit Philostrate.

Hippolyta, I woo’d thee with my sword,

And won thy love doing thee injuries;

But I will wed thee in another key.

With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.

Enter EGEUS, and his daughter HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS.

[20]

EGEUS Happy be Theseus, our renowned Duke!

THESEUS Thanks, good Egeus; what’s the news with thee?

EGEUS Full of vexation come I. with complaint

Against my child, my daughter Hermia.

Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord,

[25]

This man hath my consent to marry her.

Stand forth, Lysander. And, my gracious Duke,

This man hath bewitch’d the bosom of my child.

Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes.

[30]

And interchang’d love-tokens with my child;

Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung.

With feigning voice, verses of feigning love.

And stol’n the impression of her fantasy

With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,

Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats – messengers

[35]

Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth;

With cunning hast thou filch’d my daughter’s heart;

Turn’d her obedience, which is due to me.

To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious Duke,

Be it so she will not here before your Grace

[40]

Consent to marry with Demetrius,

I beg the ancient privilege of Athens:

As she is mine I may dispose of her;

Which shall be either to this gentleman

Or to her death, according to our law

[45]

Immediately provided in that case.

THESEUS What say you, Hermia? Be advis’d, fair maid.

To you your father should be as a god;

One that compos’d your beauties; yea, and one

To whom you are but as a form in wax,

[50]

By him imprinted, and within his power

To leave the figure, or disfigure it.

Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

HERMIA So is Lysander.

THESEUS In himself he is;

But, in this kind, wanting your father’s voice,

[55]

The other must be held the worthier.

HERMIA I would my father look’d but with my eyes.

THESEUS Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.

HERMIA I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.

I know not by what power I am made bold,

[60]

Nor how it may concern my modesty

In such a presence here to plead my thoughts;

But I beseech your Grace that I may know

The worst that may befall me in this case,

[64]

If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

THESEUS Either to die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of men.

Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires.

Know of your youth, examine well your blood.

Whether, if you yield not to your father’s choice,

[70]

You can endure the livery of a nun,

For aye to be in shady cloister mew’d,

To live a barren sister all your life,

Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.

Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood

[75]

To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;

But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d

Than that which withering on the virgin thorn

Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness.

HERMIA So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,

[80]

Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke

My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

THESEUS Take time to pause; and by the next new moon –

The sealing-day betwixt my love and me

[85]

For everlasting bond of fellowship –

Upon that day either prepare to die

For disobedience to your father’s will.

Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would.

Or on Diana’s altar to protest

[90]

For aye austerity and single life.

DEMETRIUS Relent, sweet Hermia; and, Lysander, yield

Thy crazed title to my certain right.

LYSANDER You have her father’s love, Demetrius;

Let me have Hermia’s; do you marry him.

[95]

EGEUS Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love;

And what is mine my love shall render him;

And she is mine; and all

Reviews for A Midsummer Night's Dream

[faith_murri · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The only Shakespeare plays I had read before this were Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, Macbeth being my favorite. Having now read Hamlet, I can honestly say that Macbeth is still my favorite.

Let's discuss.

So, Hamlet himself is an emo icon, and also a misogynist, who basically goes crazy, murders someone, and essentially ruins everything.

The ending came a little too quickly for me, tbh. There wasn't enough time to really develop any other characters. It was pretty quotable, though. Really, it gave me more Romeo and Juliet feels than Macbeth feels.

[therebelprince · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Penguin edition remains the best edition for highschool students, undergrad students and actors. Not as dense as the Arden nor as casual as the RSC, but the perfect in-between for people in those categories.

[wellreadcatlady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It amazes me how many people like Hamlet, no exception here, when it's really hard to relate to, but yet it's just one of those plays once you get into it, you come to love it. I read it for the first time in 12th grade and everyone would talk about it even when they didn't have to. The characters in Hamlet are amazingly complex and it doesn't just state how they are, you learn it through their actions and what they say. It's just so unique, I know everytime I read it I get a different opinion of the characters and the overall play.

[bohemima · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Almost intriguing play, and not the easiest work to read. The tale of a young prince trying to come to terms with his father’s death is probably the best known of Shakespeare’s tragedies. There’s something for everyone here: high drama, low comedy, intriguing characters. I’d advise watching a video or move, or perhaps listening to an audio presentation either before or while reading this one. No matter how good your reading skills are, the enjoyment and understanding of any play is enhanced Psy seeing it performed. This time out I watched an old stage production starring Richard Burton. The highlight of that one is Hume Cronyn’s marvelously humorous take on Polonius.Highest recommendation possible.

[deckla_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite, of all the histories and tragedies. I've seen it in performance at least 5 times--with Kevin Kline and Ralph Fiennes two of the most memorable.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vertaling van Komrij. Uiteraard een tijdloos stuk met een ongelofelijke diepgang, maar geen gemakkelijke lectuur. Ligt me minder dan de iets eenduidiger stukken King Lear of Macbeth.

[michael_rose-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Forcing myself into reading Shakespeare as an adult, I started here. I'm not sorry. Excellent poetry. "What a piece of work is man" is one of my favorite bits of writing period, not just within Shakespeare's works. I believe this is also the longest of his plays? Partly my reason for tackling it first. If you only read one of his works, read Hamlet.

[eclt83 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best things I've ever read. Hamlet's got it all. Shakespeare at his best, filling so few pages with so much story.

[jennaelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The more I learn about the English language and literature in general, the richer Shakespeare's works become. Hamlet is no exception.

When considered as a boundary/change marker in the landscape of literature, it makes an interesting mile-marker between earlier eras of the oral heroic, the epic and the blossoming of humanism. (Forgive me if I'm using any of these terminologies incorrectly; I will elaborate what I mean.) Which is to say, the oral heroic focused (in general terms) on family units, clans, tribes, etc. and the conflicts between them. These narratives usually dealt with inscribing some sort of expected behavior(s) that sorted out the violent chaos that accompanied the birthings of civilizations. As an example of a major trope in this early literature that's relevant to Hamlet: blood-feud violence.

The Odyssey comes from the beginning of this and in its ending tries to address the ending of such tit-for-tat retribution.

In this way, Hamlet might be considered (and I'm happy to do so) the ending of this particular literary tradition as a major trope. Instead of focusing on the blood feud (the plot going on with Fortinbras & Norway), it turns a bit more inward. Instead of Hamlet marching off to claim what is his by rights from Norway, there's a more humanistic struggle at play.

I feel that most Shakespeare could benefit from a little extra knowledge and context than most of us get upon our first exposure. Hamlet's definitely gotten 'better' for me over time.

[devil_llama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the bard's all time classics, so frequently performed that it occasionally needs to be re-read to experience it the way he wrote it, without all the directorial impulses to pretty it up or modernize it. It had been a long time since my last read, and I was somewhat surprised to realize that this play comes with very few stage directions outside of entrances and exits; there are so many things that directors do exactly the same, you forget they weren't mentioned in the stage directions, and have simply become habit. Anyway, this play, about ambition and revenge, still holds up well through the centuries, though many of the actions seem outdated to us now. The poetry of the language and the rich texturing of the characters, even the most minor of characters, creates a complex story that successfully holds many balls in the air at once. Shakespeare's frequent use of ghosts is noteworthy, since that is something that modern day playwrights are told to be very careful about, and avoid if at all possible. A satisfying story, and a satisfying re-read.

[katieloucks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great classic

[booksfordinner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My fav editions of the Bard.

[391_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hamlet is a phenomenal play. Just spectacular.

[maxernst11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vertaling van Komrij. Uiteraard een tijdloos stuk met een ongelofelijke diepgang, maar geen gemakkelijke lectuur. Ligt me minder dan de iets eenduidiger stukken King Lear of Macbeth.

[ron_peters-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Critics have varied in their enthusiasm for this play over the centuries. In many ways Hamlet is a typical "modern" - a relativist, caught in perpetual indecision, uncertain of his place in the world, frozen by his anxieties. It also contains some of the best-known lines and soliloquies in all of Shakespeare. It can be, and has been, read and performed from a religious perspective, an existential perspective, a Freudian perspective, or a feminist perspective.

[tiffanyak_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is truly an amazing work, and is a very well-known story. Even if you haven't read the play, or seen any of the film versions, you probably have heard enough to know much of what happens, and are likely familiar with several very famous lines. This was my first time reading the play, and I truly loved it, because it does go far beyond just the famous lines and core story. There is true depth here, with layers of meaning that really strike at the soul of the audience. As to the edition itself, I found it to be greatly helpful in understanding the action in the play. It has a layout which places each page of the play opposite a page of notes, definitions, explanations, and other things needed to understand that page more thoroughly. While I didn't always need it, I was certainly glad to have it whenever I ran into a turn of language that was unfamiliar, and I definitely appreciated the scene-by-scene summaries. Really, if you want to or need to read Shakespeare, an edition such as this is really the way to go, especially until you get more accustomed to it.

[jessicadelellis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a very interesting story. It wasn't boring as I thought it would be.

[aoibhealfae · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't think I've ever enjoyed a Shakespearean work more than this play. Its riddled with ghost, revenge, crazy people, deaths, politics and psychological drama. Reading it along with the BBC's 2009's Hamlet does help in understanding the text, but its quite obvious how Hamlet's popularity survived half a millenia.

Full review to come.

[regularguy5mb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is, I believe, my absolute favorite of Shakespeare's tragedies. Primarily because Hamlet is a thinker throughout most of the play. When we first meet him, he is thinking of the inevitability of death and the loss of his father. Then he is tasked to dispatch his uncle when he learns from his father's ghost that Claudius poisoned him for his crown, and he spends the rest of the story considering the logistics of actually doing the deed.Many of my favorite Shakespeare lines also come from Hamlet, not only the brilliant soliloquies, but also little bits like "neither a borrower nor a lender be," "sweets for the sweet," and "goodnight, sweet prince." Also, Hamlet provided the inspiration for one of my favorite modern plays, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead."This particular edition also includes a series of essays on the play and Shakespeare's writing, my favorite of which is an in-depth look at Gertrude by Carolyn Heilbrun in a piece titled "The Character of Hamlet's Mother." It also ends with a look at Hamlet on stage and screen, breaking down the various and varied performances of Hamlet through the years, ending with the Laurence Olivier film version (fitting since that is what inspired me to reread the play this time around).I'm pretty sure this exact copy was my sister's in high school, it is also filled with several notes written by her hand, in pencil, in the margins.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfection. Not one false word. Not one false moment. A play in which every part makes the whole stronger. A more perfect play I've never read. Genius.

[the1butterfly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've had this hanging around since I think senior year of high school when I started to read it and never finished, but I was inspired to pick it up and re-do it because Crash Course on YouTube covered it and I wanted to know the play before watching the video. This is kind of a must-read because there are so many quotes (beyond just "To be or not to be"), and it's one of those things you need to read to be culturally literate (admittedly, I now feel bad waiting so long). It wasn't the most exciting story to me- Hamlet is upset from the start with his uncle marrying his mother, but he kind of bides his time and bides it some more and some more... I get that he wants to verify what his uncle has done, but he dithers and even when he is certain goes to England rather than take action. Meanwhile I remembered that Ophelia committed suicide, so I was curious about her role. Was she completely freaked out by her father's death or was she upset about Hamlet being kind of obnoxious (he blames his mother, but then he takes it out on Ophelia) and he's very back and forth with her. I can understand why he has to go emo and muse about life and death constantly, but he dragged everyone else in it with him. Horatio's about the only guy who can get away with knowing Hamlet and living. I don't feel like I get to appreciate justice being served with Claudius dying when every other character dies with him and Denmark is given over to some foreign prince. The ambiguity is part of what makes this play famous and studied (What's Queen Gertrude's role? Was she beguiled by Claudius or a partner in his crimes?), but it's also a bit unsettling. It is not a very restful play.

[mbmackay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It feels odd to be giving Shakespeare a rating in stars - who am I to judge?After many many years, I re-read Hamlet in a fine edition by Signature Shakespeare. This is a beautifully produced book and has a helpful layout with the original text supplemented with meanings of obscure words and suggested explanations for passages. It was a treat to read, and improved my appreciation of the text.I can't see it making it big in prime time - all the lead characters end up dead, but it is a tragedy!Read February 2015.

[bullfinch-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Magnificent.Like nearly all plays, it has to be acted. Just reading won't bring out the emotions. I played Rosencrantz (or was it Guildenstern, better toss a coin!!) I also saw Hamlet at the Exchange Theatre in Manchester. This modern theatre built as a square inside the old Victorian building gave me a tremendous insight. It is theatre in the round. Sitting on the top tier looking almost vertically down I noticed that when Hamlet spoke his soliloquoys he was not actually speaking to anyone in the audience. He was speaking as if to an empty space in front of him and his speech turned inwards to himself. Then I noticed the dialogues. The two actors were not speaking one to the other: each was speaking as if to an empty space between them. This is the magic power of Theatre altogether. The Empty Space between the actors and the audience. Wonderful.

[stormydawnc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My favorite of Shakespeare's plays(that I've read). Is there a more interesting character than Hamlet? The amazing this about this play is that I know the end from the very beginning, but I'm always compelled to read on.

[cebellol · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Possibly one of the only tragedies Shakespeare wrote that I can really, truly say I enjoyed. I really can't say much about it without ruining it though, so I'll just say READ IT (avoid the movie until you've done so though. I really like Kenneth Branagh, but it's just a little overkill.)

[writercity · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I finally read this tale for the first time and I wasn't disappointed. Hamlet wasn't a character to read about lightly, giving a perplexing feeling every time he spoke. The emotions of most of characters are what carry the story, and what will be the effects of their actions. In the beginning of the book, the Ghost's words were the most interesting to read. Near the end of the play, Hamlet's hilarious comments to Ophelia were so funny because they were out of nowhere, before the tragic ending of the play.

[rosenstern · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After King Lear, this is one of my favorites. Hamlet, in short, is the Lion King. Rather, I should say The Lion King is Hamlet. My reassurance of Shakespeare's credibility and talent is purely unnecessary so a review is kind of pointless. But if you liked the Lion King, attempt Shakespeare's version. It has more blood and wit.

[26kathryn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first time that I've read Hamlet, I've heard it quoted so many times and I thought it was about time I read it.Hamlet's mother is married to her dead husband's brother. And after seeing his father's ghost Hamlet decides to take revenge on his uncle/step-dad who apparently murdered his father. It's a kind of crazy story with lots of death, and there were some places where I didn't really understand what was going on, but I still got the overall jist of the story.I enjoyed reading this but when reading a play as a book I find it a bit hard to keep track of the characters and the settings, I think I would like to see it performed so that I can really get a feel for the story.

[lhlogan1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good solid Shakespeare read. A bit too much of a "he did, she did" plot at times.

[birdie.newborn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a mature play of Shakespeare's, blending all the elements of drama, psychology, gutter humor, passion, ambition, doubt. The Playbook version is unique, but valuable. I haven't seen anything approaching it.