A Midsummer Night's Dream

Puck leaves to fetch the flower, and Oberon, noticing that humans are approaching, makes himself invisible. Helena and Demetrius enter the forest clearing. As they walk, Demetrius dismisses Helena and tells her that he does not love her. He does not even want to see her anymore and wishes that she would leave him alone. He also curses Hermia and Lysander; he still hopes that he can stop the marriage, and he plans to kill Lysander. As Helena loudly proclaims her love and loyalty, he continues to insult her. They exit the clearing, and Oberon removes his invisibility spell. Intrigued by the humans, he declares that he will arrange for Demetrius to fall in love with Helena by the end of the night.

Puck returns to the clearing with the magical flower. Oberon takes the flower with plans to travel to the flower-laden riverbank where Titania normally sleeps. Before he departs, Oberon tells Puck to keep his eye out for a young Athenian man whom a woman is chasing. He does not know their names, but he tells Puck to place some of the juice on the young man’s eyelids. When he wakes up, Oberon hopes, the young Athenian will fall in love with the woman. Puck accepts the mission.

Titania sleeps on the riverbank. As she sleeps, Oberon approaches her and drips the juice of the magical flower onto her eyes. He chants a spell, calling on Titania to fall unavoidably in love with the very first creature she sees when she wakes up. Oberon then exits. Lysander and Hermia appear, having become thoroughly lost in the forest. Lysander cannot remember the route to his aunt’s house, so he recommends that they sleep in the forest because night is coming. Though Lysander would like to sleep close to Hermia, she wants them to sleep apart for propriety’s sake. They lay down at a distance from one another and fall asleep.

Puck appears. He complains that he cannot find the young Athenian man that Oberon told him about but then comes across Lysander and Hermia, whom he mistakes for Helena and Demetrius. He places the potion on Lysander’s eyes and exits.

Demetrius arrives, pursued by Helena. He continues to insult her and insists that she stop following him. Helena mentions that she fears the dark, but Demetrius deserts her in the forest. Short of breath and struggling to deal with her unrequited love, Helena does not follow Demetrius. When she spots the sleeping Lysander, she decides to wake him. As his eyes open, the magical spell takes effect: Lysander falls in love with Helena. He immediately begins to praise her attractiveness—so much so that Helena suspects he is mocking her. Lysander insists that he is sincere and tells Helena that Hermia means nothing to him. Helena becomes angry and leaves, with Lysander chasing after her. Hermia wakes up and discovers that she is alone. She ventures into the woods to search for Lysander.