Shakespeare in Plain English

A Midsummer Night's Dream · Comedy · c. 1595

A Midsummer Night's Dream in Plain English

Four young Athenians run into a wood, a fairy king drugs his own wife, and a weaver gets the head of a donkey. Every scene has the original text and a clear modern translation, side by side, line by line.

Act 1 2 scenes

Scene 1 Athens. The palace of Theseus. A father demands the legal right to have his daughter executed for choosing the wrong man. She and Lysander plan to run. Scene 2 Athens. Quince's house. Six working men cast a play, and Bottom tries to claim every part in it.

Act 2 2 scenes

Scene 1 A wood near Athens. Oberon and Titania's quarrel has wrecked the weather across the world. Puck is sent for a love potion. Scene 2 Another part of the wood. Puck drugs the wrong Athenian, and Lysander wakes up in love with the wrong woman.

Act 3 2 scenes

Scene 1 The wood. The mechanicals rehearse, Bottom is given a donkey's head, and Titania wakes up in love with him. Scene 2 Another part of the wood. Both men now adore Helena, who is sure it's a joke. The two women fight about height.

Act 4 2 scenes

Scene 1 The wood. Titania wakes cured and disgusted; the lovers are found asleep; Bottom tries to describe his dream. Scene 2 Quince's house. The mechanicals mourn Bottom, mostly for the pension. Then he walks in and tells them nothing.

Act 5 1 scene

Scene 1 The palace of Theseus. Pyramus and Thisbe performed badly, heckled throughout, and then the fairies bless the house.