Midsummer Night's Dream Act I, Scene I

Act I, Scene I: Athens, The Palace of Theseus

• Theseus anticipates his wedding to Hippolyta in four days, longing for the current moon to wane quickly.
• Hippolyta assures Theseus that the time will pass quickly, like a dream.
• Theseus instructs Philostrate to rouse the Athenian youth to celebrate and dismiss melancholy.
• Theseus won Hippolyta with his sword, but intends to marry her with celebration.
• Egeus enters with his daughter Hermia, and two men, Lysander and Demetrius. He brings a complaint against his daughter, Hermia.
• Egeus wants Demetrius to marry Hermia, but Lysander has bewitched her with rhymes and love tokens.
• Egeus accuses Lysander of stealing Hermia's heart and turning her obedience into stubbornness.
• Egeus invokes the ancient privilege of Athens: he can choose to have Hermia marry Demetrius or be put to death
• Theseus tells Hermia that her father should be as a god to her, with the power to shape or disfigure her as he pleases.
• Hermia states that Lysander is just as worthy as Demetrius.
• Theseus tells Hermia she needs to look at things from her father's point of view.
• Hermia asks what the worst outcome would be if she refuses to marry Demetrius.
• Theseus says she could either be put to death or be forced to live a life of chastity, as a nun.
• Theseus urges Hermia to consider whether she can endure a life of isolation, serving the "cold fruitless moon" as a nun.
• Hermia declares she would rather die than yield her virginity to Demetrius.
• Theseus tells Hermia to consider her options and, by his wedding day, she must decide to marry Demetrius, face death, or vow to a life of chastity on Diana's altar.
• Demetrius tells Hermia to relent and Lysander to give up his claim.
• Lysander argues that Demetrius should marry Hermia's father (Egeus) since he has his love.
• Egeus says Hermia is his, and he gives his rights over her to Demetrius.
• Lysander claims he is of equal social standing and wealth as Demetrius, and is loved by Hermia.
• Lysander reveals that Demetrius made vows to Helena, Nedar's daughter, who is deeply in love with him.
• Theseus acknowledges that he has heard about Demetrius's involvement with Helena.
• Theseus says he will speak privately with Demetrius and Egeus.
• Theseus advises Hermia to align her desires with her father's will or face the consequences under Athenian law: death or a life of chastity.
• Lysander questions why Hermia looks so pale and sad.
• Hermia says that she is sad because true love never runs smoothly.
• They lament that love is often thwarted by differences in social class, age, or the interference of friends.
• Lysander says true love is affected by war, death or sickness making it as fleeting as a sound.
• Hermia says they must be patient and accept their trial as a customary cross.
• Lysander proposes that Hermia should run away with him to his widowed aunt's house, seven leagues from Athens, where the Athenian law cannot reach them.
• Agreed, Hermia vows to meet Lysander in the woods outside of town the following night.
• Helena enters and Hermia and Lysander tell Helena their plans.
• Hermia tells Helena that she and Lysander are running away to escape Athenian law and seek a new life together - and hopes she will have good luck with Demetrius.
• Lysander says that he hopes Demetrius will dote on Helena as she does on him.
• Helena laments how some people can easily attain happiness while she struggles to gain Demetrius's love.
• Helena reflects on how Demetrius's love for Hermia is misguided because love is blind and makes flawed choices.
• Helena decides to tell Demetrius about Hermia and Lysander's plan to run away, hoping to gain his attention, even if it means causing herself more pain.