Lysander (Shakespeare)

Lysander is one of the iconic lovers in William Shakespeare's play:"A Midsummer Night's Dream". A handsome young man of Athens, Lysander is in love with Hermia.

Role in Play

In Act I, scene i, Lysander appears before Theseus, the duke of Athens, along with Hermia, Egeus (Hermia’s father), and another Athenian youth, Demetrius. Egeus has promised Hermia’s hand in marriage to Demetrius, but Hermia has refused to marry him, as she only loves Lysander. At this meeting, Lysander attacks Demetrius’ dependability, citing his previous abandonment of one of Hermia’s friends, Helena, to whom he was engaged. Later in the scene, Lysander and Hermia discuss the difficulty they have encountered. Describing their situation, Lysander speaks the now famous line: “The course of true love never did run smooth” (I.i. 134). In this conversation, Lysander suggests that they elope, and Hermia agrees to leave Athens the following night. They then confide in Helena about their plan.

In Act II, scene ii, Lysander and Hermia get lost on the journey to Lysander’s aunt’s house, where they were to marry. Deciding to wait until daylight to try to find the way, they fall asleep in the forest they have been walking in. While they sleep, Puck, a sprite who is a servant of Oberon, the king of the fairies, mistakenly applies a love potion to the eyes of Lysander, instead of the intended Demetrius. Upon being woken up in the forest by Helena, who was pursuing Demetrius, Lysander falls in love with Helena, as the love potion takes effect. Lysander declares his undying love for her and praises her beauty. When Helena reminds him that he loves Hermia, he denies this emphatically. When Helena, feeling that Lysander is mocking her, runs off, Lysander follows, leaving Hermia sleeping alone in the woods.

In Act III, scene ii, Lysander continues pledging his love to Helena. However, Helena is still hostile to him, assuming that he is making fun of her. Demetrius soon joins Lysander in declaring his love for Helena, as Puck has also put the love potion on his eyes. Lysander and Demetrius trade insults over Helena, but she refuses to believe either of them. When Hermia enters the scene and learns that Lysander now loves Helena, she is shocked. When Lysander and Demetrius try to fight each other, Hermia clings onto Lysander to keep him from fighting, but he scornfully shakes her off. Eventually, Lysander and Demetrius go deeper in the forest to duel. However, Puck flies after them, intentionally confusing them by imitating their voices, until they are both lost.

In Act III, scene iii, Lysander wanders back into the clearing and falls asleep along with Demetrius, Helena, and Hermia. Puck then proceeds to put the love potion on Lysander’s eyes, and declares that everything will return to normal in the morning.

In Act IV, scene i, Lysander and the other three Athenian youths are woken by Theseus and Egeus. Upon questioning, the four lovers declare that they recall very little, but do know that Lysander and Hermia love each other, and Demetrius and Helena love each other. Theseus declares that there will be a wedding banquet at his temple.

In Act V, scene i, the newly married Lysander and Hermia, Helena and Demetrius, watch a play in Theseus’s house. Then the pairs leave for bed.