Key points
Lysander is one of the main characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a comedy by English playwright William Shakespeare.
Lysander loves Hermia but her father, Egeus, refuses to let them marry because he wants Hermia to marry Demetrius. Helena is in love with Demetrius but he cruelly rejects her.
The couple run away together to get married in secret. Their plans are ruined when a fairy called Puck accidentally puts love potion in the wrong person’s eyes.
Did you know?
Shakespeare’s comedies are full of comical and creative insults. During an argument between the four lovers, Lysander mocks Hermia for being short:
You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made;
You bead, you acorn.
Plot summary
Lysander’s key moments
Click through the slideshow to see Lysander’s key moments
Image caption, Lysander and Hermia are in love and wish to marry. Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius, so Lysander and Hermia run away. Demetrius goes after them, followed by Helena.
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Character traits
Lysander is a young man from the city of Athens. He is in love with a young woman called Hermia.
Hermia is in love with Lysander. However, her father, Egeus, does not approve of Lysander and insists that she marry Demetrius.
Romantic
Lysander is romantic and has To try and gain someone’s love. Hermia with poetry, presents and music.
Intelligent
Lysander is a clever character. He is quick witted in his exchanges with Theseus and Egeus at the start of the play, arguing why he is as good a match as Demetrius. He also quickly comes up with the plan for him and Hermia to leave Athens to get married.
Loyal
Lysander remains loyal to Hermia throughout the play and is determined to escape Athens and marry her. Although he rejects Hermia when he is under the effects of the love potion, this does not represent his true character, as the potion given to him by Puck is causing his odd behaviour.
Listening activity
The audio clip below is from Act 1, scene 1, when Egeus describes how he thinks Lysander made Hermia fall in love with him. Listen to the clip and then answer the question below.
Egeus: Stand forth, Lysander! – And, my gracious Duke,
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
And interchanged love-tokens with my child.
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung
With feigning voice verses of feigning love,
And stolen the impression of her fantasy,
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats - messengers
Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth;
With cunning hast thou filched my daughter's heart,
Turned her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness.
How did Lysander woo Hermia?
He recited poetry to Hermia, gave her presents and also sang to her at her window.
Relationships
Lysander and Hermia are in love and want to get married. Hermia is willing to rebel against her father so she can be with Lysander. Although she is in love, Hermia refuses to let Lysander sleep near her in the woods.
Hermia’s father, Egeus, thinks Lysander has bewitched his daughter and turned her against him. The audience never finds out why Egeus disapproves of Lysander.
Demetrius loves Hermia and is angry that Lysander stands in his way. Lysander and Demetrius also argue and fight over their love for Helena when they are under the effects of Puck’s love potion.
Why does Hermia tell Lysander to sleep further away from her in the woods?
Hermia and Lysander are alone together in the woods at night and Lysander tries to sleep near her. Hermia thinks it is inappropriate to sleep next to each other before they are married and tells Lysander to sleep further away from her to protect her reputation. Lysander tries to persuade her, but then accepts her decision and sleeps further away.
Changes in character
At the start of the play, Lysander loves Hermia. Then Puck mistakenly puts a love potion in Lysander’s eyes and he falls in love with Helena.
Hermia is distressed when Lysander suddenly starts loving Helena. Lysander tells Hermia that he hates her and insults her height. Of course, the audience knows that this is not his true character and that the change is only due to the effects of the love potion.
Towards the end of the play, the love potion is reversed and Lysander loves Hermia again. The couple get married alongside Demetrius and Helena.
Activity - Order it
What do these key quotations mean?
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Lysander
Act 1, scene 1
Lysander’s line uses the image of a river running and meeting obstacles to show that love can be difficult. This line predicts the events of the play, where Lysander and Hermia will face challenges in their relationship.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager
Of great revenue, and she hath no child:
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues;
And she respects me as her only son.
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us.
Lysander
Act 1, scene 1
How does Lysander plan to marry Hermia?
Lysander tells Hermia they can run away to his rich aunt’s house. Her house is far away from Athens, and they can marry there without fearing the laws of Athens will punish them.
And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.
Transparent Helena! Nature shows art,
That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.
Lysander
Act 2, scene 2
Lysander is woken by Helena and immediately falls in love with her. His exaggerated romantic language is comical. Helena thinks he is mocking her and doesn’t believe he loves her.
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