If you recall, Hermia had to make a difficult choice - marry Demetrius or DIE!
Lysander, however, has a solution to this problem. He reveals that he has a widowed Aunt who lives outside Athens who "respects [him] as her only son."
He suggests that meet in the woods the following night and elope to live with this aunt where they can be safe from Theseus' laws and Hermia's father.
You were asked to answer the following questions about Helena's Soliloquy (a speech said by a character who is alone onstage that reveals his/her thoughts and feelings) at the end of Act 1, Scene 1.
- Please write a line-by-line summary of her speech on page 20 of your text.
- What do you predict will happen?
- Find examples of why Helena feels betrayed by Demetrius and Hermia.
- List all the characters in Act 1, Scene 1. Give them a personality trait and explain why you chose that trait.
In addition, we read Act 1, Scene 2, where we are introduced to the workmen. They are preparing to stage a play in celebration of Theseus' wedding day. Bottom is clearly very pompous about his skills as an actor, saying that he could play all the parts in the play, namely Pyramus, Thisbe, and the Lion! The workmen end the scene by agreeing to meet in the woods tomorrow night to rehearse.