# Puck — A Midsummer Night's Dream character guide

> Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Puck Thou, sweet Puck, Puck This, Puck Ho, gentle Puck, the Puck, Robin Goodfellow, Robin

**First appearance:** 0005-act-ii-scene-i

## Snapshot

Oberon's swift, shape-shifting jester, who wanders the night playing tricks on mortals and fairies alike—and whose mistakes set the whole tangle of lovers spinning.

## Who they are

Puck is Oberon's servant and the fairy world's resident prankster, known to villagers as Robin Goodfellow: he skims milk, spoils ale, and leads night-wanderers astray for the sheer fun of it. His loyalty to Oberon is playful rather than solemn, and he treats even serious errands—like anointing a young Athenian's eyes with love-juice—as opportunities for mischief. That casual carelessness is what makes him matter: one wrong pair of eyes, and the play's romantic chaos is off and running.

## Relationships

### [Titania](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/titania)

_professional_

Puck serves Oberon and indirectly antagonizes Titania by applying the love potion to her.

### [Demetrius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/demetrius)

_psychological_

Puck mistakenly applies the love potion to Demetrius, manipulating his affections.

### [Oberon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/oberon)

_professional_

Oberon commands Puck as his mischievous servant and agent of magical mischief.

### [Titania](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/titania)

_professional_

Puck serves Oberon and indirectly antagonizes Titania by applying the love potion to her.

### [Oberon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/oberon)

_professional_

Oberon commands Puck as his mischievous servant and agent of magical mischief.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Retrieves the love-in-idleness flower and is ordered to anoint Demetrius's eyes.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Puck searches for the Athenian man described by Oberon and mistakenly applies the love potion to Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Observes the Mechanicals, transforms Bottom, and leads the others away in confusion.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Reports Titania's love for Bottom and leads the lovers astray as instructed.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Removes the ass's head from Bottom and assists Oberon in restoring order.

### [Act V, Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Delivers the epilogue, addressing the audience and seeking applause.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters/puck
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/characters