# Peter Quince — A Midsummer Night's Dream character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Quince, Quince Bottom, Quince Francis Flute, Quince Flute, Quince Robin Starveling

**First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-ii

## Snapshot

A carpenter and the long-suffering director of the tradesmen's play, patiently assigning parts while Bottom tries to seize every one of them.

## Who they are

Peter Quince is the organizer of the 'rude mechanicals,' the amateur troupe preparing 'Pyramus and Thisbe' for the Duke's wedding feast. He reads the scroll, hands out roles, and gently fends off Bottom's demands to play Pyramus, Thisbe, and the lion all at once—his exasperation is the quiet engine of the play's funniest scenes. By arranging the moonlit rehearsal in the palace wood, he unknowingly steers his actors straight into Puck's path.

## In the story

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

Directs the casting and assigns roles, insisting Bottom play Pyramus and organizing the rehearsal.

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

Directs the rehearsal, assigns roles, and flees in fear after Bottom's transformation.

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

Leads the group, inquires about Bottom, and organizes the play.

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

Director of the Mechanicals' play; introduces the characters.

## Links

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