Robin Goodfellow (Puck) Character Analysis in A Midsummer Night's Dream

A type of fairy called a "puck," Puck is Oberon's faithful servant, but is also mischievous and enjoys nothing more than playing tricks and causing trouble. He has all sorts of magical abilities, from changing shape, to turning invisible, to assuming different people's voices, to transforming a man's head into an ass's head. He is not, however, beyond making a mistake, as his mix-up between Demetrius and Lysander makes clear.

Robin Goodfellow (Puck) Quotes in A Midsummer Night's Dream

The A Midsummer Night's Dream quotes below are all either spoken by Robin Goodfellow (Puck) or refer to Robin Goodfellow (Puck). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Simon & Schuster edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream published in 2004.

Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
You are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Called Robin Goodfellow. (19)

Related Characters:

Page Number and Citation: 2.1.33-35

Explanation and Analysis:

When in that moment, so it came to pass,
Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. (33)

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Related Symbols:

Page Number and Citation: 3.2.35-36

Explanation and Analysis:

Lord, what fools these mortals be! (117)

Related Characters: (speaker), , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 3.2.117

Explanation and Analysis:

Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house:
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door. (297)

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 5.1.404-407

Explanation and Analysis:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend,
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long,
Else the Puck a liar call.
So, goodnight unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends. (430)

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 5.1.440-

Explanation and Analysis:

Robin Goodfellow (Puck) Character Timeline in A Midsummer Night's Dream

The timeline below shows where the character Robin Goodfellow (Puck) appears in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...suddenly asks if Robin is the mischievous fellow who goes by the nickname "sweet puck." Puck happily admits it, and brags a while about his mischief. (full context)

Puck quiets as Oberon and Titania enter. Oberon tells her, "ill met by moonlight, proud Titania"... (full context)

...Titania is gone, Oberon vows to punish her for not obeying him. He calls to Puck, and reminds him of the time when Cupid aimed to hit the virgin queen of... (full context)

...sleeping eyelids, they will fall madly in love with the next living thing they see. Puck promises to circle the world in forty minutes and bring Oberon the flower. He exits. (full context)

After they exit, Oberon promises that soon Demetrius will seek Helena's love. Once Puck returns with the love-in-idleness flower, Oberon tells him that "A sweet Athenian lady is in... (full context)

Once Hermia and Lysander fall asleep, Puck enters, complaining that he's searched the forest and hasn't found the Athenian youth he's looking... (full context)

Meanwhile, Puck, invisible, enters. Puck is amused by the laborers' constant mistakes, and decides to stay and... (full context)

...and missing their cues. The play calls for Pyramus to exit at one point, and Puck follows Bottom offstage. When Bottom returns, his head has been replaced by the head of... (full context)

...Oberon wonders whether Titania has woken and with whom or what she's fallen in love, Puck enters and tells Oberon that Titania has fallen in love with a monster. He explains... (full context)

But just as Oberon asks about Puck's success with the Athenian youth and Puck says he used the potion as Oberon asked,... (full context)

Oberon realizes what has happened and scolds Puck: "What hast though done? Thou hast mistaken quite / and laid the love juice on... (full context)

Oberon puts the love ointment on Demetrius' eyes as Puck returns with the warning that Helena is on her way and trailed by the lovelorn... (full context)

Oberon suspects Puck of having intentionally caused this mayhem. Puck swears he made an honest mistake, though he... (full context)

Through Puck's trickery and his ability to assume any of their voices, the four lovers all end... (full context)

Oberon and Puck enter. Oberon says that he now feels sorry for Titania, especially since she gave him... (full context)

Puck enters, followed by Oberon, Titania and their fairy followers. They dance and sing to bless... (full context)

Everyone exits but Puck, who delivers an epilogue, in which he advises the audience that "If we shadows have... (full context)

Puck enters, followed by Oberon, Titania and their fairy followers. They dance and sing to bless... (full context)

Everyone exits but Puck, who delivers an epilogue, in which he advises the audience that "If we shadows have... (full context)