Puck talks with another fairy about the troubles of Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies. The other fairy describes Puck as mischievous: He frightens the maidens of the village among other things. Oberon resents Titania's having a changeling and orders her to relinquish it; however, she refuses. So, Oberon enlists Puck to find a flower that makes people fall in love. Meanwhile, Oberon learns of the problems that the mortals are having--a young woman has been jilted--and instructs Puck to place the love juice on the eyes of Demetrius. But, Puck mistakes Lysander, who has eloped with Hermia, for Demetrius. When Helena comes in search of Demetrius, Lysander wakes and falls in love with her. Oberon tries to correct things by anointing the eyes of Demetrius, who wakes and falls in love with Helena. Hermia arrives and accuses Helena of stealing her lover. Puck is delighted at the chaos: "What fools these mortals be."
While the craftsmen prepare for a play, Puck changes Bottom's head to that of a donkey and has great fun watching as Tatiana falls in love with him when she awakens. Finally, Oberon, who has taken the changeling, orders Puck to return Bottom to himself and make the lovers fall asleep and reanoint them to correct the mismatches.
While Puck carries his mischief a little too far, he does apologize at the end of the play, contending that it is all but a "dream."
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