Lysander is one of the iconic lovers in William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...

's play A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...

. A handsome young man of Athens, Lysander is in love with Hermia

Hermia

Hermia is a science park near Tampere University of Technology . Hermia is located in Hervanta, a suburb of Tampere, Finland. Hermia is also acting as a technology centre for its region....

 and plans to run away from her father with her to escape Athenian law and wed. But his plans are disrupted when Oberon

Oberon

Oberon is a legendary king of the fairies.Oberon may also refer to:-People:* Merle Oberon , British actress* Oberon Zell-Ravenheart , Neopagan activist-Media and entertainment:* Oberon...

 decides to have some fun.

Role in Play

Lysander is the lover of Egeus

Egeus

Egeus is a character in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the comedy by William Shakespeare. He tries to keep his daughter, Hermia, from marrying Lysander, by force if necessary...

's daughter Hermia. Unfortunately, Egeus does not approve of Lysander and would prefer his daughter to marry a man named Demetrius

Demetrius

Demetrius, also spelled as Demetrios, Dimitrios, Demitri, and Dimitri , is a male given name.Demetrius and its variations may refer to the following:...

. Hermia's friend Helena is in love with Demetrius. When Hermia is forced to choose between dying, becoming a nun, or marrying Demetrius, Lysander and she run away into the forest.