Theseus, Duke of Athens, has just defeated Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazonians, in battle. He’s now getting ready to marry her. He sends Philostrate to encourage the people of Athens to start celebrating and assures Hippolyta that the two of them can go from being enemies on the battlefield to being properly married.

An Athenian nobleman, Egeus, arrives with his daughter, Hermia, and two young men, Demetrius and Lysander. Egeus has come to Theseus to complain that his daughter won’t marry Demetrius, as he has ordered her to do, because she wants to marry Lysander instead. If Hermia chooses not to marry Demetrius, she will either be killed or forced to become a nun as punishment. Theseus says she can have until his wedding day to make a decision. 

After everyone else departs, Lysander proposes that they run away from Athens and live with his aunt. Hermia agrees to meet him in the forest the following night. Just then, Helena, who is in love with Demetrius, passes by. Hermia and Lysander tell Helena about their plan to run away, which would leave Demetrius for Helena. Even though Hermia is her friend, Helena decides to tell Demetrius about Hermia’s plan to run away, in the hopes that he’ll feel grateful to her.