A Midsummer Night’s Dream is believed to have been inspired by the ‘late Renaissance magical poem, The Faerie Queen, and was first witnessed at a ‘private performance at a wedding’ a short time before 1600 when it was printed, prior to the first folio in 1623. In a time when ‘widespread dissemination of fairies’ occurred throughout England this play is primarily facilitated by the magic of fairies. They make errors in magic and succeed in repairing them using the very same art. Their depiction however, is somewhat contradictory. While Puck states that he is one of the fairies‘that do run / By the triple Hecate’s team / From the presence of the sun / Following darkness like a dream.’ (5.1.380)

Oberon has illustrated to him previously the distinction between fairies, and spirits of darkness,

"But we are spirits of another sort, I with the morning’s love have oft made sport" (3.2.388)

This is because although amongst the fairies, and thinking of himself as a part of them, Puck is a hobgoblin. This is apparent in the chant ‘Goblin lead them up and down’ (3.2.398) made by puck himself. Hobgoblins have been attributed to everything from a ‘House hob’, a mischievous sprite who if left milk, or clothes which please him will do good deeds, such as ‘sweeping’ in your home, if displeased will ‘curdle your milk’ and ‘bathe your children in beer’, to the ‘Lantern Man’, who both ‘led people astray, and was prone to violence’. If you were to run to The Lantern Man, attracted to his light in the darkness, you were ‘Pouk-ledden’ or ‘Puck-led’. This legend also comes in the less sinister guise of ‘Willow the Wisp’. These amalgamations in folklore all adhere to Shakespeare’s Puck, with his ‘leading’ of men, ability to ‘skim milk’ and tendency to ‘mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm’ (1.2.35).

Puck also declares another obligation connected to the Hobgoblin, 'I am sent with broom before, To sweep the dust behind the door.'(5.1.383)

Schlender correctly states that information on ‘Puck’ is ‘scarce’, and that literary reference to the character were created throughout, or latter to, the time in which Shakespeare created his ‘Puck’. He did not use any ‘literary model’ to create his ‘Robin Goodfellow’, but drew on his own folklore knowledge. This makes the ‘Puck’ of a Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare’s own unique interpretation of the tales. Shakespeare is thought to have been responsible for transforming ‘the Pucks’, as there were more than one, to ‘Puck’, the proper noun, the name, of his character, therefore being solely responsible for this deviation from the original folklore. Furthermore, by having Oberon reverse Puck’s enchantment of Bottom, Shakespeare makes a ‘curious distinction’. He does not connect Puck with death; he presents the ‘original’ concept that Puck was intended to ‘torment, but not to hurt.’ This is a positive depiction of Robin Goodfellow compounded by his unwillingness to ‘offend’ his audience, and the declaration of himself as an ‘honest Puck’ and offer of friendship and assistance,

"Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin Shall restore amends."(5.1.432)

Schleiner articulates that Puck’s comedy was ‘subtle play with what is deepest taboo’. However, it would be more accurate to state that Shakespeare, given his interpretation of these folklore tales was, in a manner of speaking, charmed, by the notion of Puck. So much so, he placed him amongst fairies, lightening his previous reputation, or as Yates put it, causing Robin Goodfellow’s ‘absorbtion’ in the fairy family. This character, reminiscent of the ‘Green Man’, an ancient Pagan symbol carved into trees and stone, specifically on churches the world over, has come to be thought of a symbol of good luck, and reminds us to appreciate nature. Shakespeare’s character comments on ‘Hecate’, a deity often referred to in Shakespeare whenever magic is present, and with good reason.