How are fairies and humans alike in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream?

"Shall we their fond pageant see?

Lord, what fools these mortals be!" (III.ii.114-115).

Puck says that mortals are fools, but the fairies demonstrate many of the same flaws as humans. Both fairies and humans can be selfish, manipulate loved ones, and make mistakes. For example, Titania and Oberon love each other, but he is selfish because he wants to take away her boy for himself. Demetrius is also selfish because he loved Helena and then decided to marry Hermia, possibly for financial and status reasons. Egeus is also selfish because he would rather have his own daughter killed than see her married to someone she loves.

Next, both fairies and humans manipulate the ones they love to achieve their selfish purposes. Oberon practically drugs his wife, Titania, and allows her to fall in love with a the donkey-headed Bottom just so he can get the boy away from her. This is not a fair fight. It works out for him in the end, but it's never a good idea to manipulate a loved one. Demetrius manipulates Helena because he loved her once, but then goes off to marry her best friend. Furthermore, Egeus manipulates his daughter Hermia by threatening to kill her if she doesn't marry Demetrius. This is manipulation of the worst kind.

Finally, both fairies and humans make mistakes. Puck makes a big mistake with the love potion. Oberon becomes angry when he thinks that Puck is deliberately creating chaos among the four lovers. In his own defense, Puck says the following:

"Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.

Did not you tell me I should know the man

By the Athenian garments he had on?

And so far blameless proves my enterprise,

That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes" (III.ii.362-365).

With Oberon's guidance, Puck is able to stop Lysander and Demetrius from killing each other, and all is made right between the lovers in the forest by morning. The humans, of course, make many mistakes. Helena's decision to tell Demetrius of Hermia's elopement with Lysander makes her look like a fool and it creates problems in the forest for everyone. Finally, Hermia's wedding to Demetrius would have been a mistake if Theseus hadn't overturned his decision from the beginning of the play. Puck sums everything up in the end as follows:

"If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended:

That you have but slumber'd here

While these visions did appear . . .

Gentles, do not reprehend.

If you pardon, we will mend" (V.i.409-412 and 415-416).

Fortunately, all is mended and all of the flaws, both fairy and human alike, find solutions in the end.