How Does Shakespeare Present Hermia In A Midsummer Night's Dream

As the play opens, the reader is told the setting and basis of the play and this is that the Duke, Theseus, is going to marry the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta, in five days time. Also Shakespeare also tells of most the characters in the play to set up who will be in the play. In the beginning of the play Hermia is brought to the Duke by her father Egeus to be judged, but this brings upon a problem considering that Hermia is already in love with Lysander despite her fathers disapproval. Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius and if she does not she will die unless she wants her whole life to be lived by one of a virgin. From this Hermia decide to run away to the woods outside of Athens where they can be happy.

When Hermia and Lysander run

“Now much beshrew my manners and my pride If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy, Lie further off, in humane modesty. Such separation as may well be said Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid, So far be distant; and good night, sweet friend. Thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end.” Hermia demonstrates her love for Lysander here as she tells Lysander of love in Act 2 sc. 2 54-61. Throughout the play everyone changes whom they love and chases after new loves that arise, all except for Hermia. She remains consistent in her love for Lysander and is even willing to fight her friend Helena to win Lysander’s love back. This is the best demonstration of how true love will drive someone crazy to make them do actions never thought possible before. “Why are you grown rude! What changed is this, sweet love?” Hermia says this to Lysander in Act 3 sc. 2 262-264 because she has grown confused on why Lysander’s love has changed so quickly.

In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, if you take away all the fairies and magical spells, this play could be a real life situation. This is what Shakespeare tries to demonstrate because he takes a real life situation that people can relate to, but he mixes comedy with love to give the play a more light hearted feeling. Shakespeare shows that humans can be reliable in a relationship up until a certain point and that love has no boundaries. "Love hath no law but his own" is Shakespeare’s viewpoint on love and basically means that love will follow its own path even if laws are to be