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Critical analysis of Shakespeare's play Midsummer Nights Dream
Critical analysis of Shakespeare's play Midsummer Nights Dream
Midsummer night dream character analysis
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Nobody really knows the future events of life. People cannot tell the future, however, one fact is known that life is a bumpy ride at times. On many accounts, this statement is true in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare. The plot is based around 4 young Athenians named Hermia, Helena, Demetrius, and Lysander, in the ancient Greek time period. Throughout the story, they are met with challenges and issues with people facing similar problems. Even in fiction, these characters adumbrate that relationships can be tough, but it will all work out in the end. Helena wants Demetrius to love her, but he hates her in response to her praise, but thanks to the magic of fairies, they end up married after all. She is disposed to …show more content…
Titania and her husband Oberon's problems range from a small Indian prince to the Duke of Athens and his bride, to problems in their very own kingdom. When news of Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding reaches the ears of these magical royals, tension can be felt within their relationship. They each suspect each other of being in love with the Duke and his bride-to-be. During an argument, ¨How canst thou thus for shame, Titania, Glance at my credit with Hippolyta, Knowing I thy love to Theseus?¨ (2.1.74-76) Oberon accosted. When the stress of arguments is high for this couple, it affects their entire kingdom. Trouble is caused because of the son of Titania's deceased friend. She refuses to give him up to Oberon, so he decides to make her fall in love with the next thing she lays eyes on, which happened to be a donkey-headed man. While she was in love with that, he takes the boy. After all is done, he removes the trance that the queen was in and everything is as it was before complications arose. Oberon tells his wife, ¨Sound music!-Come my queen take hands with me… now you and I are new in amity¨(4.1.83-84). The King and Queen drop the matter of The Duke, Hippolyta, and Titania's boy and it is all back to …show more content…
These two girls have been friends for years, however, they recently have been a little torn apart due to jealousy. Helena's love for Demetrius is never-ending, but is affected by one thing, he is in love with one of her closest friends. This makes Helena feel self-conscious, whenever people compliment her, she responds with, ¨Call you me ¨fair¨? That again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair.¨ (1.1.181-182)Because of the crossing of lovers and confusion caused by Puck and Oberon, a lot of drama is created. Bonds of these two longtime friends are shattered by mistrust and jealousy. First, when Helena betrays Hermia by telling Demetrius of the escape plan in hopes of returning the affection, trust is broken. If she had not told then none of the fighting or fairy magic would have happened. It is because of the couples both being in the woods that the two boys are confused for each other by Puck and the wrong relationship is changed. Both Demetrius and Lysander fell in love with Helena and Hermia is left heartbroken. But Helena is not overjoyed about the situation either. In her mind, all of them are making fun of her. Hermia tried to defend herself and explained that she did not know what was going on either, but
An important passion shown in this story is the passion of friendship from Helena. Lysander and demetrius were both deeply in love with Hermia, but suddenly they became slaves for Helena, under the spell of a love potion. This antagonises Helena and she blames it all on Hermia and her cruel joke. She says to Hermia, “The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent, when we have chid the hasty-footed time for parting us,-o is all forgot” (III.II.199-201)? Helena asks her if she has forgotten about their friendship, about the vows they took to be like sisters and never leave each other. This shows that although Hermia may have forgotten their friendship, Helena will always remember because friendship is really important to her. Friendship is a bond Helena feels really passionate about and takes very seriously. Another quote that shows Helena’s passion for friendship is “ Both warbling of one song, both in one key, as if our hands, our sides, voices and minds have been incorporated”(III. II. 207-208). This represents that Helena took their friendship sincerely and she believed in them and nothing could break their bond. Her last bit of her anger com...
Lysander tells Theseus that Demetrius "Made love to … Helena, And won her soul.” Helena says that before Demetrius looked upon Hermia, "He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine.” In an attempt to win back some of Demetrius's affection, Helena tells him of Hermia's plan to meet in the wood and elope with Lysander.
Love, lust and infatuation all beguile the senses of the characters in this dreamy and whimsical work of Shakespeare, and leads them to act in outlandish ways, which throughly amuses the reader. True love does prevail in the end for Hermia and Lysander, and the initial charm of infatuation ends up proving to have happy consequence for Helena and Demetrius as well. Even when at first the reader thinks that, in theory, the effects the potion will wear off and Lysander will once again reject Helena, Oberon places a blessings on all the couples that they should live happily ever after.
“But I know when thou hast stolen away from Fairyland and in the shape of corin sat all day playing on pipes of corn and versing love to amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, come from the farthest steep of India, but that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon your buskined mistress and your warrior love...” (II.i ll. 64-70). Titania claims that she knows Oberon snuck away from the Fairylands to be with Hippolyta. She also believes that Oberon left India to go see Hippolyta. This is evident in the quote when he says, “But I know when thou hast stolen away from fairyland” and “Why art thou here, come from the farthest steep of India, but that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon.” While it is not stated, it is inferred that Titania is speaking of Hippolyta. Titania wants Oberon to know that she is not clueless to his love for Hippolyta. Proof of this is in these words, “Your buskined mistress.” Titania is hurt by Oberon’s actions, and she desires a different type of relationship between the two of them. This is only one of many problems Titania and Oberon had. “How canst thou thus for shame, Titania, glance at my credit with Hippolyta, knowing I know thy love to Theseus? Didst not thou lead him through the glimmering night From Perigouna, whom he ravished, and make him with fair Aegles break his faith, with Ariadne and Antiopa” (II.i ll. 74-80). Oberon defends himself after being blamed for loving Hippolyta. He
Infatuation causes Helena to lose all sense of dignity, as can be seen when in the woods, she desperately pleads with Demetrius to ?but treat me as your spaniel?. Here, Helena also becomes irrational, obsessed with pursuing Demetrius, though it is obvious that Demetrius is fixated on winning Hermia?s hand in marriage. Helena?s infatuation also causes her to see things from a skewed perspective, for she falsely believes that when she divulges Hermia?s plans for eloping with Lysander, Demetrius? love for Helena will rekindle. As the audience, we know that the most probable course of action for Demetrius upon hearing such news is to pursue Lysander and Hermia, or to report them to Theseus or Egeus. Clearly, infatuation has clouded Helena?s ability to think clearly, and she sees things in her own idealistic way.
There is drama caused between the young lovers initially, when Hermia loves Lysander, Lysander loves Hermia, Demetrius loves Hermia, Helena loves Demetrius, but no one loves Helena. Through this short, complicated ‘love story’, arguments and fights occur. The fairy world then comes into contact with the world of the young lovers. Mischievous Puck causes further complications when he uses magic to anoint a young Athenian male’s eyes, who is in fact the wrong Athenian that Oberon assigned Puck. Puck misuses magic when he plays a silly prank on Bottom, who is one of the Mechanicals, by giving Bottom a head of an ass.
Thanks to the mistakes of Puck (the fairy) and simply fate, the next morning she finds the both men are in love with her. At first Helena is confused and offended by the actions of the men, however seeing the frustration of her sister, she becomes proud that the love tables have turned. Helena is no longer the ugly, unwanted sister. After an argument Hermia and Helena are supposed to fight. Helena is determined to prove she is the better sister. Falling in a deep sleep in the woods, with the help of Puck, she wakes in Demetrius arms. Demetrius is still in love with Helena like the night before. When they return to the palace they are
... past was so quickly forgotten. "Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. I evermore did love you Hermia, Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you " (3. 2. 306 -- 308) Hermia, however, feels hard done by. She feels that Helena has caused her true love to turn against her, and if Helena disappeared, everything would be fine. "Why, get you gone. Who is't that hinders you?" (3. 2. 317) Helena also has the solution of running away, but can't as she foolishly still loves Demetrius. Helena and Hermia's relationship has changed completely, entirely because of the effect of the love potion on Lysander and Demetrius. The friendship shown before the argument contrasts greatly to the hostility afterwards. The change has been for the worse, completely destroying the women's trust in each other, and all because of a fight between two men, caused by a mischievous spirit.
During much of the play, Helena relentlessly chases Demetrius, giving him love no matter how many times he spurns her. While in pursuit of him in the woods, where he tells her that he will never reciprocate her feelings, she tells him, “I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,/The more you beat me, I will fawn on you” (II.i.203-204). She is so desperate to win him over that she lowers her own status, calling herself his dog; no matter how many times he may abuse her, she will always adore him. Out of love, Helena is willing to swallow her pride to prove her devotion to him. More evidence of Helena’s blind love towards Demetrius can be found in her overlooking the flaws in Demetrius’ character. For example, he proves himself to be quite insensitive towards Helena: when they are in the woods, he says he will “leave [her] to the mercy of the wild beasts” (II.i.228) if she doesn’t stop following him. He also says to her, “…I am sick when I do look on thee” (II.i.212). Lastly, he threatens her, saying “…if thou follow me, do not believe/But I shall do thee mischief in the wood” (II.i.237). Helena acknowledges this aspect of his character, though choos...
Helena, hearing about their plans, tells Demetrius, and all four of them end up in the woods where Lysander’s quotation, “The course of true love never did run smooth”(28), becomes extremely evident due to several supernatural mix-ups, authority, and jealousy. The four lovers run away to the woods outside of Athens. In the woods, a world of fairies dwells. The fairy king, Oberon, stumbles across Demetrius and Helena while Helena is begging Demetrius to love her. Since Oberon is having some problems with love on his own, he tries to help Helena with her unfortunate situation.
In the struggles of Hermia and Lysander to find a place where they can freely express their true love, it is evident that the course of something as scarce as true love always comes with obstacles. Lysander says: “How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? / How chance the roses there do fade so fast?” (1.1.130-131), showing that he and Hermia make a faithful couple truly showing their adoration for each other. However, Hermia’s father Egeus refuses to allow to these two lovers marry. This is the conflict Hermia faces: to disobey her father (and the Athenian law), or to mind her father’s will and allow this “edict in destiny” to lose course. “O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes!” (1.1.142), Hermia decides. Hermia chooses to follow the path her true love brings rather than to do what her father insists. In this example, complications manifest in the troubles with true love. In addition, even Titania and Oberon have difficulties
The relationship between Demetrius and Hermia is problematic, in that Demetrius is seeking the affections of Hermia, while she is in love with Lysander. However, Hermia’s father approves of Demetrius and tries to force her to marry him, but Hermia refuses because of her love for Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.22-82). Lysander points out the flaw in the situation through this comment, “You have her father 's love, Demetrius –/Let me have Hermia 's. Do you marry him,” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.93-94). The second flawed relationship is between Lysander and Helena, as a result of an enchantment put on Lysander that made him fall in love with Helena. Helena does not want the affections of Lysander, but rather the love of Demetrius, and believes that Lysander is taunting her. In addition, this relationship creates tensions because Hermia is in love with Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.2.109-140). Both relationships are not desirable due to a lack of mutual admiration and the creation of non-peaceful and unsatisfying
The antagonistic setting of Theseus’ Athens and the surrounding woods drive much of the chaotic action in the play and set the stage for the comical attitude of the production. Athens, representing an ordered society of law and social strata, is directly opposed to the mystical realm of the forest ruled by fairies in which the lines of reality can be blurred. The story opens in Athens, where Egeus is asserting his right as father to choose the husband of his daughter, and Theseus as King states his intention to uphold the law if Hermia will not behave. Here society is functioning as expected, only being thrown off by the imbalance created by two suitors vying for a single maiden. This leads to the lovers, Hermia and Lysander, running off to the woods with Demetrius and Helena in pursuit. The transition from Athens to the woods reflects the break from a structured society. In the woods the usual limits of reality are disregarded. The Athenian youths are now subject to the whims of Oberon, King of the fairies and the realm of nature, and his mischievous servant Robin Goodfellow. The absurdities of the lovers’ actions are laid bare for the audience to laugh at, as well as the flaws of the rustics...
He sends Puck out to find a plant called love-in-idleness, the juice of which makes any person love next creature he or she sees. Oberon takes his revenge on Titania by making her fall in love with bottom who has an ass's head. Puck explains what he has done to Oberon, who is pleased with the way his plan has turned out Everything seems perfect, until Demetrius and Hermia walk past, Hermia believing Demetrius has harmed Lysander,
Hermia and Helena's relationship has changed greatly after the intervention of Puck with the love potion. Once best friends, they have become each others enemies, and all for the love of Lysander and Demetrius.