Resolution in A Midsummer Nights Dream

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Recommended: The portrayal of love in a midsummer night dream

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the conflict is based upon

pure confusion. The main characters are involved in a mix-up of epic

proportions. The story begins with Demetrius pledged to marry Hermia, daughter

of Egeus. Conflict arises immediately when Lysander is shown to have won

Hermia's affection and also her undying love. This situation is clouded even

further when Helena, a friend of Hermia is found to be in love with Demetrius.

The crowning mix-up that throws the events of the play into action is the

strange relationship between Oberon and Titania, the ruling fairies. Because of

his untamed jealousy over Titania's new servant, Oberon orders Puck to sprinkle

love juice in Titania's eye and, taking pity on Helena, the eyes of Demetrius as

well. A solution is very close at hand until Puck mistakes Lysander for

Demetrius and causes Lysander to fall desperately in love with Helena. This is

the main conflict. Characters that are desperately in love are torn apart by

forces they c annot control. Helena is in great anguish because she cannot have

Demetrius and now it seems that Lysander is mocking her over this very fact.

Hermia is also in terrible pain due to the sudden change of heart seen in her

lover. Demetrius is still seeking Hermia with no hope of success and Lysander

is trapped in the daze of love for a woman that is not his true love. It is

with this feeling of utter helplessness that Shakespeare ends act II.

Although this is one of Shakespeare's comedies, an interesting way to

resolve the story would be to take the traditional tragic approach: everyone

dies. Hermia, caught between her father's wish that she marry Demetrius and her

strong love for Lysander, surely will be driven to madness by the loss of

Lysander's love. A loss so great will have no other effect than to drive Hermia

to suicide when she confronts Lysander and is mysteriously and continuously

turned away. With Lysander's own sword, she cuts herself down and bleeds to

death at her lover's feet. Confused by the act and possibly shaken back to

reality by it, Lysander awakens from his daze and sees his love dead, his own

sword plunged through her body.

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