Bill McEwan
Literary Experience
October 23, 2000
A Midsummer Night’s Dream centers around four feuding
couples
and
the
bumpy
road
they
must
travel
everything can fall into place as it should be.
before
Despite
the chaos that surrounds the love existing in this play,
everything and everyone, seems to fall into place before
the final curtain falls.
The source of this chaos however,
seems to be that powerful emotion is constantly clouding
the judgement of the characters.
The four couples seem to
be in their respective, problem-crowded positions due to
this
excess
overcome.
of
emotion
that
their
better
logic
cannot
Intertwined with every twist the plot takes, and
with every problem that faces the lovers, the message shows
through that emotions can cloud perception.
The introduction of this idea comes when we learn of
the origin of Theseus’s wife, Hippolyta.
She was at one
time part of the legendary tribe of women known as the
Amazons.
and
The Amazons are known for their fiery man-hating
warlike
ways.
In
fact,
according
to
legend,
the
Amazons would hunt men for breeding purposes only to kill
them
when
they
had
outlived
their
usefulness.
Despite
this, Hippolyta has given up the Amazon in favor of Athens,
Greece, and made a husband of their Duke.
think
that
strength,
this
that
differences.
was
it
the
result
can
of
overcome
One may like to
love
showing
even
the
its
vastest
Instead, their marriage was simply the result
of a sword fight.
Theseus perhaps became caught up in the
desire to master someone who seemed to be unconquerable,
Hippolyta perhaps in the idea of fighting for her freedom.
Their
marriage,
because
of
the
Theseus
speaks
already
unusual,
circumstance
of
winning
of
became
its
even
origin.
Hippolyta‘s
love
more
In
by
so
fact,
injuring
her.
In the opening scene at the Athenian court another
couple demonstrates how clouded their judgment has become
on the face of powerful emotion.
“So will I grow, so live,
so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto
his
[Demetrius]
consents
not
to
lordship,
give
whose
unwished
sovereignty.”
(p.
5)
yoke
My
soul
Lysander
and
Hermia not only have the nerve to argue against Hermia’s
father
and
the
Duke
of
Athens,
but
also
go
as
far
as
plotting an escape plan so that their love can continue
without the interruption of the law of Athens.
Perhaps
Hermia’s motivation comes from a desire to defy her Father
for what she considers, or would like to consider true
love.
Regardless,
Hermia
has
far
surpassed
acceptable
actions and now seems to act and speak as a fairy tale
would,
poetically,
reality.
and
without
very
much
attention
to
Through her powerful emotions, whether they are
natural or labored, Hermia oversteps a boundry where most
would classify her as obsessive rather than in “true love.”
Throughout the play, Helena acts strictly according to
her emotion.
“I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more
you beat me, I will fawn on you.”
(Helena p. 22) Here
Helena displays a disregard for even her own importance as
she compares herself to a dog in the face of Demetrius.
In
order to secure what she has decided will be hers, it seems
Helena will go to almost any lengths, no matter how absurd.
In
addition
to
degrading
and
tells
herself,
she
Demetrius
of
also
her
betrays
daring
her
friend
Hermia
escape
plan.
This strong emotion Helena had, the inability to
accept denial, carried her through much of her actions in
the play.
The last couple that makes up the play is the fairy
King and Queen, Oberon and Titania.
This couple, at the
expense of their kingdom, has not spoken for over a year.
Their
current
quarrel
involves
Titania has had under her care.
a
young
Indian
boy
that
Oberon wants the boy for
his own and he ends up taking the boy only after drugging
his own Queen.
It seems Oberon has no other reason to
desire the boy besides his jealousy and need to control
Titania.
His overpowering emotion in this instance not
only splits a nation, but also allows him to perpetrate
cruel tricks on his wife.
A
perfect
match
to
the
uncompromising
Hermia, is the level-headed logical Lysander.
naivety
“You have
her father’s love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia’s.
marry him.” (p. 6)
of
Do you
As Hermia promises that even death will
keep her from her love, Lysander makes logical arguments
against the case of Egeus and Demetrius.
Furthermore, when
their argument with Theseus becomes futile Lysander decides
on
an
escape
plan
that
seems
almost
foolproof.
“From
Athens is her house remote seven leagues; And she respects
me as her only son.
thee.”
(p. 8)
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry
While
Lysander
and
Hermia
plead
their
case
as
an
appeal to a higher law, Demetrius argues with Athenian law
on his side.
Thy
crazed
“Relent, sweet Hermia, and, Lysander, yield
title
to
my
certain
right.”
(p.
6)
This,
Demetrius’s only addition to the argument, shows how little
his true care is, and how confident he is that the law is
on his side.
It seems through most of the argument that he
is uninterested as Lysander and Hermia plead their case.
This
comment
comes
only
after
Hermia
downplays
punishments she may receive for her disobedience.
the
It seems
as if he was enjoying the little display until Hermia said
she may rather accpept death before Demetrius.
Gaining his
attention only briefly, this comment seems to say enough is
enough.
Where Lysander was attentive to every aspect of
Hermia’s situation, Demetrius speaks all of fifteen words
throughout the entire argument.
Although not as disinterested as Demetrius, Helena’s
interest in the unfolding situation is of a very different
nature
than
that
of
Lysander
and
Hermia.
Helena
incessantly searches for compliments with false flattery.
“I give him curses, yet he gives me love.”
(Hermia p. 9)
“O, that my prayers could such affection move!”
Helena p.
9) Despite this exchange, Helena believes that she is as
fair as Hermia according to other Athenians.
Hermia, in
true character, confides to Helena that she and Lysander
will
flee
Athens
leaving
Demetrius
for
Helena
alone.
Showing her true character in return, Helena decides to
foil the escape attempt of Hermia to win some measure of
favor
from
Demetrius.
Where
Hermia
was
honest,
Helena
speaks and acts with disregard for anyone but herself and
her own desired position.
Demtrius
Helena.
enters
the
woods
followed
by
a
begging
“I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you
beat me, I will fawn on you.”
(Helena p. 22) Here Helena
displays a disregard for even her own importance as she
compares herself to a dog in the face of Demetrius.
contrast
this
situation
situation
occurring
in
between
the
woods
Lysander
and
is
a
To
parallel
Hermia.
“Fair
love, you faint with wandering in the wood; And to speak
the truth, I have forgot our way.
We’ll rest us, Hermia,
if you think it good, And tarry for the comfort of the
day.”
(Lysander
p
26)
This
vastly
different
encounter
between the lovers not only shows contrasts of the couples,
but also sets the scene for radical change that is about to
befall the four Athenians.
About the only similarity between Helena and Hermia is
that they both pursue their love to the limits of their
abilities.
Hermia stares down the threat of death in order
to prove her intent to Theseus and Egeus.
Helena betrays a
friendship in order to try to win some measure of gratitude
from her love.
After
the
scene
at
the
Athenian
court
many
of
differences between the lovers can already be seen.
through
her
discussion
with
Theseus,
proves
the
Hermia
that
she
desires Lysander with a pure love that she does not feel
for Demetrius.
“So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship,
whose
unwished
yoke
sovereignty.” (p. 5)
My
soul
consents
not
to
give
With this line she tells Theseus that
she will accept death, exile or any other punishment in
order to not marry Demetrius.
demonstrates
Dionysian
his
like
extreme
love
The infelxability of Theseus
Apollonian
between
attitude
Hermia
toward
and
the
Lysander.
appeals to higher law - appeals to Egeus and Theseus
wants relationship for love, wants relationship for status
Lysander and Hermia represent the true love of youth.
Unwilling
to hear any voice that speaks against their love.
Compare Hermia and Lysander with Helena and Demetrius.
they are different, this will be the thesis.
Say
1.
appeals to higher law - appeals to Egeus and Theseus
2.
wants
relationship
for
love,
wants
relationship
for
status
3.
act as foils to each other
4.
after the decisions have been made the differences melt
away into unimportance
5.
Hermia
and
uncontrollable,
Lysander
young,
represent
innocent
love.
the
Dionysian
Demetrius
is
driven by ambition and pride.
6.
both women pursue their loves
(similarity!!!)
7.
Hermia and Lysander – true love, Helena – unchanging
love, Demetrius – inconsistent love
8.
***Hermia
stared
down
death
in
order
to
stay
with
Lysander and especially will not bow to Demetrius cause
Helena is in love with him.
When L + H confide in Helena
that she will have what she wants she only betrays L + H
in order to win some measure of favor from Demetrius.
9.
Lysander is level headed (comes up with escape plan) even
in his most anxious hour
10.
L + H realist the path true love must travel is not
always easy
Helena and Lysander are in love and there is no reason why
they should not be wed.
symbol.
Demetrius wants Hermia as a status
Helena wants Demetrius because of a one night stand
the two had, and also probably out of jealousy to Hermia, that
she has him and does not even want him. Gg
The course of True love never did run smooth, act I scence 1
MSND.
Goodnight sweet friend; my love ne’er alter till thy sweet
life end, Act II scene 3 MSND.
Oberon and Titania –