The course of love is rarely harmonious, and is often susceptible to lack of reason and sense. Unrequited love is a tragically universal theme experienced by most that cruelly targets its victims with little discretion. In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the theme of love’s uncontrollable power is reflected through a metaphor mouthed by an emotion-blinded Helena after she follows Demetrius to find Lysander and Hermia in the woods during Act Two, Scene One: “You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant. /But yet you draw not iron, for my heart /Is true as steel. Leave you your power to draw, And I shall have no power to follow you” (2.1.183-185). Helena’s direct comparison of Demetrius to a magnet that is the cause of Helena’s uncontrollable and irresistible attraction towards the Athenian is a theme present throughout much of the play and with many of the play’s personalities. Helena’s magnet metaphor showcases the insuppressible and unpredictable powers of love displayed by Helena, Demetrius, Lysander, and Hermia, and plays a role in
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She compares her loyalty for Demetrius to a dog’s loyalty to its owner, and she knows she will never come to terms with herself unless Demetrius accepts her. Alas, Demetrius is a magnet that will only seek out other hearts such as Helena, as Helena is fundamentally unworthy of his attraction and only artificial means are capable of changing that. This leads the audience to believe the play follows a binary type of love with the mortals in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for Demetrius is repulsed by Helena, Helena is hopelessly attracted to Demetrius, and Hermia and Lysander have a powerful bond where both “magnets” attract; there is no moderate form of attraction. Just as Helena is but a slave to her heart’s true desires and Demetrius’ draw, there is no way to prevent magnets from drawing
She compares her loyalty for Demetrius to a dog’s loyalty to its owner, and she knows she will never come to terms with herself unless Demetrius accepts her. Alas, Demetrius is a magnet that will only seek out other hearts such as Helena, as Helena is fundamentally unworthy of his attraction and only artificial means are capable of changing that. This leads the audience to believe the play follows a binary type of love with the mortals in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for Demetrius is repulsed by Helena, Helena is hopelessly attracted to Demetrius, and Hermia and Lysander have a powerful bond where both “magnets” attract; there is no moderate form of attraction. Just as Helena is but a slave to her heart’s true desires and Demetrius’ draw, there is no way to prevent magnets from drawing