The Consistent Unsmoothness of Love in Shakespeare 's A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare 's A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a captivating comedy based around the hardships different pairs of lovers must face, whether it was brought upon themselves, or caused by the foolishness, tricks, and mistakes of others. This play encompasses three main pairs of lovers who face complications; Lysander and Hermia, Titania and Oberon, and Helena and Demetrius. These matched duos are said to be relevant to Lysander’s statement, “The course of true love never did run smooth” (Shakespeare 1. 1. 134), and in fact, their experiences can confirm their relation to this statement. Lysander and Hermia are relevant to this statement because their
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At the beginning of this comedy, the reader learns that Demetrius once loved Helena, but his affections towards her were stolen when they transferred to Hermia. Amazingly, Helena’s affections towards Demetrius did not change. This caused Helena to follow him around like a dog, and caused Demetrius to become extremely irritated with her, triggering hurtful words to spew from his mouth which included, “For I am sick when I do look on thee.” (2. 1.197). This shows that their love never did run smoothly because Demetrius was not even in love with her at this point, while Helena could not leave his side for a minute. Luckily, in act 3, scene 2, Puck deposited the love-in-idleness’ juice in Demetrius’ eyes which reworked his mind into believing that he loved Helena. But Helena, being use to his rejection, took it as a form of mockery. This was exhibited when she said, “O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent /To set against me for your merriment.” (3. 2. 148-149). Here, she was saying that everyone is making fun of her for their own pleasure, including Demetrius, who was expressing words of tenderness towards her. This demonstrates that their love did not run smoothly because Helena was in a state of denial and frustration which caused her to temporarily loathe Demetrius. Additionally, this duo is relevant to Lysander’s statement because Demetrius’ affections were aimed towards Hermia for a brief period of time. During the whole marriage disapproval spewl in act one, Demetrius’ eye was on Hermia rather than Helena. This was displayed when Helena said, “For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, /He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.” (1. 1.242-243). This quote reveals that Demetrius was once Helena, but because he laid
At the beginning of this comedy, the reader learns that Demetrius once loved Helena, but his affections towards her were stolen when they transferred to Hermia. Amazingly, Helena’s affections towards Demetrius did not change. This caused Helena to follow him around like a dog, and caused Demetrius to become extremely irritated with her, triggering hurtful words to spew from his mouth which included, “For I am sick when I do look on thee.” (2. 1.197). This shows that their love never did run smoothly because Demetrius was not even in love with her at this point, while Helena could not leave his side for a minute. Luckily, in act 3, scene 2, Puck deposited the love-in-idleness’ juice in Demetrius’ eyes which reworked his mind into believing that he loved Helena. But Helena, being use to his rejection, took it as a form of mockery. This was exhibited when she said, “O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent /To set against me for your merriment.” (3. 2. 148-149). Here, she was saying that everyone is making fun of her for their own pleasure, including Demetrius, who was expressing words of tenderness towards her. This demonstrates that their love did not run smoothly because Helena was in a state of denial and frustration which caused her to temporarily loathe Demetrius. Additionally, this duo is relevant to Lysander’s statement because Demetrius’ affections were aimed towards Hermia for a brief period of time. During the whole marriage disapproval spewl in act one, Demetrius’ eye was on Hermia rather than Helena. This was displayed when Helena said, “For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, /He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.” (1. 1.242-243). This quote reveals that Demetrius was once Helena, but because he laid