Examples Of Irrational Love In A Midsummer Night's Dream

In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we are drawn to mull over the love between the four Athenian aristocrats. On one hand there is the irrational approach, which appeals to passion and capricious preference but, on the other hand there is the rational approach towards the love affair which appeals to law and tradition. In the struggle of the lovers, neither irrationality, nor reason dominates the other. Sometimes reason is in control and sometimes irrationality is in control. However, there are also characters who harmonize these contrasting essences, such as Hippolyta, who, therefore, give the play a sense of balanced wisdom. First and foremost, AMND portrays romantic love, on many levels. The pursuit of love, especially between the four lovers, …show more content…
The biggest example of this is the fact that both Demetrius and Lysander are always suitors for the same women until the end. There is always tension between Lysander and Demetrius as well, reflecting the difficulties of love. One instance where love is clearly irrational is when Helena points out that she is just as fair as Hermia in the eyes of any other man, but Demetrius still loves Hermia. Another instance of irrational love is all the ordeals that Lysander and Hermia undertake in order to be with each other. Hermia is going against her own father’s will, as well as Duke Theseus. They also decide to run away despite the possible repercussions that could have followed if they had been caught. The attitude towards love is depicted in how Titania falls in love with Bottom while in the form of an ass. This unusual feat is meant to seem ridiculous. The irony of the situation is that Bottom is the ass, but they both make fools of themselves while in love due to Oberon’s magic. I reflected on the basis of what the play makes love out to be. It’s almost as if it is a disease which seems to affect negatively. The most prominent example Helena’s