Relationships In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Throughout time, love has been expressed in many ways, whether good or bad. It can bring out the best in people, but also the worst. William Shakespeare seemed to understand this truth and often sought to open the eyes of his readers to these ideas. Thus, the theme of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the contrast between irrational, flighty relationships and mature relationships. The contrast is apparent in the friendship of Helena and Hermia and that of Titania and the changeling’s mother. Helena and Hermia are emotional and their loyalty to one another constantly wavers. Throughout their friendship, Helena struggles deeply with jealousy over the attention that Hermia constantly receives from her suitors. However Hermia has no interest in them and has clearly chosen Lysander, yet it does not faze Demetrius. Hermia runs away with Lysander and still Demetrius follows wondering, “where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I’ll slay, the other slayeth me. . . And here am I and wode within this wood because I cannot meet my Hermia” (2.1.189-193). No matter how difficult of a time Hermia gives Demetrius, he continues to pursue her, causing insecurity and inner turmoil in the heart of Helena. Yet Hermia’s reply to the struggle of Helena is simply that “his folly . . . is [no fault] of mine” (1.1.200). “None but your beauty; would that fault were mine” is all Helena can say in response to this (1.1.201). Although the relationship of the changeling’s mother to Titania begins as one of a devoted admirer rather …show more content…
With the descriptive language employed by Shakespeare, it is easy to get lost in the work without much thought as to its meaning or theme. However, the setting, characters, and the stories which make up who they truly are clearly express the many different views of love and its affect on everyone around
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