by Brianna Aldrich (Circle 1)
When I found out that we were reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I was excited because I knew I was familiar with the story from middle school. However, once I began reading, I realized how little I actually remembered about the play, and in a way I am excited that I can read it again as an adult with a new perspective. As I read through Acts I and II I tried to think of a reoccurring major theme that I had picked up on between characters. The common theme that I noticed that somehow connects every character is “love”, and more specifically, what qualifies true love?
The beginning of the play starts off with a conversation about a marriage that is taking place in four days, between Theseus and Hippolyta. From this very first conversation in the play, as the reader we can sense a tension between Hippolyta and her soon to be husband. As Theseus seems to be overjoyed by the idea of marrying his bride, Hippolyta has almost a fake spirit as she talks of her fiancé’s anticipation towards the wedding. Here we see Theseus talk of the slow time passing between now and the wedding, “Four happy days bring in Another moon-but O, methinks how slow This old moon wanes!”(1.1 2-4). In response, Hippolyta evidently in no rush for the wedding replies, “Four nights will quickly steep themselves in night, Four nights will quickly dream away the time” (1.1 7-8). We quickly learn that it is not by Hippolyta’s will to marry Theseus, but out of his. Theseus looks at Hippolyta as a “war-prize” from battling and saving her life, and in return, Hippolyta is marrying the man almost as a favor. It is too soon into the story to tell if Hippolyta has any feelings towards Theseus the way he does towards her, however, we can see that love isn’t something that is alive in the couple’s relationship.
We see love play an important role in the lives of Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius as well. As one couple longs to be together, it is by Egeus’ will to have his daughter Hermia marry Demetrius, a man she does not love. Despite her cry for wedding Lysander, it is clear that Egeus and Theseus do not see love as something determined by the heart, but as something that more likely stabilizes your life. Egeus sees Demetrius as a better suitor for his daughter, and despite any true feelings threatens his own daughter’s life if she does not obey his commands. In this scene, Hermia protests that Lysander is just a gentleman as Demetrius and to this Theseus replies, “In himself he is, But in this kind, wanting your father’s voice, The other must be held worthier.” (1.1 53-55). False love again is shown true rather than accepting the desire of in this case Hermia’s own heart.
Another relationship seen in the play is seen in another world, the marriage between Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the fairies. It seems that we have not seen much about this couple’s relationship, but with their history, there is clear hostility between the two. With the disagreement between who should have custody of the Indian boy, it seems that this split couple is causing a disturbance not only between themselves but for their entire fairy world. The fairies are so frightened by the dispute between the two that they hide away in fear of the King and Queen’s rage towards another. Since we are not too far into the play, I don’t know much about these characters, yet I am hoping that there is a chance that they will come around and settle their argument. If they do, then there would at least be one relationship that has true love alive and well. Also, because these characters are mystical, I think that their love would be the most powerful for both their fairy world and the characters around it if they were united. I am hoping to see them come together in the Acts to come!
Despite this lack of love between forced relationships, we do see true love between Hermia and Lysander. This couple (who remind me so far of Romeo and Juliet only because of how they must secretly meet) goes against the odds and so far tries to make their relationship work despite the authority figures above them. It was refreshing for me as the reader to see a form of real love in the book because all of the other relationships had seemed so forced. One line that to me showed their passion despite the odds against them comes from Hermia, “If then true lovers have ever been crossed, It stands as an edict in destiny. Then let us teach our trial patience..”(1.1 150-152). In this powerful line Hermia is expressing that hope is alive in their relationship to Lysander. I see this as her telling him that even though the odds are against us, it is our fate to be together and in any relationship where true love is involved, there comes sacrifice. In the first two Acts of the play, this seems to be the only relationship where true love exists. However, we have left off with Lysander being entranced by the potion, so I am worried that in the confusion, Hermia and Lysander’s relationship may fall apart.
The last couple that I have seen in the play, if they can even be considered a couple, is the comical chase between Helena and Demetrius. Where Demetrius wants nothing to do of the woman, Helena will not stop pursuing him until he gives her a chance. I am hoping that something comes of this relationship not only for Helena’s sake, but so Demetrius can be out of the scene and allow Lysander and Hermia to finally be together.
With all of these relationships in the play, some more complicated than others, I can only guess at what is to come of these couples. My biggest question remains being..will there be any existence of true love come the end of the play?
Brianna,
I enjoyed your discussion that really zeroed in on the romantic relationships, focusing on what couples qualify for the label “true love.” I think it is a common belief that Lysander and Hermia represent “true love” but I am always a little skeptical of Lysander. I mean, Hermia’s father is literally threatening to kill her if she doesn’t marry Demetrius but Lysander is still for trying to get married anyway, running away with her into the woods. However, if her father came looking for her and found them, I assume things would not end well for her. I’m not sure, but I sometimes feel that if Lysander truly loved Hermia he might have tried to give up on their relationship for her own safety. Even if their love is true, I believe it falls under a young and reckless strain instead of mature/adult love.
I really enjoy your in depth analysis of the relationships in this play, especially the connection between Hermia and Lysander. I think that an interesting dimension of their relationship is the fact that the two actually need to run away to be happy together. They defy marital laws enforced by men like Egeus and Theseus in an attempt to truly grasp the essence of true love. Even then however, Lysander and Hermia wish for different things; Lysander wants to have sex and consummate their love whilst Hermia wishes to remain chaste until their wedding day despite the possibility of never even getting a legal marriage. With this in mind, it seems as if Hermia is the only character for which true love really exists, even if it appears only as a figment of her imagination.
Brianna,
your post had me start to consider the working definition of “love,” both in modern times as well as Elizabethan times. You write, “Despite her cry for wedding Lysander, it is clear that Egeus and Theseus do not see love as something determined by the heart, but as something that more likely stabilizes your life,” which has me curious about how Elizabethan’s defined love, or if “love” was even a concept in the way we recognize it during Shakespeare’s day and age. I think the marital relationships presented in A Midsummer Night’s Dream–Hippolyta and Theseus, and Titania and Oberon–reveal to the modern reader what the concept of “love” really meant, or rather the lack of presence of the concept in either England or Athens during this time period. Egeus and Theseus, the two patriarchal figures within A Midsummer Night’s Dream, cannot fathom how and why Hermia and Lysander feel the way they do toward each other, simply because it was not a predominantly expressed concept/emotion during not only the Elizabethan era, but throughout much of history. With the Elizabethan notion of love in mind, I feel that within the world of the play, true love can indeed be reached because love, or rather abstract concept of love, represented something much different than how we understand love today; the concept of love seems to represent the commitment needed for a stable relationship, which is achieved by the end of the play.
** I did not fully research the historical definitions of “love,” (I would love to in class on OED) rather my statement about the concept of love is derived from my opinions and observations about the play.
Brianna,
Your comments on the idea of true love in the play were really interesting to read. It is also rather interesting to note that though these ideas were presented after only reading Acts 1 and 2, the majority of them still hold true, such as the idea that Theseus looks at Hippolyta as though she is merely a prize from war. It is interesting to note, however, the shift in his view of love when concerning Hermia and Lysander later on in the play, deciding to allow them to determine who to marry on their own terms. In the case of Oberon and Titania, your observations are pretty spot on. The two would, in fact, be extremely interesting to look at in the form of a “power couple,” and would absolutely be even stronger in that state. What I found most intriguing, however, was your final question of whether or not true love actually exists in the play, a question I found myself frequently asking over the course of the play.
Brianna—
I like the question you asked in the beginning of your post about what qualifies true love. I also talked about the relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta and the tension that is already there from Hippolyta and her “faking” joy as they discuss their wedding plans. I also think you were right about Egeus and Theseus’s view on love and how they don’t really see it as something that comes from the heart but as more of a political transaction between men. I look forward to the end of the play as well to see if we’re ever going to get a true love story out of any of these characters or if it will continue to be a dance of sorts with no clear ending.
My favorite relationship in the play is between Titania and Bottom. I think it is a wonderful example of imperfect and false love! Titania has been put under the magic flower’s love spell; her love for Bottom has been completely fabricated by Puck and Oberon. Oberon plays with his wife’s emotions as a prank in order to get what he wants. Of course, there are some beautiful things about Titania’s false love for Bottom the ass. First off, Titania’s love does not see social status. The clearly defined line between the mechanicals, the gentlemen and the fairies are bridged by her love. Secondly, Titania finds Bottom, who has been turned into a hideous man-beast, attractive. Her love transcends the reality of how ugly he truly is. Once Titania is returned to her normal state of mind, she rejects the hideous man-ass; the truth of Titania’s feelings come out in a way that is sad to me. I wish they could have made it work!
I appreciate your in depth evaluation of the status of love between characters. I agree with the interpretation of the king and queen of fairies. I think it is worth elaborating on the sophistication of the love they share. Titania and Oberon are old lovers fighting over the new love they feel for the indian boy. I think the indian boy represents the next trial of love– that of the love parents have for their children. Hermia and Lysander I do believe share something real. However, it is proven from the potion this realness can be swayed through magic. I think this couple represents new love. Hermia and Lysander are kind of like the first level of love… the honey mooners if you will.. or high school sweet hearts. Never the less, still true and pure. Helena’s love for Demetrius I would also categorize as true. It may not be reciprical but it is true. The only fakes I see lurking are Titania and Demetrius . These two characters I think are not acting on true love but instead condition. There “love” is situational. Titania is kind of stuck. All her people are dead and she probably is feeling a little depressed about her current situation. She is not really acting like, or on anything she actually feels. Demetrius is a typical man looking for the next shiny red of his eye. He was already with Helena and doesn’t really show much of a track record for respecting women. He wants what he wants when he wants it. I do not think his love for Hermia is true. In conclusion i do feel true love exists in this play– you just have to look closely.
I think you’ve brought up a really important point in Theseus’ and Egeus’ reactions to Hermia’s marriage desires. For them, this is more of a business transaction. It secures a safe spot for Hermia financially, as well as creating the possibility of Egeus’s line being carried on by persons he sees fit. Egeus sees Hermia as a way to advance his own means, and carry on his line. He would rather see her dead than see her produce heirs that he did not approve of. Theseus is also supporting this line of thinking. We can see that he may think that Hermia will be able to change her mind or her heart quickly, as he so expects to be able to woo Hippolyta in that same amount of time.