In class, we had a discussion regarding Helena’s character and if she should be regarded in a positive or negative light. Throughout my reading of the first two acts, I found myself questioning if I should be rooting for her or not. Her character is complex, in terms of her relationships with other characters as well as her own personal goals. Helena shares an almost sisterly-bond with Hermia in which she recognizes her great beauty and redeeming qualities, while still finding herself envious. She says to Hermia “Call you me fair? That “fair” again unsay,/Demetrius loves your fair; oh, happy fair!/Your eyes are lodestars,…” (1.1.181-183). Helena recognizes Hermia’s beauty and wishes she was Hermia so that Demetrius would return her love. Within the first act, Hermia and Helena are presented as very similar, in that Helena recognizes their beauty is comparable and that they are in a similar position in terms of wealth. Although she seems to hold Hermia in a kind regard, she does expose Hermia and Lysander’s plan to elope. Helena reveals this to Demetrius, in the hopes that she can chase him throughout the woods and regain his affections.
Helena’s interest in Demetrius is complicated, in that they are two characters which we learn had a relationship prior to the play. They were betrothed until Demetrius decided he did not wish to be with her anymore. Despite him chasing and professing his love for Hermia, Helena never waivers in her love for him. It remains a pure, unrequited love. When discussing Demetrius, Hermia states “The more I hate, the more he follows me,” while Helena rebuffs “The more I love, the more he hateth me” (1.1.198-99). This interaction specifically is interesting in terms of Helena’s relationship with Demetrius, as it is one in the same. The more Demetrius hates Helena, it appears as though she is convinced even more of their love. This scene of Helena chasing Demetrius throughout the forest is very indicative of their relationship (2.1.199-204):
DEMETRIUS: Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? / Or rather do I not in plainest truth / Tell you I do not nor I cannot love you?
HELENA: And even for that do I love you the more. / I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius, / The more you beat me I will fawn on you
Her love is completely unrequited to the point where she is so desperately clinging to this past love that she cannot see their current relationship for what it is: one-sided. Although she does come off as desperate, it can be argued that she is a woman who goes after what she wants, regardless of gendered expectations. Oberon sees Helena chasing Demetrius throughout the woods and, possibly because he sympathizes given his love for Hippolyta, wants to help her. Oberon orders Puck to give Demetrius a love potion so that he will return her love for him. Oberon calls Helena “A sweet Athenian lady” (2.2.260) while calling Demetrius “a disdainful youth” (2.2.261). She is so often rejected by Demetrius that when the love potion takes effect on Lysander, she believes he is mocking her. Helena is a woman that is so desperate for love and so used to being unloved that she cannot understand when it is returned to her. This is what makes her a relatable character–albeit a bit desperate. So many people can relate to loving someone and not having them love you in return, as well as feeling like nobody in the world loves you. Helena has some deep character flaws but at her core, she is a woman seeking love just as everyone else.
-Hannah Bauer (Blogging Circle 6)
I agree that the common reading of Helena as pathetic or desperate is a misplacement of values. As a very matter-of-fact defense of Helena: she was right! Her conviction that she and Demetrius were meant to be together is ultimately validated. They do end up together. Her devotion might then be seen as steadfastness and constancy, whereas the other lovers’ shifting affinities could be regarded as vain and juvenile. Her constancy should perhaps then be thought of not only as a virtue within a romantic context, but as evidence of generally stronger will and foresight than the other lovers possess.
It is strange. Even though a Midsummer Nights Dream has a “happy ending”, I still pity Helena. By the end of the play, all of the characters that were under the spell of the love-in-idleness flower are returned to their natural state except Demetrius. Although he and Helena are married, he only loved her because he is still bewitched. I am glad that Helena does not know this or I would feel terribly for her.
Hannah,
Although I find myself agreeing with you on most of the points you made, it is simply too difficult for me to sympathize with Helena. Sure, she goes after what she wants and is vigorous; there is not a quitting bone in her body. In this case, however, that is not quite a positive. We are not privy to any background information with why Demetrius might have left her in pursuit of Hermia, but it is too convenient to hand her the benefit of the doubt. In the little text that we were able to analyze her actions, I noticed primarily flaws with little to no qualities that shed some light of positivity on her end. For starters, her beaming insecurity is always prevalent. Whether it is for believing that Hermia is more fair than her (which is obviously not why Demetrius prefers her), or her thoughts of Lysander and Demetrius only showing affection to her in order to “mock” her, Helena is not content whether she gets no attention or all of it. Also, she confides a secret that her so called best friend, Hermia, had trusted her with, in order to acquire personal gain. I cannot respect someone that gives a massive speech in a forest about how two men should not come between this earthly sisterhood that they have going on, all while being a snake in the grass and waiting for your “sister’s” next slip up. Regardless, although I do not think it is fair for me to judge her based off the little context we were given, I surely do not see myself befriending such a person if I actually knew them.
I agree, like many others in sympathizing for Helena. She has no choice in the situation she has been put into, and she feels as though she is being made fun of. She not only lost her love, but her best friend as well. Although she may be clingy and somewhat desperate for Demetrius’ love, I think it is useful to the story. Without Helena looking so desperate over Demetrius, I feel as though some of the emotion would’ve been lost when the love spell was put into play.
I will always take an opportunity to come to Helena’s defense! On the surface, I could see how one could think of her as being desperate when compared to Hermia, for instance. However similar Helena and Hermia are, the two characters are in completely different circumstances. Hermia’s defiance and pursuit of Lysander label her as a strong female character, but for some reason, Helen’s pursuit of Demetrius labels her as desperate. Unlike Hermia, Helena has no male figure in which to rebel from. She must take her future into her own hands, rather than letting her father arrange it for her. And, of course, she would want to pursue Demetrius! She is really her best option — he allows for her to remain close to Hermia and for her to remain in Athens’ high-class social circle. Her devotion towards Demetrius is more than the juvenile love fantasy that you could label Lysander and Hermia’s love as.
Hannah,
I think Helena is the most complex character in the play. At first, I couldn’t stand her! I thought that she was just a desperate woman who was seeking validation in all the wrong places. However, as we discussed her further in class, I grew to appreciate her a lot more. I agree with you completely; Helena still has her flaws but she is possibly the most relatable character in this play. Her internal struggle is what I think we can relate most to as women. Helena is constantly comparing herself to Hermia, and she poses that age old question, “What does she have that I don’t?” But on the same token, she is a very headstrong woman who goes after what she wants. Obviously it is supposed to come across as desperation, but she isn’t ashamed. At her core Helena is, what we call today, a “girl’s girl.” She appreciates the bond between women and cannot fathom throwing that aside to appease men. I do, however, think she deserved more than the ending she got. It seemed like Shakespeare just slapped a happy ending on for everyone and let it be. I would have rather seen her not end up with Demetrius since their love is not authentic.
Hannah,
I enjoyed reading your post. You debate an interesting point of how readers and audiences should view Helena. She does experience a fair amount of conflict throughout the play in search for love. Overall, I think Shakespeare looks at love at an interesting perspective in his play. There is fake love that is represented through the love potion used on certain characters and there is genuine love that certain characters have for others. Similar to a point you made, when we look at Helena, we should still see that she is a woman simply trying to find love. I believe that all viewers should be able to feel some sympathy or even empathy for her.
At first, I also was one of the people that thought Helena was rather annoying and desperate. Although, after class discussions and further readings don’t find her being as annoying or desperate, I still do not think she is a strong female character. She for sure (in my opinion) does not value herself as a woman, as she should. In continuously chasing after Demetrius, someone who ridicules her and makes her feel horribly about herself, she is only hurting herself. She is very relatable however, and one of the most relatable characters in the play. Although I judge some of her actions, I can sympathize with her as well. We–for the most part– have all been there, with not valuing ourselves in a sense and taking crap from others when we internally know better. I see that she is in fact a woman who goes for what she wants and will not back down, but I feel for her so much when she just continuously keeps going back to Demetrius when we know she shouldn’t. I am happy however that in the end she got what she worked so hard to get. At the end, I can see her being a stronger character than I perceived her as being in the beginning.
Hannah,
I appreciate the defense of such a sad character. I think Anthony and Dylan give out some incredible points that also add interesting complexities to the end of the play. It’s sad but true: You can’t even be (fully) happy for Helena since her lover is still bewitched, unless you consider a cynical view such as no one would have ever loved her fully and truthfully unless they were bewitched by a spell, in which it is still sad, but at least a little happy that she found love that she deserves even if it’s via unusual means.
I think referring to Helena and Hermia’s relationship as sisterly is very interesting. It is not a trait of their relationship that I would have used on my own, but it does make a lot of sense. Their one is jealous of the status of the other among Demetrius and Lysander, and one can’t help but connect that to siblings. I initially viewed Helena as desperate and annoying, but your reading gives her a little more of a backbone. Overall, I enjoyed reading your post and felt that it gives an entirely new perspective to Helena and her relationships, especially with Hermia.
You make a really strong and well-thought argument for sympathizing with Helena. Throughout the story, I was always mentally rooting for her knowing her past. I completely agree with and would even add to the fact that she chases what she loves no matter what the gendered expectation is. I feel personally any person or character who does that deserves to be admired on some level. I feel also that the fact she got rejected by Demetrius initially but she refused to give up adds to your point about relatability. Everyone wants something or someone that they aren’t always quite able to get in reach with.