Summary:
Shakespeare presents the various natures of love in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. Examples of forced love, parental love, romantic love, and love between friends are cited.
Midsummer Night's Dream is a play by William Shakespeare about four individual tales that intertwine throughout the story.
There is the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, and the four lovers who are lost in the woods. The story also includes faeries who live in the same forest with their own problems and workmen who are keen to stage a play for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.
Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays a variety of the natures of love.
One type of love that is shown by Shakespeare is forced love.
Theseus and Hippolyta's marriage is used by Shakespeare to portray forced love:
"I wooed thee with my sword."
Hippolyta, having been the Queen of the Amazons, has been conquered by Theseus and is therefore under obligation to marry him, hence showing forced love. She is dutiful to Theseus, who in return treats her well.
When Theseus said "wooed" this could perhaps imply Theseus is truly in love with Hippolyta and does wish to treat her properly.
In Act 5 scene 1, Hippolyta says "My Theseus", this shows she is willing to marry him, and this shows the nature of their love is also very mature, which contrasts from the young love of the four lovers. Their maturity is even more contrasted in Michael Hoffman's 1998 film of The Midsummer Night's Dream, when the four lovers are found naked in the forest, reflecting their innocence and immaturity.
Theseus and Hippolyta's maturity is also reflected in their speech. Their words are much more controlled and not as rash or irrational as those of the four lovers. In the beginning of the play, it is clear that Theseus is more sympathetic to Hermia's situation than Egeus, yet he also up-holds the law as the ruler of Athens. This shows he is dutiful and reinforces the idea of maturity. However, at the end of the play, just before the wedding, he permits Hermia and Lysander to marry; this decision was probably heavily affected by his own experience, especially since it was his wedding day and this joyous occasion lingered on his mind. His love for Hippolyta had probably grown leading to the marriage, and he too understood the four lovers' love, and too left him vulnerable to the effects of love.
Another type of love Shakespeare shows is parental love.
Egeus and Hermia's father-daughter relationship illustrates parental love:
"As she is mine, I may dispose of her."
In the past, when this play is set, the law allowed fathers much more power and control over their daughter, and Hermia, in this way, is seen as her father's property, so he may command her as he will. This shows his authority and commanding love.
This could also be a façade for Egeus' love for his daughter, as perhaps he has to appear commanding and strict, since society deemed it so. Also, Egeus might be afraid of the uncertainty of his daughter's future, and therefore having control over her helps him settle his mind.
This line clearly demonstrates this point:
"This man hath my consent to marry her."
I think, in the end, Egeus wants what he thinks is best for his daughter, though of course Hermia's views of what is best for herself is different. Egeus wishes for Hermia to marry a nobleman to ensure her of a comfortable life. In governing her, he has control over his daughter, allowing only what he wants for her, this shows over-protective love, another form of parental love.
True love is a type of love Shakespeare displays in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Hermia and Lysander's relationship represents true love.
"The course of true love never did run smooth."
This line delivered by Lysander captures clearly the nature of true love. True love is seen as strong, and can endure despite hardships. It is difficult to keep once found but well worth the troubles.
The course of their true love does not run smooth for many reasons. Once of the reasons is Egeus, Hermia's father. By law he has power over her and what he wants for is daughter is what must happen. And by lay, Hermia is expected to be dutiful to her father, by respecting and obeying him. His over-protective parental love demands Hermia a different man, but Hermia and Lysander's determination brings the two through, again supporting true love as strong. Egeus and the Athenian Law are both obstacles that result in their relationship not running smoothly.
True love is mutual, and their decision to elope is also a mutual decision, this seems rash and could imply their love to be passionate. However, their decision to reveal their plan to Helena was foolish and illogical; this shows Hermia and Lysander's love to be young, fun and secretive, though they are excited and both cannot wait to share their secret with their closest friend. Yet this action just proves to result in yet another obstacle, also their youth, perhaps their immaturity and their lack of thinking things through.
Despite the obstructions that face the couple, their love succeeds in the end to show true love is strong and cannot be ignored and with determination it prevails.
In a Midsummer Night's Dream, there is the presence of unrequited love, which is shown by Helena and Demetrius' relationship:
"The more I love, the more he hateth me."
This evidently shows Helena's love for Demetrius, and yet her love for him is not returned for he is blinded by his love for Hermia. This unrequited love shows the cruel nature of love. Demetrius ignores Helena in an attempt to deter her, when she is madly in love with him. However his plan backfires and only causes her love and desperate desire for him to grow, which results in him hating her even more, subsequently a destructive cycle develops that worsens, without the two noticing. It is a vicious relationship and if allowed to endure, it would be devastating.
The relationship between Demetrius and Helena can also be described as abusive, shown here by Demetrius' line:
"I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.
Where is Lysander, and fair Hermia""
Demetrius delivers this line in the forest after Helena has provided him with the information concerning Hermia and Lysander's plans to elope. Since Demetrius has taken what he wants from her and tells her to leave him alone. This shows that love can posses a cruel and abusive nature.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, there is the presence of friendship-love.
The relationship between Helena and Hermia displays friendship love:
"Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters' vows, the hours we have spent."
This clearly shows the strong bond between Helena and Hermia. The fact they confide in each other and have secrets between them shows trust, love and a strong friendship. The last phrase of the quote suggests a deep and long history between them, and this in turn implies the idea of friendship-love to be more long lasting, because the quote gives the idea the friends to be like sisters. This suggests the idea that they are related by blood perhaps, and so the two are almost eternally bound to one another, which implies importance and durability. The idea that there is a blood tie between Hermia and Helena could suggest that their relationship is more powerful and dependable than perhaps Hermia and Lysander' love.
Helena and Hermia's relationship is a clear example of friendship and sisterly love.
The nature of love can be fickle, and this idea is shown by the comparison of Hermia and Lysander's original relationship and the affections Lysander then has for Helena.
"Lie further off in human modesty;"
"Amen, amen to that fair prayer, say I."
In these two lines, as readers or the audience, once can tell there is mutual love and respect of each other between Lysander and Hermia. Lysander is devoted to Hermia and is loyal to her, accepting and performing her every request. He listens and gives her attention; his world basically revolves around her.
However, when the spell was put on Lysander, his love for Hermia is banished and he develops love for Helena, instead:
"Transparent Helena, Nature shows art,
That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart."
This shows a clear contrast between Lysander's love for Hermia and the love he shows for Helena. Lysander's words in this quote rhymes, I think this is a way of charming Helena as poetry is linked often to love and infatuation, and to a suave way of winning a girl's heart. Also, his words are shallow, all about her beauty and physical appearance, Lysander compliments on Helena's physique, yet he fails to see past this to her character, this could also give an insight into Helena's character, suggesting her lack of character. What may extend from this is that since there is no character in Helena or Lysander cannot see it, there couldn't possibly be any kind of development in their relationship if allowed to continue.
These points could imply, firstly, the nature of love is fickle and easily tampered with, this could also suggest the nature of love to be diverse. Another idea is that forced love is by no means perfect; in fact, no kind of love appears to be perfect, as Shakespeare presents each type of love with problems. Forced love causes a person to fall deeply in love with another, but for no solid reason. It all appears to be a façade; it is all too easy, and too idyllic, too good to be true. You cannot be loved exactly as you are since everybody has faults, yet Lysander sees no fault in Helena, as Titania saw no fault in Bottom. This ten becomes suspicious and unreliable.
It is clear a strong difference between Lysander and Hermia and Lysander and Helena exists. Hermia and Lysander's love is deep, strong and developed, on the other hand, Lysander's love or adoration for Helena was shallow, unreal and fickle, and this clearly shows the diversity of the nature of love.
Shakespeare clearly depicts the nature of love as being confusing.
This concept is displayed through the forest scenes between Hermia, Helena, Lysander and Demetrius.
"Hast thou slain him then""
In the forest, Hermia awoke to find Lysander gone - since the magic spell was placed on him as he slept. He had seen Helena and followed her away. As a result Hermia panics and comes across Demetrius. A long and confusing conversation erupts and leads to this line. Hermia, in a state of confusion, worry and fear turns on Demetrius, though their relationship was never smooth before. She jumps to the conclusion that Demetrius out of hate and jealousy has killed Lysander. Hermia's strong love for Lysander clouds her judgement and weakens her to the point of insanity and obsession with him.
"Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid."
Despite its confusing nature, love is also extremely powerful as demonstrated here by Helena and Hermia falling out over the confused situation between themselves and the two male characters. The friendship between Hermia and Helena is very strong, as seen before by their sisterly love, yet the confused nature of love is mighty enough to turn good friends of many years into enemies.
In the woods, Demetrius abuses Helena, increasing the confusion and the dangerous atmosphere that dominated the woodland scenes. The two women are greatly affected by the sudden change in the men's behavior, their words are sharp and they don't actually take in what the other has to say, increasing the confusion. Helena blames Hermia for playing a practical joke on Hermia, though Hermia is clearly confused by this, as she plainly states it, Helena does not take this on board and merely continues her accusations. This again shows the confusion of the situation.
The confusion finally leads to a potentially murderous climax in Act 3 scene 2, when Lysander and Demetrius are prepared to battle to the death for Helena's affections. The men are clearly blinded by the effects of their love for Helena, and are ignorant of any sort of alternatives. Only with Puck's intervening prevents death.Puck cures Lysander of the spell and the former rivals are more than prepared to befriend each other, despite the hate and rivalry that was dominant in their relationship, simply because the spell has been lifted. Hence the nature of love is quite confusing at times, and their confusion on awaking is very obvious.
Theseus' decisions to overbear Egeus their love with wedding is love running smoothly at the end, to provide a happy ending to fit in with the criteria of a comedy.
Another type of love is shown by Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and this is jealous love.
Jealous love is shown through Oberon and Titania's relationship:
"Ill met by moonlight."
This shows there are troubles present in their relationship, since the two do not appear to be on good terms. Oberon and Titania are arguing over the changeling boy, the son of one of Titania's late friend. Oberon would like to possess this child, but Titania refuses to let him go. This shows that the nature of love can at times be irritating and troublesome and that the love between Oberon and Titania is most definitely not running smoothly.
"What, jealous Oberon""
Oberon does not actually deny his jealousy of Titania and the changeling boy, and through his actions, you can see, although at times it is very subtle, Oberon's jealously.
Jealously is a powerful emotion, and when mixed with love, it has devastating effects. Oberon's jealousy grows, as Titania's love for the changeling boy does, and as a result, the relationship between the two worsens as they grow apart from anger.
Oberon and Titania's love is old and contrasts from the young love of the four lovers:
"Out of this wood do no desire to go."
This shows Oberon and Titania live in the forest, which is old, and in turn this lends to their character and their love. Their age and maturity is reflected in their speech, there is no rhyme, except to mark an exit, and there is little if not any humor.
Their arguments affect the nature around them:
"The childing autumn, angry winter, change...
From our debate, from our dissension;
We are their parents and original."
This shows various points about Oberon and Titania. Firstly, this quote displays their power, their knowledge and their magical link to the human world. It shows also, how the quarrel between the two has led to a breakdown in the natural world, to weather which does not suit the season, and to a loss of fertility in field and fold, for which she feels guilty, since in the 16th Century bad weather and poor harvest could be disastrous.
It is clear that Oberon and Titania's love is complicated, and much more serious than that of the four lovers. Their actions have immediate effects, though the actions of the four lovers have no immediate effect on anyone else apart from themselves. The nature of love here is old, and serious, there is jealousy and pride all mixed in with their love, showing the nature of Oberon and Titania's love to be different to any other relationships we have encountered yet in this play.
Forced love appears in multiple situations.
The relationship between Bottom and Titania, Helena and Demetrius, also Helena and Lysander all advertise forced love, although he last is different:
"What angel wakes me from my flowery bed""
As a result of their quarrels, Oberon is angry so decides to make Titania fall in love with a beast, and Puck seeing the workmen in the forest, and how Nick Bottom has been turned into a donkey, finds the perfect opportunity. He places the juice of the magic flowers upon Titania's eyes. She immediately falls in love with Bottom when she hears his voice, she cares not of his appearance, and loves none the less despite he has a donkey's head instead of a human's. There is no mention as to why Titania loves him, and this seems strange. The audience cannot pick out why Titania has fallen for Bottom, and it seems as though she is in a trance, showing the unnatural and forced love Titania has.
Bottom does not push Titania aside, I think this is not because he loves her in return, though perhaps she is beautiful, and even more so to his human eyes, as she is the queen of all faeries, but instead, he is quite big-headed and Titania showered him with compliments, therefore appearing as a mutual forced love.
As Oberon and Puck spied upon Titania as she was with Bottom, he was pleased:
"This falls out better than I can devise."
I think his reason for saying this is because he is angry at Titania for loving the changeling boy more than him, and so to see Titania make a fool out of herself pleased him. However, after a while, it hurt him to see Titania with another man, so Oberon reverses the spell:
"My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamoured of an ass."
This shows her shock at the idea of loving a man with a donkey's head, showing the love was forced and unnatural.
Puck's mischief has helped restore Oberon and Titania's relationship here because with his help, Oberon was able to place the spell on Titania, and when he saw her with Bottom, at first it pleased him to see a fool made out of her, but then he realized his love for her, and so it brought the two together.
Helena and Demetrius also showed mutual forced love like Titania and Bottom:
"Fair Helena in fancy followed me...
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena."
Demetrius repeats the words "fair Helena" in his dialogue, this implies all he thinks about is her appearance, and this reinforces the idea from the Hermia/Lysander and Helena/Lysander paragraphs, about shallow love etc.
In the final wedding scene, Helena says nothing, perhaps she is overjoyed to have finally gained Demetrius' love, or perhaps she feels everything has happened too suddenly and is wary or cautious. It is not clear, but one thing that is for sure is that the nature of love is at times misleading and uncertain.
Helena and Lysander's relationship is different from the other forced love relationships, because Lysander's love for Helena was not returned. This started a destructive chain reaction that led to a large argument and almost a fight to the death.
"And never did desire to see thee more...
...Be certain, nothing truer: 't is no jest
That I do hate thee and love Helena."
Lysander's words to Hermia are strong, passionate and harsh, if he was in love with Hermia, he couldn't possibly jump from desperate love to absolute hate so quickly, this is a clear sign something was wrong.
What these three examples of forced love shows is this:
The nature of forced love can be misleading, uncertain, unnatural, confusing and dangerous.
It is not clear if forced love can last. Since the relationships are not allowed to continue, save from Demetrius and Helena's, and even then as the audience you don't see any sort of development. Personally, after looking at the various results of forced love, I don't think it could work, though perhaps since Helena appears slightly shallow, and desperate of Demetrius' love, it might work out.
At Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding, the workmen perform the play they have practiced in the woods. It is a play about Pyramus and Thisby, two lovers of opposing families, who in the end kill themselves for love out of confusion. The two represent denied love and can be seen as a parody of Romeo and Juliet.
"Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,
Did whisper often very secretly."
The story of Pyramus and Thisby could show the idea that the four lovers are being too serious over their young relationships. As Pyramus and Thisby died for one another foolishly, the young lovers were willing to do the same, going to extremes for their love.
Theseus chose this particular play because it suited the wedding scene, despite its initial disagreeable place with its tragic story, because it shows the strength of love and the loyalty Pyramus and Thisby showed each other, giving almost an example of how a relationship should be. Yet it shows to the young couples the faults of being too in love, since Pyramus and Thisby's judgement was clouded, much like their own, and led only to tragedy.
"The course of true love never did run smooth."
Lysander's idea is again repeated here. The love between Thisby and Pyramus was true and sweet, but their love did not run smooth. The problem of rivaling families stood between them, their youth which then led to their poor judgement and finally to their deaths obviously posed another reason for their love not running smoothly. Unlike the four lovers of A Midsummer Night's dream, Pyramus and Thisby's tale did not end happily, but with deaths, perhaps allowing everyone to appreciate the love they do have.
The play also allowed Bottom to be a suitable beloved of Titania as she was under the spell. It also allowed Shakespeare an opportunity for more comic scenes, showing their restrictions as actors and Bottom's incorrect use of the English language.
At the end of the play, Oberon and Titania's love is renewed, and they pay a visit to the newly-wed couples:
"Hand in hand with faerie grace,
Will we sing to bless this place."
"Hand in hand" is the renewed love, but it has only been renewed because Titania's love for the changeling boy has been removed, since Oberon has obtained him.
Oberon and Titania are both friendly to men and women, but they are also very powerful. In Titania's speech in Act 2, scene 1 shows how their quarrels have affected the natural world, and for this Titania feels guilty, this shows Titania's compassion. When Oberon saw how Demetrius abused Helena, he was eager to give Helena the love he thought she deserved, this in turn shows Oberon's compassion.
Once Oberon and Titania are "new in amity" they are capable of do their work properly again. They dance together, blessing the house and helping the couples' fertility and love, also to ensure that their children will be healthy.
Although it appears strange to the modern day audience, and of little significance, an Elizabethan audience would have found this very important. They believed in spirits blessing a couple when they are married. An Elizabethan audience may not exactly believe in fairies but would see their actions as very serious. In including this feature to the play, Shakespeare could be trying to appeal to the Elizabethan audience. Also, it provides an even more joyous satisfying ending for the audience.
Shakespeare presents many natures of love in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He shows mutual love between Lysander and Hermia, and their confused love in the woods and also the joyous and celebrative love at the end. He shows how love can affect a person's actions and judgements, he shows how the character of a person can affect the way they see love. Shakespeare also shows that whether one is young or old, there is love. But above all, he has shown the various natures of love, and how there appears to be an infinite number of different kinds of love, love appears in many ways, in everything and everywhere.
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