Summary:
In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the character Theseus appears prominently only in the first act and near the end of the play. Theseus appears to be a stern, heartless, and cruel character in the early part of the story; he gives Hermia the choice of either marrying Demetrius or death, and thus contributes greatly to the dilemma of who loves whom. However, near the end of the play he comes to terms of Hermia's true feelings and allows her and her lover Lysander to follow their hearts.
Character Analysis
Character Analysis of "Theseus"
Throughout the story Theseus was laid back waiting upon the arrival of his marriage. "now fair Hippolyta our nuptial hour draws apace. Four happy days bring in another moon." (Shakespeare 7). After the first act of the book Theseus becomes an obsolete character. When we first met him it seemed as though he would be loud, energetic, and play a large role is the plot. But as it turns out he just got the lovers revelations started. After which we never hear from him until the end when the lovers are set straight.
When the play began it seemed as though Theseus was going to be a very heartless and cruel character throughout the book. "For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself to fit your fathers will, or else the law of Athens yields you up to death." (Shakespeare 15). In this sense he tells a girl that if she marries against her fathers will, she will be punished to death. When he talks it is never cruel or harsh tone, but the content can be strict and severe.
When looking at the lovers from Theseus' point of view it might seem simple to what they should do. In his reality the matter is open and shut. I believe that this shows how shallow minded the duke really is. He believes that true love comes after the wishes of a father. "To fit the fancies of your father's will, or else the law of Athens yields you up to death." (Shakespeare 15). To this statement made by Theseus shows the narrow mindedness of not only the duke, but the era. This was the mindset of the country marry of a daughter to the richest, not to the one they love.
In the book Theseus "won" his wife through war. He was the war hero and she was his spoil. To this Theseus sees no problems. Though Shakespeare hints that she was not actually in love with Theseus. When Theseus says, "how slow this old moon wanes!" (Shakespeare 7). Hippolyta replies "four days will quickly steep themselves in night." (Shakespeare 7). This is a minor clue that says possibly Hippolyta doesn't want to be wed to Theseus.
Throughout the play Theseus doesn't have much interaction with anyone but Egues, Demetrius, Lysander, and Hermia. With this interaction he gave Hermia the choice to die or marry Demetrius. What is the reason for all this arguing? Well... Demetrius is in love with Hermia, but he slept with Helena. Helena now loves Demetrius. Lysander loves Hermia. Hermia loves Lysander. Egues, who is Hermia's dad wants her to marry the more respectable Demetrius. Hermia doesn't want to marry Demetrius, so they all end up with the duke. The duke is friends with Egues, and therefore he sides with him. Telling Hermia to marry Demetrius, die, or forever be a widow:
"Take time to pause, and by the next new moon... Upon that day prepare to die for disobedience to your fathers will, or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, or on Diana's alter to protest for aye austerity and single life." (Shakespeare 13)
Throughout this story the women are treated as secondary citizens. On one side Hippolyta is being forced to marry a man that won her through war, and Hermia is being forced to die or marry a man that she doesn't love. "Hippolyta, I wooed the with thy sword, and won thy love doing thee injuries." (Shakespeare 7). In this quote Theseus is telling Hippolyta that even though he won her and she has no choice in this marriage, that he loves her. So she has no say in it she may completely hate him, but she is still forced to marry him. Also Hermia is going to be forced to die if she doesn't follow the wishes of her father. "To fit the fancies of your father's will, or else the law of Athens yields you up to death." (Shakespeare 15). So throughout the book women are not given much of a choice on anything. They are treated more as objects to the men, rather than being wives to them.
Though Theseus starts the book as a man who is very shallow, I believe he ends on a more positive note. In the end of the book Theseus comes to terms that Hermia and Lysander are in love. "Here come the lovers full of joy and mirth. - Joy gentle friends! Joy and fresh days of love accompany your hearts!" (Shakespeare 145) This quote is much different from the others. This is a more joyful and positive Theseus. He has allowed the lovers to follow their true path of love, and this in turn helped his relationship with Hippolyta.
So as we all can see though Theseus' role was not a main one, the reader is able to see how he has changed throughout the book. He is more loving, compassionate, and understanding. Though he didn't speak much his thoughts and decisions affected the course of love for the lovers. Had he not done everything like he had the lovers never would have been placed together by the fairies, so his course of action further developed the plot for the reader.
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