Questions on this topic? Just ask!

An Exploration of the Ways Shakespeare Presents the Theme of Love in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Summary:   In his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," William Shakespeare explored different types of love and the ways in which love is expressed and deciphered. Each character in the play represented in some way Shakespeare's ideas on the subject.

Shakespeare had an abundance of ideas about love, each idea twisted to suite his views of the connections with life and people. One of his main focuses is love, the different types of love, and the way in which love is expressed and deciphered in his comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It contains situations in which we find ourselves asking a big question - "What are Shakespeare's ideas on love?" With his outlook, we find ourselves answering this question in a lot of different ways, as love is not only pure and simple but also deep and interesting. There are a lot of these ideas throughout "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Each character that Shakespeare created represented his ideas to answer this question.

As the play begins we are introduced to a proposal of love in the form of two intendeds a few days before their ."..nuptial hour.." Theseus is set to wed his Hippolyta. He is desperate and voices his opinion, and this view of love contrasts with the history of the myth from which these characters are adapted. ."..O, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires..." This character is believed to have triumphed over this woman to win her heart. However with Hippolyta's speech, which is very scarce throughout the play, the audience does not see this immense feeling of love requited. A woman with similar yearning would not deduce the waiting time to "Four days...[that]...will quickly steep themselves in night..." Theseus' attempt to finalise his ideas, and seemingly convince Hippolyta that the wedding will be the best thing for them both, ignites the idea of a conquest of swords over love - he won her by battle, not by her heart.

However, Shakespeare creates a new approach to this relationship when the lovers are found in the wood after the night of uncertainty. Hippolyta drives the decision to let true love continue on its course by convincing Theseus to let the weddings commence, and all is mended.1 This little notion from Hippolyta lets her regain her importance and gives her small contribution to the narrative a lot of impact. This idea that impure love, or love won by force, still has an impact on the way the world works. Two people do not have to love each other to give love to others the way that others deserve.

Shakespeare opens up all the little windows which we find ourselves trying to pull back the curtains. He gives us a glimpse of what love is like, and leaves us to explore his ideas using great imagery and romantic language. "I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head..." Hermia, the idea of pure love, brings in a reference to love being nothing of a fairytale. Mythical characters such as Cupid and his arrow are strong symbols of this pure love, and to want his best arrow gives the impression of love, forsaking all others. Even though Hermia is a young character, Shakespeare gives her this line to show that age is no issue with love. Shakespeare uses a mixture of these old legendary figures and simple, beautiful imagery to show his audience his this idea of love and how he presents his other ideas are often intense and unusual.

A character that has outside influences on love is Lysander. This outlook on love is a complete contrast to the idea of Hermia which is why it is interesting that Shakespeare has them fall in love. "The course of true love never does run smooth..." Throughout the play, this line corresponds to most situations, as it does in life also. Shakespeare was amazing at bringing forward all the right ideas. His manipulation of characters and their love for each other refers to this quotation. The circle of love is abused by magic, this is why Lysander's love is interfered with. This precious circle of love is broken down by greed on Egeus' part and changed by time as the lovers seek happiness in the wood over night. Even in this short space of a night time, so many events change the feelings of the characters, yet the outcome is still happy. Lysander and Hermia's relationship, even thought we only see the real start of it, gives us an idea of the trials and tribulations that young lovers face. Nowadays though we have no extremes of law like in the fictional world of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Egeus is presented as the barrier between love running smooth, or love running free. "As she is mine, I may dispose of her..." Giving this ultimatum to a young girl who has fallen in love shows a complete misunderstanding of human nature. This character shows no remorse and is hard in the face of love as money and a more higher social status is obviously more important. And yet, he only wants what is best for his daughter, which is the real reason why he has this view. This is, from a modern point of view, very old fashioned in the way we look at love.

The other male character, Demetrius, gives us another idea of love that is unlike the others. He shows ignorance toward the insane love radiated from Helena. "Use me as your spaniel: spurn me, strike me," Helena is infatuated with Demetrius, and he shows nothing back, not even recognition of her presence at times. This attitude gives the audience a glance at unrequited love. The kind of love that is wasted on people who have only one desire, and that is their own selfish wants. Helena still loved Demetrius from their time together. She is the idea that true love dotes on another, even though the favour is never returned. Her loves grows stronger as his hate grows deeper. True in life as well as their world, Shakespeare, with Helena, creates the idea of optimistic love that never wavers.