Loyalty In A Midsummer Night's Dream

Healthy relationships are based on qualities such as loyalty, respect, and forgiveness. Relationships that possess these qualities are often durable and prosperous. In William Shakespeare’s comedic play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia and Lysander have the best chance for a successful marriage through their incessant loyalty to each other, Lysander’s respect for Hermia’s values, and Hermia’s endowment to forgive Lysander. Hermia and Lysander’s willingness to run away and jeopardize their lives for love demonstrates their ceaseless allegiance. At the beginning of the play, Egeus, Hermia’s father, prohibits Hermia and Lysander from getting married. Egeus commands that it is Hermia’s obligation to marry Demetrius or she will “be put to her

Hermia and Demetrius decree that they would rather risk death or Egeus’ discontent than to be split apart. Eventually, Lysander proposes that Hermia should “steal forth thy father’s house to-morrow night” (Act I Scene I) after he formulates a plan for the two of them to run away to Lysander’s aunt’s home in another kingdom. If the two proceed with this plan, they risk execution. Their willingness to risk death for each other's love demonstrates utmost devotion to each other, a crucial trait that leads to a successful marriage. Furthermore, Hermia remains loyal to Lysander, even when Lysander does not reciprocate her love, by choosing to blame Helena for Lysander’s actions rather than Lysander himself. After Lysander falls in love with Helena because of the love potion, Hermia is in denial. Lysander hates her and asks Helena if he should, “hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?”(Act III Scene I). Any compassion he felt towards her has completely dissipated. Although Hermia is hurt, she is still loyal to Lysander and decides to admonish Helena for his actions, claiming she has, “come by the night and stolen my love’s heart from him” (Act III Scene I) and “she

When Hermia and Lysander are sleeping in the woods, Lysander suggests that “one turf shall serve as a pillow for us both, one heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth” (Act II Scene I). Hermia replies, “nay, good Lysander; for my sake, my dear, lie further off yet, do not lie so near” (Act II Scene I). Lysander then regards her wishes and sleeps away from Hermia. His ability to honor her despite his desires shows respect, a crucial quality in forming a healthy relationship, proving that Lysander and Hermia will have a lucrative