The Role Of Love In A Midsummer Night's Dream

“The course of true love never did run smooth” ~William Shakespeare. In the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Theseus and Hippolyta plan their wedding, which includes a play by the craftsman. While the other characters are trying to figure out their love for one another, the fairies interfere. Throughout the play the characters alternate lovers often. Although they bicker at one another, everyone finds their way to their true soul mate. The characters in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream are successful, after many trials and tribulations, in acquiring their desired relationships. RF Hermia and Lysander face many hardships to be together. “Upon that day either prepare to die for disobedience to your father’s will, or else to wed

This is evident in the quote where Lysander says, “Athenian law cannot pursue us.” This would not of been a trial for them, but fate had something else in store. “Content with Hermia? No, I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia, but Helena I love” (II.i ll. 118-12). Puck, a fairy, put cupid’s love juice into Lysander’s eyes. This is evident in the quote, “Night and silence! Who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he my master said, despised the Athenian maid, and here the maiden, sleeping on the ground. Pretty soul, she durst not lie near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy. Churl, upon thy eyes I throw all the power of this charm doth owe” (II.i ll. 76-85). As it states in the quote, it made him fall in love with the first person he saw, which happened to be Helena. This is proven when Lysander said, “but Helena I love”. Lysander told Hermia he was in love with Helena, not her, so the elopement was off. This is evident when he says, “I repent the minutes I spent with her.” This is difficult for Hermia because she is confused, and does not know what is going on, or why Lysander was acting this way. This is evident when she takes her

“But I know when thou hast stolen away from Fairyland and in the shape of corin sat all day playing on pipes of corn and versing love to amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, come from the farthest steep of India, but that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon your buskined mistress and your warrior love...” (II.i ll. 64-70). Titania claims that she knows Oberon snuck away from the Fairylands to be with Hippolyta. She also believes that Oberon left India to go see Hippolyta. This is evident in the quote when he says, “But I know when thou hast stolen away from fairyland” and “Why art thou here, come from the farthest steep of India, but that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon.” While it is not stated, it is inferred that Titania is speaking of Hippolyta. Titania wants Oberon to know that she is not clueless to his love for Hippolyta. Proof of this is in these words, “Your buskined mistress.” Titania is hurt by Oberon’s actions, and she desires a different type of relationship between the two of them. This is only one of many problems Titania and Oberon had. “How canst thou thus for shame, Titania, glance at my credit with Hippolyta, knowing I know thy love to Theseus? Didst not thou lead him through the glimmering night From Perigouna, whom he ravished, and make him with fair Aegles break his faith, with Ariadne and Antiopa” (II.i ll. 74-80). Oberon defends himself after being blamed for loving Hippolyta. He