Different Types of Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Different Types of Love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy, written in 1595 during the

reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This was when the society was dominated

by men. During the period, England was ruled by a powerful and well

respected queen.

One of the many themes of the play is that of love. Many different

types of love are depicted in the book. There is: Parental Love (Egeus

and Hermia, Titania and Little Indian Boy), Friendly Love (Helena and

Hermia, The Workmen), Unrequited Love (Helena and Demetrius), Official

Love (Hermia and Demetrius), Argumentative Love (Oberon and Titania),

Mad Sexual Love (Bottom and Titania),Passionate Love (Hermia and

Lysander). Each type of love would be discussed to support the point

that the play is full of different types of love.

Parental Love

This is the type of love that exists between parents and their

children. A parent would go to any length for their children to show

their love to them. This is shown in the love between Egeus and

Hermia. Egeus wants the best for his daughter. He wants her to marry a

man of his choice and does his best to make her see things his way. He

declares to those present that

“. . . As she is mine, I shall dispose of her;

Which shall be either to this gentleman

Or to her death, according to our law

Immediately provided in that case.”

1.1. 42-45

On the other hand, Hermia has to love her father no matter what he

says or does to her. Children are brought up to respect their parents

and love them. Theseus tells Hermia

“What say you, Hermia? Be advised fair maid.

To you your father...

... middle of paper ...

...ready to

jump into bed with him. Today, many people would find this disgusting

and outrageous. But it is fiction, so anything can happen. Especially

when you are under a magical spell.

Passionate Love

“So will I grow, so live, so die my lord,

Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke

My soul consents not to give sovereignty.”

1.1.79-82

Hermia does not love Demetrius. She would rather die or become a nun,

than marry him. She only has eyes for one man, Lysander. And he feels

exactly the same way about her. When they are together, you can see

that the love between them is really strong. So she is quite surprised

when he is suddenly in love with Helena. As a result of the “Love

Juice”, Lysander falls in love with Helena, and becomes infatuated and

obsessive.