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

death, according to our law” (Act I Scene I).

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

hath urged her height and with her personage, her tall personage, her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him” (Act II Scene I). Even though Lysander is no longer faithful to Hermia, Hermia is still loyal to him, which exhibits her uttermost commitment to Lysander. Since Hermia is so loyal to Lysander, that loyalty will prevail throughout their marriage, giving Hermia and Lysander the best chance at a successful marriage.
Next, Lysander is respectful of Hermia, which proves that he cherishes her enough to observe her beliefs.

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

marriage.
Lastly, Hermia is able to forgive Lysander for his actions, a conspicuous quality that implements a substantial base for a successful marriage. After Puck, a fairy, releases Lysander from the love potion, Hermia still loves him. The couple rejoices when Theseus grants that “these couples shall be eternally knit” (Act IV Scene I). Due to Hermia’s ability to forgive Lysander, Hermia and Lysander were able to blissfully marry. Hermia’s ability to forgive Lysander, despite the fact that he hated her, proves that Lysander and Hermia’s love for each other is amaranthine. Since forgiveness is such a critical aspect of a prosperous marriage, Hermia and Lysander have the premium chance for a successful marriage.
In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia and Lysander’s relationship will be the most successful due to their loyalty to each other, Lysander’s respect for Hermia’s beliefs, and Hermia’s ability to forgive Lysander. Loyalty, respect, and forgiveness are all vital qualities to a strong marriage, and relationships built around these traits are sure to last.