Midsummer Night's Dream Quotes

The Vantage of Lysander

A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the story of a young woman named Hermia who defies her father’s orders to marry a wealthy, noble man named Demetrius for the man she loves. Facing death as a consequence of her disobedience, Hermia is convinced by her love, Lysander, to elope with him into the forest in the night. Here, Lysander and Demetrius find themselves under the effects of a fairy-induced love spell, causing both of them to love Helena. In the opening scene, Lysander is trying to prove to Egeus that he is just as propitious of a marriage prospect as Demetrius. “My love is more than his, my fortunes every way as fairly ranked, if not with vantage, as Demetrius,” he claims. Not only is he just as wealthy and respectable as Demetrius, but also there is vantage to choosing Lysander – vantage meaning “advantage, benefit, profit, gain” (OED, “vantage”, noun, sense 1a). “And – which is more than all these boasts can be – I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. Why should not I then prosecute my right?” (1.1.100-105). In the scenes following this quote, Lysander and Demetrius illuminate, through their actions, the vantage Lysander is referring to: the purity of his love for Hermia, his respect for a woman’s body and sexuality, and Demetrius’

unreliability as a suitable husband.
Although Demetrius and Lysander appear to be equally favorable candidates based on their wealth and social status, one notable difference is the way they treat the woman they are fighting over. It is obvious that Demetrius sees Hermia as his property, demanding the “crazed title to [his] certain right” (1.1.92). He is not even slightly concerned about her happiness or well-being. He even goes so far as to threaten to slay the man she loves so he can have her for himself, exposing not only his selfishness but a nature of violence as well (2.1.190). Lysander’s love and respect for Hermia shows in the way he addresses her. His tone is soft and gentle, never condescending. Although he wishes to sleep next to her in the wood, he respects her objection and promises to be faithful to her (2.2.51-58).
Another clear “vantage” of choosing Lysander to marry Hermia is Demetrius’ opposite approach to situations like the one above.

Unlike Lysander, Demetrius is not willing to take “no” for an answer. This is expressed not only in his persistent demands to marry Hermia, but also in his interaction with Helena in the woods. “You do impeach your modesty too much, to leave the city and commit yourself into the hands of one that loves you not; to trust the opportunity of night, and the ill counsel of a desert place, with the rich worth of your virginity,” (2.1.214-219). This line, if his previous actions had not done so already, reveals the true character of Demetrius: an arrogant, violent, selfish

misogynist.
It is also mentioned in the play that Demetrius was formerly involved with Helena. “For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, he hailed down oaths that he was only mine, and when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, so he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt, (1.1.242-245). If he so easily lost interest in Helena by seeing another woman who doesn’t even reciprocate his desires, how could he be trusted not to repeat the same pattern? In addition to his lies as well as his threat to rape her, Demetrius speaks to Helena as if she is less than human. “Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; for I am sick when I do look on thee,” (2.1.211-212). He then threatens to “leave [her] to the mercy of wild beasts”, further exhibiting his violent nature (2.1.228).
It is never explicitly stated why Egeus favors Demetrius so, although it can be assumed that Lysander never had a chance to prove his worth. While Egeus sees in Lysander an insubordinate that attempts to woo his daughter into rebellion with flattery and material gifts, he fails to see Lysander’s merit as well as the vices of Demetrius. Through his acts of love and respect, Lysander proves (out of Egeus’ sight) that he is capable of providing the same material benefits as Demetrius, with the vantage of emotional and personal support.