The Pursuit of Love in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream

Webster’s Dictionary defines love as a feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters. By the end of Shakespeare’s play Midsummer Night’s Dream, it goes without saying that Webster’s Dictionary definition was able to hit this definition head on. Shakespeare is able to paint the perfect picture for this play mainly because he is one of the great masters of the English Language.

In the play Midsummer Night’s Dream, the pursuit of love (whether it be true or untrue) is undeniably evident throughout the first two acts. The pursuit of love between Hermia and Lysander becomes more obvious when her father Egeus, commands the Duke of Athens (Theseus) to tell Hermia that she was faced with two choices: either marry Demetrius and be in Egeus’ good favor or to be put to death. Being that this play is a Shakespearian play, she obviously goes against her father’s wishes in hopes of build a life of love on her own with none other than Lysander. Although these two seem to play the lead role when referring to love’s pursuit, characters such as Helena offers up her many desperate attempts in pursing Demetrius’ love, while Demetrius himself engages in a desperate pursuit for the love of Hermia simultaneously.

Furthermore, Lysander and Hermia are the true lovers in the play Midsummer Night’s Dream. The reason the love between both Hermia and Lysander is true is because they both love each other equally. Hermia’s love is mirrored by Lysander’s love in full detail. True love is not a one way street. True love is not one person loving another person more the significant other.

In contrast, Just as Herm...

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... loves are very untrue. The potions caused the flip flop of loves.

Throughout the play the pursuit of love is what made the play interesting. I found that everyone just wanted to be loved. Rather it was true love or untrue love it was the love nonetheless that made play what it is. Hermia and Lysander’s dying love for one another and Helena and Demetrius’ untrue love and the love of the fairies Oberon and Titania. This entire play was based on some form of love. The love of Titania and the donkey’s bottom and the ever so interesting love Puck had for messing with the mortal world. In my eyes the message was simply love.

Works Cited
Robert DiYanni. “Literature: Reading, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.” Sixth Edition, The McGraw-

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