Wednesday, January 8, 2020

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

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†¦show more content†¦Although he tries with all his might to win the love of Hermia, his greatest efforts are not good enough to satisfy her needs nor strokes her interest. The same can be said for, however, when referring to Helena pathetic attempts to win the heart of the one she wants; that one is none other than Demetrius. When Helena in informed of Hermia and Lysander’s plan to escape to the wilderness and to marry each other against Egeus’ will, she goes as far as spoiling their plans to Demetrius in hopes of proving her dedication and love to him. This is a perfect example of untrue love. In the play when the fairies are fighting things go wrong in the world with the mortals. Oberon and Titania are fighting over Titania’s mortal friend’s child. Oberon wants to use the little boy for some of his works. However Titania will not hand the child over. This leads to the feud between the two fairies. Oberon tells Puck to place the love potion on Titania’s eyes so when she awakes she will fall deeply in love with the first thing she sees and forget all about Oberon and the child. Oberon oversees how Demetrius is treating Helena and tells Puck to also use some on him to make him fall madly in love with Helena. This is where the mix up happens and the lovers flip flop. Pucks sees Lysander and assumes that is Demetrius. He gives the potion to Lysander while he is sleeping and along comes Helena and wakes him. Now Lysander is in love withShow MoreRelatedOvids Phoebus and Daphne Compared to Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream520 Words   |  3 Pagesmost l ove stories, a man chases a woman after love. Society tells us that it’s a man’s job to go after a woman he loves and woo her. In Ovid’s story of â€Å"Phoebus and Daphne† the lustful Phoebus (Apollo) chases after the nymph Daphne who rejects love due to Cupid’s arrow. Centuries later, author William Shakespeare wrote A midsummer Night’s Dream where it is a woman who chases after a man. Helena is a woman in love with Demetrius yet he is in love with a woman called Hermia. 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