Individual part of the second collective paper

We are going to see which of the recurrent patterns that we saw (in our first collective paper) in Shakespeare’s comedy can be observed on the character of Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream:

Happy Ending

As in the other comedies, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream we have a happy ending in which everything is restored. When the four lovers (Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena) wake up in the wood, they think that all what has happened has been a dream and they forget everything. So, Lysander shows his love again to Hermia and Demetrius also loves Helena. At the end, Theseus (Duke of Athens) overrules Egeus and commands the wedding between Hermia and Lysander, who is the man she has chosen. As can observe, here there is a promise of marriage that means happy ending.

Egeus, I will overbear your will;

For in the temple, by and by, with us

These couples shall eternally be knit.

(Act IV.i, Theseus lines176-178)

Marriage

This recurrent pattern can also be observed in this play and mainly in relation to this character. She is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. As we know, in most of Shakespearian comedies marriage is present, but sometimes it is not so easy to reach, in this case because of parental disapproval. At this time in this society, aristocrats, husbands and fathers were the dominant voices; in the case of fathers, they decided to whom their daughter should marriage with, the best candidate was the worthiest.

In the play, Hermia opposes her father’s decision and even argues the Duke (Theseus), she prefers to die instead of marrying a man that she does not love. So, instead of accepting the impossibility of their love, Lysander convinces Hermia to run away.

So, we could interpret this reaction as love challenging this authoritarian and patriarchal society. Finally, the play ends with a promise of marriage, which is allowed by the Duke, between Hermia and Lysander (so she will marry the man she loves) and even between Helena and Demetrius. Therefore, there is a close relation between marriage and happy ending.

Wooing

We can also observe wooing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, since Demetrius loves Hermia and in a way he is picking on her in order to manage her. On the other hand, when the four lovers are in the wood under Puck’s charm, we can see that both Lysander and Demetrius are wooing Helena in order to win her. But we know that in the end Lysander loves Hermia and Demetrius loves Helena.

Confusion

When Hermia wakes up, after having a rest in the forest, she sees that Lysander is not there. Then she observes that he is wooing Helena, she is very confused, because at the beginning she thinks that he is cheating, but later he rejects her. So, she does not know if he loves her or if he loves Helena or if he is cheating her.

Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news, my love?

Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?

I am as fair now as I was erewhile

Since night you loved me; yet since night you left me.

(Act III.ii, Hermia lines 272-275)

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