Midsummer Essays - Hermia, Demetrius, Helena,

Midsummer Nights Dream The difference between a play and other forms of literature is that a play is meant to be seen and heard, not merely read. As such, the playwright's text is the center of a larger effort on the part of director, actors and designers as they attempt to aid the audience's understanding of the play's plot, their sympathies with its characters and, ultimately, with the themes that it addresses. Each scene of a play helps an audience to build its appreciation of the play as a whole. The director, actors, designers and other various stage hands are all part of a team that helps to convey the writer's ultimate message. The greatest example of any of these principles would most likely be found in a Shakespearean play. I believe Act 3, Scene II in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" would be the best illustration of this theory. Now the characters in this scene are Oberon, Robin Goodfellow, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena. Oberon is the king of the fairies. His mission in this scene is twofold; get Titania, his wife, to fall in love with a beast and have Demetrius fall in love with Helena. In the end he achieves both goals. Robin is basically a bumbling sidekick to the king. Oberon gave him the potion to put on Demetrius' eyes, but he instead puts it on Lysander's. Lysander is in love with Hermia as she is with him. Helena is in love with Demetrius who was at one time in love with her, but now would like to marry Hermia. This scene takes place deep in the forest. I think this is very important, because the forest is a dark place full of mystery, and mystery is a nice prelude to romance. It must not be a very big forest, because when Hermia asked Lysander to meet her there, she never established any specific spot. This adds to the idea that this is a very localized problem. Everyone knows who everyone else is, and everyone is in love with the wrong person. Now Lysander and Hermia were supposed to meet in the forest to plan their elopement, but Helena told Demetrius of their plans in order to gain his favor. Demetrius ran after Hermia and Helena ran after him. Of course no one knows that anyone's been anointed with any love potion which creates most of the confusion. Once Robin gets it right and gets Demetrius to fall in love with Helena, she mistakes it for some cruel joke. Hermia however, takes the situation all too seriously. She really starts to believe Lysander is in love with Helena, especially when he's ready to duel with Demetrius for her hand. Luckily, however, Robin impersonates the both of them, and he leads them away from each other to someplace they can each fall asleep. We see many different themes throughout this scene. The theme"love is blind" is certainly conveyed powerfully. How else could we explain Titania being in love with Bottom, who at this point has the head of an ass? This also explains how Lysander can suddenly be in love with someone whom he's never shown the slightest bit of interest in until now. Of course there's also the reversal of roles in this scene. In a previous scene, Helena was being treated as one would treat a dog. Demetrius was literally shaking her off of his leg, while she simply asked for more when she said, "I am your spaniel, Demetrius, The more you beat me I will fawn on you". In this scene however, Demetrius has a change of heart and we hear him proclaim, "O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love shall I compare thine eyne?" Hermia, who up till now was wanted by both Lysander and Demetrius, gets nothing but loathing from the two. Where before they would shower her with nothing but praises, now they shout insults at her, and even threaten her with bodily harm. You would think all this messing around with people's emotions would complicate the plot to immeasurable ends, but in the end it actually begins to resolve it. Because of Robin's little mishap, we have a great deal of confusion during a good share of this scene. Demetrius and Lysander are ready to kill each other in order to be with Helena. This is apparent when they exchange "fighting" words: LYSANDER: Now She holds me not. Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right, Of thine or mine, is