Literary Analysis Essay on Love in Midsummer Night's Dream

Introduction

William Shakespeare's great poetic works have always been known to portray sensible blends of tragic and comic components which fade into each other almost perfectly. These elements are always inherent also in most of his dramas and characters in ways which might be problematic to regard as humorous or pathetic. The happy tragic-comic transfusion within Shakespeare's works has often carried matters of great significance in ways that exhibit supreme mastery of art. Among these matters, the theme of love has always taken centrality in the Shakespearean texts, intertwining various elements of truth, illusion, pain, and relief. The perfect definitions of love, its genuine characteristics as well as its consequences have been at the epicenter of most literary discourses. These have been presented in various forms with a perfect mix of twists, in Shakespeare' A Midsummer Night's Dream. Four young Athenians: Hermia, Lysander, Helena Demetrius are the major characters carrying the theme of love (Jonghwan Kim 5-25). True to the common characteristics of his comedies, the play presents young lovers who strive to overcome the challenges that come with love, as well as the constant interferences from exterior sources such as parents, laws and higher powers. Other important elements in Shakespearean comedies include separation and reunion, family tensions and complex plotlines. A historical myth has always floated around that the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was crafted for wedding purposes, but this myth has not yet been proven (Guneratne). However, in this comedy through his characters, Shakespeare presents the uncertainties of love such attraction, rejection, lust, and confusion, as well as the levels of sacrifice and challenges that lovers go through to uphold their love and probably end up happily ever after.

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Various troublesome circumstances in the play stem from romantic relationships clouded with uncertainties and circles. The play begins with the imminent wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. One confusion that results from this marriage was that the kind of love exhibited between the two is not necessarily romantic. Being the Duke of Athens, Theseus' love for Hyppolyta did not really follow the traditional route of courtship in which both individuals get to know each other for some time, develop a fondness, closeness then love each other. Instead, the two became betrothed after a duel in which Theseus defeated Hyppolyta in battle and won her hand in marriage rather than in love. The union would also serve as peace settlement or a spoil of victory in which Hyppolyta's Amazon nation was defeated by Theseus. Difficulties and uncertainties surround this marriage in that it has nothing to do with true love or romance. In fact, Theseus' statement: ''Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword / And won thy love, doing thee injuries'' (1.1.17-18), seem to raise great concerns of pain (Shakespeare and Robinson). According to some critics, Hyppolyta's silence in most parts of Act I suggests that she is not happy with the union. Arguably, it would be confusing and unpleasant to marry the man who conquered her people in battle. Through this kind of situation, it can rightly be argued that Shakespeare's linking of love and violence was thinly aimed at revisiting man's animal nature, the violent facet of human nature (Shakespeare and Snodgrass). This kind of love is so different from the modern day understanding of what love is or represents. The two remain united in the end.

The concept of love exists in circles in the play. The foundation of love, reasons for attraction or what makes people fall in love proves to be complicated and confusing. Demetrius loves the beautiful Hermia and has the right to marry her as recommended by Athenian laws and Egeus, Hermia's father. In Athens, the law supports a man's role in suggesting a husband for his daughter. On the contrary, Hermia loves Lysander. On the same note, Helena loves Demetrius, who doesn't love her back. It is not simple to understand why Demetrius loves Hermia and is attracted to her yet Helena is also beautiful and wealthier than Hermia. The more Helena loves Demetrius, the more he hates her. In this scenario, love is affected by indifferences and issues of class differences. To uphold their love, Hermia and Lysander elope to the forest to uphold their love away from parental limitations and Athenian laws (Jonghwan Kim 5-25). The meditations that Helena make present love as an arbitrary blindfolded and childish concept initiated by Cupid, an ancient god of love represented by a winged boy with a bow and arrow meant to wound the hearts of potential lovers. She says:

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste" (1.1.239-241)

These issues portray love not only as a confusing circle of feelings and attractions but also as a notion controlled by some external powers. Helena faces rejection from Demetrius who is also rejected by Hermia. The escape to the forest by Hermia and Lysander to uphold their love represents the struggles and difficulties that come with being in love and this can be confirmed by Lysander when he tells Hermia that" the course of true love never did run smooth"(1.1.136).

Shakespeare paints love in various forms inspired by a clear vision and mutual fondness. At the same time, he portrays other challenges which attend to stand in the way of love. These obstacles are perfectly entangled within the plot of this play in ways which provoke interests of the audience to want to know more. Some of these challenges include but not limited to family disapproval, jealousy, conflicts, limitations by law, and the consequences of going against what the law recommends. The true love between Hermia and Lysander is threatened by her father's wish to have her marry Demetrius. Also, the law supports this kind of arrangement. Hermia faces serious consequences including celibacy or death if she goes against that view. The reason why Shakespeare brings on the relevance of this ancient Athenian law is to present the shade light on the love-law conflict and the male domination of women all spheres of the ancient Athenian lifestyles (Denton). Jealousy has always found it way in areas where love is involved. It manifests itself between Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies respectively. Titania's attention that is drawn by an adopted little changeling boy instead of Oberon makes him envious. Her refusal to let Oberon own the boy makes him use a love potion on his queen, so she fell in love with a monster. In the long run, the two resolve their differences and reconcile.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Shakespearean representation of love in 'A Midsummer Night's dream' is meant to uncover certain uncertainties that are related to the concept of love in the old days. Such issues like jealousy, attraction, rejection, lust, confusion, and love-related challenges are still not clear even in the modern days despite having been dominant in the ancient world. This means that the play's purpose is immortalized and will remain relevant even in the future.

Works Cited

Denton, Jaques Snider. The System of Shakespeare's Dramas. St. Louis: G. T. Jones and Company, 1877. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009.

Guneratne, Anthony R. Shakespeare, Film Studies, And The Visual Cultures Of Modernity. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Print.

Jonghwan Kim. "The Nature Of Love In A Midsummer Night'S Dream." Shakespeare Review45.1 (2009): 5-25. Web.

Shakespeare, William, and W. Heath Robinson. Shakespeare's Comedy Of A Midsummer-Night's Dream. [England]: Pook Press, 2017. Print.

Shakespeare, William, and Mary E. Snodgrass. Shakespeare on the Double! a Midsummer Night's Dream. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Internet resource.