The Theme of A Midsummers Night's Dream Essay

A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Shakespearean play, that the relationship of two characters clearly illustrates the theme of the play is A Midsummer Nights Dream. This play was written by the world famous William Shakespeare, who lived during the the late 16th Century and wrote it to perform to others as a source of entertainment. In A Midsummer Nights Dream the central theme is the course of true love never did run smooth, and is well illustrate by two central characters, Helena and Demetrius. Helena and Demetrius have a dramatic role on the theme through their misunderstandings and dislikes towards each other at different points of the play; until all dislikes vanish and they marry.

At the beginning of the play, Helena shows obvious feelings towards Demetrius although Demetrius dislikes her and is to marry another young lady called Hermia. Helena chases around after Demetrius in an attempt to make his feelings change so he loves her, instead of despise her. She speaks her feelings by using words like,

You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant,

But yet you draw not iron, for my heart,

Is true as steel, leave you your power to draw.

(Taken from Act two Scene one lines 195-7)

Helena is trying very hard to make him change his point of view and love her. Her words are persuasive and she praises Demetrius but despite this, Demetrius gets cross with Helena and tries very hard to get Helena of his back by speaking to her in an unpleasant manner.

Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit;

For I am sick when I do look on thee.

(Act 2 Scene 1 lines 211-2)

These words Demetrius said to Helena in an attempt to upset her enough so she stopped following her but the more Demetrius is spiteful to Helena the more she feels affection for him and the more she tries to make him love her, but, he is trying to make Hermia love him more. Helena says

And for that I do love you the more,

I am your spaniel; and Demetrius,

The more you beat me, the more I will fawn on you.

(Act 2 Scene 1 lines 202-4)

These words are used to try and let Demetrius know that the more he hated her the more she would love him and follow him around like a dog. Helena is head over heels in love with Demetrius but he scorns her and keeps attempting to get rid of her but she never stops trying to make him love her. When Helena and Hermia talk we find that Demetrius needs to change his feelings so that they match Helenas then everybody would be happy, but that is not happening. Helena also becomes jealous of Hermia because she has the men running after her and Helena begins to convince herself she is ugly, therefore she bursts into floods of tears regularly.

Call me fair? That fair again unsay.

Demetrius loves your fair. O happy fair!

(Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 181-2)