Blog Post #2: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Acts I-III

The point of tis play is to tell the audience that love and emotions are fickle and can cause a lot of drama. People are quick to judge others’ actions and emotions can get the best of anyone. Additionally, I believe that Shakespeare is warning people to be careful what they wish for, especially when it comes to love. Helena is an especially interesting character in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Helena goes from no one loving her to two men fighting for her affections. Helena deeply pines for Demetrius and is devastated that he would rather be with Hermia. However, after the serum from the flower is used on Demetrius and Lysander, she becomes the object of their affections. Instead of enjoyed the attention she receives from the men, one of which she was recently enamored with, Helena believes that Demetrius, Lsyander, and even Hermia are making fun of her by all of a sudden declaring their love for her.

            Helena’s character is almost a little confusing thus far in the play. Helena goes from telling Demetrius that Hermia and Lysander are running away so that she will have a reason for Demetrius to love her. Essentially Helena goes from desiring affection so much to questioning why people would ever have affection for her. Helena’s emotions are fickle because she quickly goes from wondering how someone could want someone to love Hermia more than her to wondering how she could be worthy of affection. However, her temperament throughout these changes in almost stay about the same. Helena stays very much upset throughout what we have read with the exception of when she says that she will get revenge and tell Demetrius that Hermia and Lysander are running away.

            To show Helena’s change in heart, I have two quotes. The first:

            And even for that do I love you the more.

I am your spaniel. And, Demetrius,

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

Use me but as your spaniel—spurn me, strike me,

Neglect me, lose me. Only give me leave,

Unworthy as I am, to follow you.

What worser place can I beg in your love—

And yet a place of high respect with me—

Than to be usèd as you use your dog?

-Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 187-195

The previous quote contrasts with Helena’s demeanor after the spells have been cast:

Lo, she is one of this confederacy!

Now I perceive they have conjoined all three

To fashion this false sport, in spite of me.—

Injurious Hermia! Most ungrateful maid!

Have you conspired, have you with these contrived

To bait me with this foul derision?

Is all the counsel that we two have shared,

The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent

When we have chid the hasty-footed time

For parting us—oh, is it all forgot?

-Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 195-204

The passage shows how Helena goes from being to the point where she would be willing to be treated as a dog if it meant getting attention from Demetrius. In the second passage, she talks about how she thinks Hermia conspired with Demetrius and Lysander to falsely make Helena believe that she is desirable.