True Love In A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
As Lysander says in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “The course of true love never did run smooth” (Shakespeare 1.1.134). Contrary to beliefs, even true love isn’t perfect. It calls couples to expect the unexpected, encountering difficulties and hardships along the way without a moment’s notice, True love is complicated. But no matter the amount or the intensity of difficulties that may surface, problems can always be solved, like many problems solved in Shakespeare’s play. The play takes place in Athens, where the four lovers, Demetrius, Helena, Lysander, and Hermia reside. Lysander and Hermia truly love each other, and plans to elope when Hermia’s father wishes an arranged marriage between Helena and another
Lysander converses with Hermia and they plan to elope to his aunt’s house the next night, a place safe from the Athenian law. Lysander tells Hermia, “I have a widow aunt … From Athens is her house remote seven leagues … There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And to that place the sharp Athenian law Cannot pursue us…” (1.1.157-163). Because of the love between Hermia and Lysander, they are rather impulsive to act so quickly on leaving the city, away from their homes, away from their parents, to go marry in secret. Their love put their lives at risk, as the punishment could likely be death if they are to be caught. Hermia and Lysander risked anything and everything to be together, including death. Another example, in which love can cause people to do crazy things, is the proposal of a duel between Lysander and Demetrius to determine which man has the most right to Helena. When Puck, the fairy, anoints Lysander and Demetrius with the love nectar, the two began fawning over Helena. Tensions build up quickly between the two, as Lysander challenges Demetrius to a duel. He says to Demetrius, “Now she holds me not, Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right, Of thine or mine,
Demetrius had once loved Helena, but unfortunately, had lost feelings and abandoned her when he found new love for Hermia. Helena was still head over heels and had still loved Demetrius dearly, but his love for Hermia had ruin their relationship. When Helena was following Demetrius everywhere he went and tries to get him back, Demetrius turns back on her and says, “I will not stay thy questions. Let me go, Or if thou follow me, do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood” (2.1.235-237). Ever since Demetrius fell for Hermia, he consistently tries to avoid Helena and turn his back on her. His love for Hermia completely ruined their relationship, leaving Helena chasing in his tracks. Furthermore, his last words to Helena before he was anointed with the love nectar was a threat, showing that he would hurt her if she continued to follow him. Another way in which love has ruined relationships is the broken relationship between Hermia and Lysander. They both truly and genuinely love each other. Their love is the reason why all four lovers are entangled in a chaotic mess at the forest. But after Puck applies the love nectar to Lysander, he falls in love with Helena. Hermia, in shock, could not understand why. Lysander’s new love for Helena completely destroys his relationship with Hermia. Lysander says to her, “Get you gone, you dwarf, You minimus of hind’ring knotgrass