A Midsummer Nights Dream Love Complications

Love Complications

     “The course of true love never did run smooth” (Mid.1.1.136). In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this quote could not be more exemplified. Many characters are in love and most of them face difficult challenges and tests to their love. They miscommunicate, they have a one-way love, or they are not allowed to love. Love has many challenges, including miscommunication, it not being returned, and it being forbidden.

     Communication is a key part of a relationship, so miscommunication is a major challenge in love. Helena and Hermia, best friends, had major problems with communication. When the love potion mayhem occurred, both Lysander and Demetrius loved Helena. Helena said, “Lo, she is one of the confederacy!” (Mid.3.2.195) because she thought everyone was playing a trick on her. However Hermia questioned, “I understand not what you mean by this” (Mid.3.2.239) because she was confused and angry about Lysander not loving her anymore. Another thing is, even though it was a play within the play, Pyramus and Thisbe went through a great deal of miscommunication. The storyline of it was two forbidden lovers snuck off in the woods to meet, but Pyramus thought Thisbe was dead, when she was not, and killed himself, so Thisbe saw him dead and killed herself. Miscommunication causes many struggles in love.

     Loving someone without them loving back is one of the worst feelings, it also is a challenge of love. One example of this is Helena and Demetrius. They were engaged until Demetrius fell in love with Helena’s best friend Hermia. He told Helena, “I love thee not, therefore pursue me not” (Mid.2.1.192) which showed he began to hate Helena, while she still loved him and told him, “And even for that do I love you the more” (Mid.2.1.206). Another example is Demetrius and Hermia. Demetrius fell in love with Herma, except Hermia loves Lysander and wishes to marry him. Love not being returned is another challenge of love.

     One-way love is a heartbreaking challenge, but forbidden love is even harder. Parents may forbid the love of their children. Egeus, the father of Hermia, did not allow his daughter to marry Lysander. He even went to Theseus, who said, “Either to die the death, or to abjure/ For ever the society of men/ Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,” (Mid.1.1.67-69), and under the law forbid them to marry. Also, in the play within the play, Pyramus and Thisbe had a forbidden love. Just like Hermia and Lysander, Pyramus and Thisbe’s parents prohibited them from being together. They even talked through a chink in the wall so they could be together without getting caught. A challenge of love is it being forbidden.