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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help
Lysander's line sums up what this play is all about! I do believe that Shakespeare was trying to show us that true love does prevail -- even through all of the obstacles the characters face during the play. The only "unhappy" ending in the whole play is that Egeus doesn't get his way (and where is Hermia's mom anyway?).The original question dealt with the dark side of the play. Shakespeare doesn't focus on these darker issues -- if he did, it wouldn't be much of a comedy. The fact that 3 of the couples marry in the end (and Oberon and Titania reunite) makes this a comedy. I'm pretty sure that Shakespeare didn't want us to focus on the fact that Demetrius is still under the spell of the love juice by giving him the following lines:
...I wot not by what power
(But by some power it is), my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon;
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia;
But like a sickness did I loathe this food.
But, as in health come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.Notice that Demetrius is claiming that he is in his "natural" state. He certainly doesn't think that he is still under the power of the love juice, so that makes me wonder what Shakespeare wanted us to believe! Makes for a pretty interesting study. :-)
Posted by Amy on April 11, 1997 at 00:26:44
In Reply to "Does true love not exist in MSND?" posted by Ioanna on April 09, 1997 at 22:45:38
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help