Hermia and Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream Essay Example

In the play, Shakespeare uses the characters of Lysander and Hermia to show how love can make us act in irrational and irregular ways through the use of characterization. Characterization is how a person is developed and how the construction of a character makes people act a certain way. One example representing the use of characterization in the play is when Helena finds out about Hermia's and Lysander's plan to run away to be in love with each other, and she believes that if she interferes and tells Demetrius, he will find her thoughtful and eager to help no matter whom it affects. Helena is a person that needs the love from others and will do anything she can to get it, she is not self-conscious, and she goes beyond just to be heard and tries to get what she wants; she would rather instead get treated like a wild animal then give up on her love. A Quotation to support this is, "And even for that do I love you the most. 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 worse 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). Helena states this remark to Demetrius after saying he does not want to be with her and his heart still lies with Hermia. Helena says that he could treat her like she is his little dog in the quote. The more he pushes her away, the more she will love him. Treat her like he would treat a dog—kick her, hit her, neglect her, try to lose her. She would do anything for him to love her. This example eternally shows how love can make us act irrational and irregular through Helena's character; she makes herself an object to get Demetrius's love back after leaving her for Hermia. The quote shows how she would drop everything for one person, which is irrational behavior, just for one's love. Another example of the use of characterization is revealed when the character of Demetrius is still deeply in love with Hermia and would not give up on her, and he is trying to get her love back by following her into the forest after Hermia and Lysander run away. Demetrius was once in love with Lovely Helena until Hermia's Father, Egeus, brought forth Hermia, and he fell gazingly in love with her. Demetrius would work as hard as he could towards something to get it. He feels incomplete without her in his life. "I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I'll stay, the other stayeth me. Thou told'st me they were stol'n unto this wood. And here am I, and wood within this wood, Because I cannot meet my Hermia. Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more." (Act 2, Scene 1,lines 173-179). Demetrius announces this to Helena when he chases Hermia into the woods after finding out about her to run away with her love Lysander. Demetrius is starting to get annoyed by the presence of Helena and how she is trying to convince him she is the one he should be with. The quote is about him getting mad at Helena because she will not let him go after the person he is in love with.