Friday, November 14, 2008

Helena and Demetrius

So, after reading through A Midsummer Nights Dream, I must admit I felt quite overwhelmed. I tried to keep up while listening to the BBC version posted on the blog, and that seemed to help a lot. One of the relationships in the play that I found most interesting was the one between Helena and Demetrius. Its the typical she loves him, but he doesn't love her scenario. While Demetrius is betrothed to the beautiful Hermia, and has professed his love for her, Helena can't help but to still love the man that will seemingly never love her.
In the passage in Act 2 Scene I, we see Demetrius and Helena in a struggle to come to terms with their 'relationship'. Demetrius tries to get her to leave him alone and says "I love thee not, therefore pursue me not." He is stern with her and makes it very clear that he does not love her, nor will he ever-his love is vested in Hermia. After Demetrius tells her that he may have to tell her that he cannot love her her reply is "And even for that do I love you the more. " Helena's infatuation with Demetrius makes her look needy and lost. She can't seem to understand that he will not love her. Her character in the play is a little crazy I think. She almost seems to be stalking him. Creepy? I think so. But i guess love can do that?....
All throughout this part of the scene there is an obvious struggle as Demetrius tries to get away from Helena. I think that Helena just wants to feel loved and have someone reciprocate her feelings for a change. Although her character seems a bit weird, I think that she just wants to be accepted. She wants to receive the attention that the beautiful Hermia gets.
Now....when Puck and Oberon come into the play I know this is where the 'play within a play' begins. At this point in Act 3 scene 2, we know that Puck has put Demetrius, Helena, and Lysander under the 'spell' by using those flowers. This is when Demetrius and Lysander profess their love for Helena. Demetrius says "O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eye?". Helena is being swooned over by not 1 man , but 2. I think for her this is a huge deal. She got what she wanted. The affection of the man she loved: Demetrius.
This was truly one complicated love triangle.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I felt quite overwhelmed as well and it is all very complicated. Silly humans.

Shannon said...

Silly humans, indeed.

"Her character in the play is a little crazy I think. She almost seems to be stalking him. Creepy? I think so. But i guess love can do that?...."

Yes, perhaps the truly humorous/frightening(?) thing about this play is just how accurately it *does* represent the ridiculousness that accompanies our very "real" love relationships.

Natacha Roman said...

i totally agree with your interpretation of Demetrius' and Helena's relationship! She still wants him even though he does make it very clear that he will never love her. Good analyzation over all!

Kyle said...

a very good point this whole "dream" is just about some silly love and the craziness that accompanies it...