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Love Is Blind, Among Other Things

In: English and Literature

Submitted By spence0810
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Love is Blind, Among Other Things
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedy by William Shakespeare set in and around the city of Athens during a time when the belief in the existence of magic and magical beings was not outrageous. The characters used form a wide variety of social classes from royalty to the lowly working class which helps to show that the affects of love are not confined to any specific group of people, but that everyone is equally afflicted. Helena is one of the four young lovers depicted in this play and has a unique perspective on love by being the only female who does not have a suitor. Shakespeare uses Helena’s first soliloquy at the end of act one, scene one, along with the play itself to help solve some of love’s more mysterious questions such as: why people love others who do not love them; why people fall in love with certain people; and why people fall in and out of love.
Why is it that some people love others who do not love them back? When Helena is following Demetrius through the forest while he is trying to find Hermia and Lysander, Demetrius constantly berates Helena, telling her that he does not love her “I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.” (2.1.188) and that it sickens him to look upon her “For I am sick when I do look on thee.” (2.1.212). Helena, feeling Demetrius’ scorn, continues to follow him and profess her love for him “The more you beat me, I will fawn on you.” (2.1.204). The logic for why she follows him cannot exist in the mind of someone who is not in love “...matters of love which typically are irrational” (Gianakaris). In Helena’s first soliloquy Shakespeare states “And therefore is Love said to be a child, / Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.” (1.1.238-239). The reason people will love someone that does not love them is because love inspires people to make bad decisions in the hopes that their love life will

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