A Midsummer Night’s Dream Group

Question:

ilubashley
ilubashley
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," how does Helena respond to Demetrius threatening physical abuse?

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Posted by ilubashley on Thursday November 6, 2008 at 9:25 PM and tagged with a midsummer night’s dream, characters, demetrius, helena, plot.

Answers:


  1. robertwilliam

    eNotes Editor

    Demetrius, it seems to me, doesn't actually threaten physical abuse in a serious way - but more because he's tried more or less every other tactic he can think of to get Helena to go away and stop irritating him:

    You do impeach your modesty too much
    that
    It is not night when I do see your face
    Therefore I think I am not in the night...

    Demetrius, Helena argues, is too virtuous to rape her - and anyway, because she loves him so much, it doesn't even seem like night, so she isn't scared. And therefore, she isn't leaving him alone.

    If anyone *is* serious about some sort of sexual or physical abuse in the play, it's Helena herself:

    And even for that do I love you the more.
    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.

    Helena actually wants to be abused by Demetrius - which gives the whole conversation a sort of pseudo-S&M quality. This play really isn't one for little kids!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer-text/act-ii-scene-i?start=2
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer/demetrius-character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer/helena-character-analysis

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    Posted by robertwilliam on Friday November 7, 2008 at 3:48 AM