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   kwoo1213 Teacher
   College - Junior

   eNotes Editor

   The power of love is evident throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream through the actions of the lovers, including irrational actions. For example, Hermia is willing to die for her love for Lysander.  She would rather die than marry Demetrius, a man she doesn't love.  Helena's love for Demetrius is also quite clear through her actions (although some of them are obsessive, to be sure), like her willingness to follow Demetrius into the forest like a lost puppy.  She also risks everything for him, although it is not a life or death situation for her like it is for Hermia.  Love is also conveyed through the character's words, as well, obviously.  This power helps convey the mood through the power of both the words AND the character's actions.  The reader cannot help but feel moved by Shakespeare's poetry in the play.  Lysander's words to Hermia are quite moving, for example, when he is trying to persuade her that everything will be fine (even though she has been given the awful choice of death or marrying Demetrius). He says to her that the "course of true love never did run smooth," meaning that true love must sometimes face great obstacles. This gives her strength. 

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   Posted by kwoo1213 on Sunday May 18, 2008 at 12:55 PM