Jul 24, 2008

A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Demetrius (Character Analysis)

Demetrius first appears in I.i with Egeus, Hermia, and Lysander. Egeus speaks highly of Demetrius, calling him "my noble lord" (I.i.24), and telling Theseus that it is Demetrius who has his consent to marry Hermia, Egeus's daughter. After Hermia has expressed her desire to marry Lysander, and the duke has outlined her choices (death, nunnery, or marriage to Demetrius), Demetrius asks Hermia to ''Relent'' and Lysander to ''yield / Thy crazed title to my certain right" (I.i.91-92). Lysander replies that Demetrius has in fact "Made love to … Helena, / And won her soul" (I.i.107-08). Theseus...