Essay, Research Paper
" A
Midsummer Night’s Dream "Character
AnalysisHermiaWhen we
first meet Hermia she is the typical girl in love against her fathers wishes.
Obviously we see from the start that she is very devoted to Lysander, her love,
and she does not like to be forced to do things that she does not want. She
does not want to marry Demetrius even though her father has pretty much told
her it is that or death. Yes, she could always go live in a nunnery or live a life
of chastity but who really wants that. So from the start we see that she is
very adamant and very in love. Before
going into Hermia’s inner self I must address her physical appearance. She is
Egeus’ daughter and she is a tiny woman with a dark completion. She is often
mocked for this like when Helena and her were quarreling in the woods Hermia
says this in regards to height – "Now I perceive that she hath made
compare between our statures: she hath urged her height, And with her
personage, her tall personage, Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with
him." (Act III Scene 2 Line 292). So obviously she is aware of her lack in
height and it seems to cause her a bit of pain. Though Helena is taller than
Hermia even she admits that Hermia has "sparkling eyes and a lovely
voice".Hermia is
very set in what she wants from the very first scene. She has eyes only for
Lysander.So obviously she is very faithful. Even when faced with the decision
her father gave her she did not waver for a second in her love for him. Throughout
the story Hermia’s emotions were kind of tossed around and at one point she
even says, " Am I not Hermia? Are you not Lysander? (Act III Scene 2 line
274). So we see that she gets a little confused and a bit hurt when hurt
feelings we cast aside. At that point in the story I think she lost a part of
her self. She had put a part of her self in side Lysander a he had just brushed
it away. So when Lysander came back to her she then became herself again. So in
that we see that she has intrusted herself in Lysander and had no doubt that he
loved her. Boy did she get a slap in the face.Hermia is
a very key figure in the story so she has relations with almost all the
characters in the story. The first and most important relationship Hermia had
was with the man she loved, Lysander. From the start we see that Hermia loved
Lysander with all her heart and he loved her the same in return. The only time
that there was a flaw in their relationship was when Puck put the magic into
Lysander’s eyes and he fell in love with Helena. Hermia had very right to be
mad and to feel rejected. But once Puck straightened out his goof up their
relationship went back to the euphoric state like before.The next
relationship is that of Helena’s and Hermia’s. These two grew up together and
were probably extremely close all their life. Then they hit womanhood and there
it went crazy. Hermia was loved by everyone including Demetrius, the one Helena
wanted. So obviously Helena was jealous and she had a right to be. So at this
point in their lives there was a major strain in their relationship. In the end
though it all turns out all right. Both of them are with who they want to be
with.Hermia and
Egues’ relationship is that of a typical father-daughter relationship. Egues
only wants the best for is daughter and Hermia is only thinking about her own
welfare. She loves Lysander and her father does not think he is the best man to
marry his little girl. So as for that their relationship is completely healthy.
Hermia just says – " I would my father looked but with my eyes." (Act
I Scene 1 line 56). But fathers can definitly be that way at times. They see
what they want to see.Hermia and
Demetrius are only but members in the same love triangle. There is truly no
hope that Hermia will ever love Demetrius in return unless Puck comes along
with his magic flower. So as far as that goes unless magic is involve there is
really no hope. Hermia is very sure of who she loves.Overall
Hermia was very true to her emotions. She new what she wanted and eevn in the
face of losing the love of her life she stayed strong yet hot tempered about
the whole thing. Amazingly enough through out all the confusion Hermia stayed
very much in control.