True Love: Hermia and Lysander
True Love Love is a strong-filled emotion, a bond which is shared between two persons. Love adds to the enchantment and beauty of life. Love has the power to lift the spirits of the persons who share this pure sentiment and is also capable of eliminating the controversies, jealousies and barriers existent due to blood lineage which may try to harm lovers. Egeus, Hermia’s Father, goes to Duke Theseus for assistance with his predicament. Theseus gives Hermia the option to either marry Demetrius, the man his father has deemed worthy of her, or for her to live a barren life as a nun.
As Hermia heard what was to come, she replies to Theseus as she defends her love, ”So I will grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his lordship whose unwished yoke my soul consents not to give sovereignity. ” Hermia’s pale cheeks and melancholic look reflected the sorrow settling in her spirit as she lost her right to love with her heart but in the eyes of another. The situation in which Hermia and Lysander are due to Egues complaint reveals the dominant male perspective of a fatherin society.
Lysander in the situation they are in comforts Hermia by saying, “The course of true love never did run smooth. ” Lysander assured her that they are only going through a phase which all lovers undergo but they will be able to conquer. In response to the Dukes options offered to Hermia, she and Lysander plan to elope in the woods and go to Lysander’s aunt. Lysander suggests to his love,”Therefore hear me, Hermia: I have a widow aunt a dowager of great revenue; and she hath no child. From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; and she respects me as her only son.
There gentle Hermia, may I marry thee…” Hermia replies to him, “In that same place thou hast appointed me tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. ” Hermia‘s and Lysander’s love is always put to the test by Egeus’ rejection of Lysander. In the forest, their love is put to the test simply by the fact that Demetrius is always after Hermia and tries to prevent her from eloping with Lysander. Their love is also trialed by Puck who confuses the Athenian lad which Oberon had sent him to put the love potion on.
Puck was to place the potion on Demetrius for him to respond to Helena’s love but instead Puck placed it on Lysander’s. Throughout the plot of the story, Hermia always had the option to give up on Lysander’s love and stay with the lad her father had chosen for her, but she always had in mind to follow her heart and not give up on her love due to small adversities. Lysander is worthy of Hermia’s love and proves to be a brave lad who was willing to take risks in order to be with Hermia.
While being with the Duke, Lysander tries to convince them that he is financially stable to be with Hermia by saying, “I am my lord, as well possessed. My love is more than his; my fortune every way as fairly ranked- if not with vantage- as Demetrius. ” Through all adversities, He never left Hermia unprotected nor did he give up. Lysander comforts Hermia with his company and words of advice. Lysander was with Hermia in times of need as in the Dukes resolution.
Lysander conquered all obstacles that came in between the love that he had for Hermia and proved he was truly worthy of Hermia’s love with his actions. The theme of forbidden love is reflected by the characters of Hermia and Lysander who live life as a daily battle in struggle to maintain their love alive. Even though “supernatural” powers and mountain-high problems may come in the way of true love, in the end love will always be victorious. Hermia and Lysander are an example of a couple who faced challenges on the way but the prize-being together as a couple, was far more rewarding in the end.
