Midsummer Nights Frolic, Essay Example

The Romp of Youthful Love

Harold Brooks and M.E. Comtois accomplished a difficult task: shedding a different light on the underestimated complexity of one of Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lysander and Hermia’s complicated turns of affection best represent the reality (and comedy) of youthful love. After resisting a sensible marriage which was arranged according to racial, social, and personal similarities, Lysander and Hermia acted more the ass than Puck. While Lysander and Hermia are adamant that they know best, Comtois points out that the lovers’ presence emphasizes the inflated love speeches as a farce (15). Yet the readers route for the young lovers, whose innocence is inextricably linked to their inexperience and the love games implied in courtship and sexual attraction- “for love and courtesy lie further off, in humane modesty” (Brooks 56-60).

Although enacted on a stage, the true genius of this comedy is in that the fictitious love of Pyramus and Thisbe stands in contrast to the dedication of Lysander and Hermia; age, experience, and their parents were likely right. In the first scene, this dynamic is established. When Hermia expresses her love for Lysander despite her father’s advocacy for Demetrius, the Duke of Athens, her confidant, admonishes her, hoping that “rather with his judgment must your eyes look” (Brooks ). When Demetrius and Egeus question the wisdom of the match, Lysander is petulant and defensive, denoting the youthful denial of insecurities by masking them with an overinflated confidence.

Through the pretty speeches and looks of Lysander, their relationship beyond the confines of civilized society changes quickly. In the woods, the relationship evolves into a real-world rendition of Little Red Riding Hood being pursued by the wolf. The noble intentions of Lysander are revealed as more animalistic, as he pursues carnal relations with Hermia. Whether discussing his love for Hermia or his spell-bound attraction to Helena, it is clear that Lysander is preoccupied with appearance- the beauty of Hermia’s bosom, the pretty words he utters which conceal his desire to murder competitors, etc. Even Hermia dreams of Lysander as a snake which smilingly consumes her heart (Brooks 145-156).

Works Cited

Comtois, M. E. (n.d.). The Comedy of Lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Western Illinois University, Essays in Literature: 15-25.

Brooks, Harold. (ed.) A Midsummer Night’s Dream.