The play midsummer nights dream was written by William Shakespeare in 1595-96. The loving, comedy, play is about 4 young teenagers falling in love. One of the main characters, Demetrius, is known as one of the iconic lovers, he started off in love with Hermia but she told him she will never love him because she is already madly in love with Lysander, so he started falling in love with Helena because of this spell that was laid upon him by Puck, helena, who was already in an undying love for Demetrius was starting to believe that Demetrius was truly in love with her but, it was only the spell. But, was Demetrius really in love with Helena or was he still head over heels for Hermia, just she didn’t love him back? In this essay I will be stating that Demetrius is not in love with Helena with three main arguments, he wouldn’t have treated her so disrespectfully if he was crazy in love with her, Oberon orders Puck to put a spell on Demetrius which instantly makes him fall in love with Helena,
If your really in love with someone you treat them with respect and kindness, and1 a caring, loving heart. In the Midsummer Night’s Dream play, Demetrius did not show any of the following towards Helena till the very end of the play when he thought he was in love with her. In Act 2, scene 1, Helena follows Demetrius into the forest begging him for his love and affection, during her pleading Demetrius is on his way to slay lysander for taking his love of his life and in return is hoping to earn the affection of the beloved Hermia, as said in line 189-190. Demetrius has no respect for Helena, as she’s floundering over him he’s treating her like she’s a piece of dirt. As they are having a conversation in the forest, he proceeds to tell her “I am sick when I do look on thee” (act 2, scene 1, line 212) that is telling Helena that she is ugly and that she is too hideous to look at and when ever Demetrius looks at her he starts to feel sick.
As in the earlier pages in the book tell us, Helena’s self esteem is very low on her thinking she is not pretty enough for Demetrius to fall in love with her, and she can not be friends Hermia because she is gorgeous and all the men fall in love with her. In Act 2, scene 1, section 215, Demetrius says “you do impeach your modesty too much, To leave the city and commit yourself, Into the hands of one who loves you not; To trust the opportunity of night and the ill counsel of a desert place with the rich worth of your virginity.” in this statement Demetrius is implying that if Helena shall stay out the night in this dark forest that he will have the choice to take advantage of her virginity. Although Helena says she trusts Demetrius and that she knows he would never take advantage of her, you never know what someone could do. I mean, being in love makes you think and do crazy things. As is happening in this play.
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On the other hand, taking advantage of a women when she is out alone is not treating her with respect, that is actually the opposite and is a disgusting way to treat anyone, women nor man. Going along with Demetrius and Helena’s conversation in the forest, Demetrius says “I’ll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, and leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts.” (Act 2, scene 1, section 227-228) Demetrius is explaining to Helena that if she does not leave the forest and stops continuing to follow him, he shall not protect her from any of the “wild beasts”. Demetrius is not thinking of anyone but himself and is putting his plans over anything else that is going on around him, he then claims that if she is being taken by the beasts he will not save her because he needs to achieve his plans of slaying Lysander and earning Hermia’s love so he can live a happy and wonderful life. Therefore Demetrius is treating Helena if an immense amount of disrespect and cruelty but, sadly she lacks to see this and is still madly in love.
In scene 2, Act 2, Oberon orders puck to put a spell on Demetrius to make him fall in love with Helena. Initially, Puck messes up and places the spell on Lysander and Demetrius eyelids, causing them both to fall in love with Helena. Helena instantly thinks they are making a fool of her and doesn’t believe them, the men follow and wander off with Helena leaving Hermia alone and afraid. Puck ends up fixing everything up in the end and putting it back into place and has just left the spell on Demetrius.
Therefore Puck put everything back to sum what normal, Hermia and Lysander still madly in love but Puck still left Demetrius madly in love with Helena but, not because he truly is in love with her presence but, because he has an eye drop love spell put on him. Demetrius continues to say “Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none. If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guest wise sojourned And now Helen is it home returned, There to remain.” (act 3, scene 2) from the statements Demetrius is making in this scene, he is explaining that he does not need Hermia anymore that Lysander can have her because he has his love and one and only, Helena. Demetrius is only talking this way because he is still under the influence that he is in love with Helena. Although in the end of the play he never comes to a realization, more so because the spell doesn’t wear off, it has to be taken off by Oberon or Puck.
