Shakespeare Thematic Essay

Opoku Bryce Opoku Mr. Newcomer-Falk English 7B March 4th 2026 Love is Confusing Love is very complicated, and most people will have a lot of trouble comprehending what is happening. In Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare it talks about how love can move in different ways through disagreements and spells. An example will be how Helena and Demetrius fall in love while under a spell . Another example is how Titania and Oberon were together then Titania fell in love with Bottom unexpectedly. Shakespeare talks about love in the play through the experiences of the characters, the four lovers and the fairies. The play says that love can change in different ways because love is constantly changing throughout everything in life. Because every love you are going to get won't come to you in life. Shakespeare shows how love changes with the relationship of Demetrius and Helena. In the beginning of the play Demetrius fights with Helena and treats her poorly. When Puck places the love potion on Demetrius, he starts to love Helena. In Midsummer Night’s Dream it talks about the love potion and how Demetrius begins to express his love of Helena. He starts to turn and says nice things about her. The text says that, “ O Helena, goddess nymph, perfect, divine!To what my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Crystal is muddy! O, how ripe in show Thy lips,those kissing cherries, temping grow! That pure congealed white, high Taurus’ snow, Fann’d with the eastern wind, turns to a crown. When thou hold’st up thy hand. O, let me kiss This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss”. (3.2.137-144). This quote is talking about how Demetrius got the love poison and now his feelings dramatically change to falling in love with Helena. The quote says that Demetrius kissed Helena to admire her. This shows love can change in unexpected ways because at first Demetris and Helena fought and their feelings change with their love potion. Shakespeare makes a point to show that love is not always logical. The text says “ Things are base and vile, holding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and [login to view URL] looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind” (1.1 15-20). His mind changed to love someone without a clear reason, which happens with some of the relationships in the play. Another way Shakespeare shows love changing is through Bottom and Titania’s relationship. Titania is the queen of the fairies and argues with her husband a lot. Puck was ordered to place a love potion on Titania by her husband. Titania and Bottom met in the forest. While she was sleeping, Titania streaked her eyes with the love potion. When she woke up, Bottom was the first person she saw. The spell was to fall in love with the first person she saw. She now loves Bottom. The text says “ I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing [login to view URL] ear is much enamored of thy note, So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape, And thy fair virtue force perforce doth move me. On the first view to say to swear, I love thee”. ( Act 3, Scene 2 130-142). This shows Titania is falling in love with Bottom because she also loves his voice. Bottom interest Titania with his voice and [login to view URL] helps readers understand how love is changing and magic makes it irrational. Sometimes people change who they love without a reason. It doesn’t have to happen through feelings, it can happen through magic. The text says “ And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays” ( 3.1.60-80). It means how love can change. Finally, Shakespeare shows love through Hermia and Lysander in their relationship. They met in the forest and their true love was there. “I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.I know not by what power I am made bold,Nor how it may concern my modesty, In such a presence here to plead my thoughts;But I beseech your Grace that I may know, The worst that may befall me in this case If I refuse to wed Demetrius”. ( Act 1, Scene 1 58-64 ). This quote means that Hermia does not like Demetrius even though her father wants her to marry him. She is in love with Lysander. She stands up for who she loves. This shows she stands strong with her beliefs and who she loves. This proves because she doesn't mind his voice and the dad wants her to marry Demetrius. The text says “ Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth.”( 1.1.132-134). It means that love didn’t run as smoothly as he thought it would. Overall, this shows love is confusing in life. In conclusion, Shakespeare teaches that love can be changing in different ways in the play. First, How Demetris got the love potion and suddenly changed his feelings for Helena. Next, is how Titania loved Bottom with the help of the magical potion. Finally, how Lysander and Hermia love each other and Hermia doesn’t love Demetrius, which shows love is not always simple and easy. This also reminds readers that love changes. Please revise this essay using the rubic attached

Project ID: 40344588