Midsummer Night`s Dream And DemetriusA Midsummer Nights Dream is one of Shakespeares most read plays thisromantic comedy illustrates how complicated love ties can be. Thesis: In thisplay one of the characters that catches the eye of the reader is Demetrius, hischaracter is really difficult to identify except by his relation to the one heloves, or even more, to the one who loves him. Helena the character in love withDemetrius and her unjustified pursue for his love is the only clue or mark forhis character.
Under the undesirable pressure of this unwanted charm that shehas for his love, he turns violent and threatens her with bodily harm, comingoff as not quite the loving person he truly means to be. It is easy to perceivehow he is distracted from the one he loves Hermia because of Helenas hard headedactions in the beginning. He could be a gentle loving man if he truly desired,but he takes satisfaction being put in his place by others. In the end, stillunder the spell of fairy magic and therefore not seeing with true eyes, he seemsa bit imbecilic launching at the acted lovers in the play. He doesntrealize it, but he is in a play of its own. Likewise, as with the othercharacters, what happens to him is far more interesting than the sort ofcharacter he is.
His character is very limited during the first act, this meansthat he cant stand up for himself, also displays lack of self confidence,insecurity perhaps because of the presence of his father. The reader may impliesthat Demetrius thoughts were that because he had the approval of the duke Egeus,Hermia should give herself up to him and disapprove Lysander, the one she loves. Demetrius took advantage of his social stature by claiming Hermia as the one forhim, which truly portrays his instability. At the same time, this showed that heloves Hermia.
It is know that he is supported by Egeus because of therelationship with Demetrius dad, hateful Lysander opposes saying that she loveshim and no other. Egeus decides that Demetrius is the one that deserves Hermiaat this point, his ego shows uplifted and looks down on to Lysander projectingan inferior state. During the love trial Demetrius demoralizes Helena by almostlaughing at her deep ridicule feelings she has for him: Ill run from thee andhide me in the breaks and leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. (Demetrius,2. 1.
234-235) Helena could crash on her bike and die on the very next moment andhe would not care about it. Thorough the whole play he takes advantage of anysituation that he thinks may benefit him everything like when Lysander wasmissing: I had rather give his luck to my hounds and if I could,what should I get there for says to Hermia, A privileged never to see more. Andfrom thy hated presence I see me no more, whether he be dead or no. (Hermia,3.
2. 81-83). This awful conversation shows that he has a very demoralizingpersonality and disrespects Lysander he doesnt realize that at this pointHermia doesnt feel comfortable with any aspect of his personality shedislikes him and doesnt want to see him ever again, inadvertly he comesacross as the main reason why Lysander is missing, Hermia automatically thinksof him as the murderer of Lysander: It cannot be but thou hast murdered him. Soshould a murderer look, so dead so grim.
(Hermia, 3. 2. 58-59). During theseevents Helena still persists in gaining Demetrius love, instead he still lowersher, but this time he drowns her and she cannot surface again: You do impeachyour modesty too much to leave the city and commit yourself into the hands ofone that loves you not, to trust the opportunity of night and the ill counsel ofa desert place with the rich worth of your virginity.
(Demetrius, 2. 1. 221-226). Helena blinded thinking in a different way accepts.
Demetrieus loves theexternal beauty ignoring what feelings are he is only concerned with sexualfeelings on the other hand Lysander is more concerned with inner feelingsbeauty. Demetrius enjoys fighting with women it makes him feel flattered bythe attraction during the fight this can be due to the relationship with his dadwhich is not really touched but only in the beginning of act I, he also makesreference to his high political stature and states and that because of thisHermia is his, in contrast Lysander is emotional with pure feelings. IIIDemetrius personality and emotions Helena and Demetrius meet more than once,the second time in the woods this time it seems that he is trying to put an endto his situation regarding her: Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. Demetrius: I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus.
Helena: O, wilt thoudarkling leave me? Do not so. Demetrius: Stay on thy peril. I alone will go. (2. 2. 90-93) It is really doubtful that he loved Helena while trying to getHermias love.
He tears her heart showing a heartless personality: I love theenot; therefore pursue thee notHence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. Tell you I do not, nor I cannot love you? (Demetrius, 2. 1. 195-208) Demetrious isa less poetic and romantic figure, which is based on his perception of women,violent and unchivalrous. When he shakes off Helena, he portrays a personwithout charm: Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? Or rather do I not inplainest truth Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick whenI do look on thee.
(Demetrius, 2. 1. 206-219). Hermia completely erased him outof her life this makes him really feel sorrow so he decides no to peruse heranymore so he decides to give some time thinking that she would miss him.
Demetrius under a spell does a complete 360* and the effect of this love spellnow shuts Hermia completely out of his life: Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I willnone. If I loved her, all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guest-wisesojourned, and now to Helen is it home returned, there to remain. (Demetrius,3. 2.
172-176). Demetrius immediately becomes extremely violent toward lysander: Isay I love thee more than he can do. (Demetrius,3. 2. 261) he has no reasonbecause he now loves Hermia so Helena asks him to prove him self: If thou say sowithdraw and prove it too. (Lysander, 3.
2. 2 62) this finally makes Demetriusfollow his instincts and he finally realizes that he really wanted Hermia butcouldnt stand high enough to be her loved one. In conclusion Demetriuspersonality is the type that when wants something will do anything to get it,even if it includes manipulating, hurting or going over every obstacle untilachieving it. In this play he experiences reality and illusion, change andtransformation and it keeps the reader in close attention of his character.
Heis an important part of this play without his character the play would be dulland the plot unflavorfull.Shakespeare
