FREE ESSAY ON MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Lauren Crosson
English, 6
3/16/00
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lysander's quote "The course of
true love never did run smooth." (line 134, pg. 7) sums up the main theme of the book
perfectly. The book proves that "love hath no law but his own," is blind (and often
completely absurd), and "all's fair in love and war." Practically everything that is
said
and done in the play relates to this theme. This results in a kind of "network" that
connects all numerous characters together.
The fact that "love hath no law but his own," presents the various pairs of lovers
with problems and odd situations. Theseus, though he loves Hippolyta and will wed her,
has won her love by battle. Hermia, for her love of Lysander, defies her father and
Athenian law. Demetrius makes love to Helena, and then pursues Hermia. Hermia,
wooed by two young men (who are both equally handsome, rich, and well-born), adores
one and refuses to acknowledge the other. Demetrius, who has courted Helena (and
eventually marries her), hates her for a time, is "sick when I [he] do look on thee
[Helena]" (line 212, pg. 22), and constantly rejects her. she, for a few hours of his
haughty company, betrays the secret of her dearest friend:
"I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight. Then to the wood will he tomorrow
night pursue her; and for this intelligence if I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain, to have his sight thither and back again." 
(line 246, pg. 11) 
Oberon and Titana are another pair that fall victim to love's chaos. Although they
are lord and lady, and eventually "rejoin in amity" (line 86, pg. 58), are very jealous
of
one another over Oberon's wandering after nymphs and admiring Hippolyta, and Titana's
doting on Theseus, to the point where she begins to help him in his earlier love affairs
with women. Oberon accuses her of leading ".... him [Theseus] through the glimmering
night from Perigenia, whom he ravished? And make him with fair Aegles break his faith,
with Ariadna and Antiopa?" (line 77, pg. 17)
Considering almost everything in the play leans toward the theme, different
people, with seemingly different problems, can be connected. Titana and Oberon's
quarrel is reflected in the unseasonable weather on earth and in the mortal lovers'
quarrel
that accompanies the transfer of Lysander's affections. Titana's fondness for Bottom
also
mirrors the fashion in which Hermia and Helena, and all of the mortals who lavish
affection on their loves. It is Theseus' maturity and nobility that finally brings order
to
the pattern and makes everything end "happily ever after".
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged cupid
painted blind." (line 234, pg. 11) A Midsummer Night's Dream proves that "love hath no
law but his own,". Helena states "Nor hath love's mind of any judgment taste; wings, and
no eyes, figure unheedy haste." (line 236, pg. 11) Meaning that nor has love, which
dwells in the imagination, have any taste, or least bit of judgment or reason.
Considering
that it has no eyes, and only wings, it is a symbol of hasty mistakes. Love's hastiness
is 
Bibliography
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