Hermia

[Jessica Dalonzo]

Hermia is loving and compassionate towards Lysander and is determined to do what’s necessary to be with him. On page 4 line 140 and page 7, lines 169-179 Hermia explains her love for Lysander. In line 140, she says, “O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes!” In Hermia’s situation, the other eyes refer to her dad and if she listens to him, she will be in unhappy for the rest of her life because being with Demetrius is not what she desires. Hermia talks about different objects or people related to how she feels. In lines 169-179, Hermia uses analogies to describe how determined she is to meet with Lysander and be together. For example, in line 179 she says, “I swear to thee, by Cupid’s strongest bows” she connected her love for Lysander to cupids bow; both Cupid and his bow represents true love, in the way cupid uses his bow to strike two people who are meant to be, Hermia believes that Lysander and her are meant to be. In addition, in line 173, Hermia says, “And by that fire which burn’d the Carthage queen,” this shows that Hermia feels that if her and Lysander can’t be together there is no point in living. After all analogies referenced in lines 169-179 that indicates her love, she ends by saying, “Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee;” this shows that no matter what Hermia was determined to meet with Lysander and run away.

[Paul L. Hebert (he/him/his)]

There is something very sweet in this moment and I think the switch to rhyming couplets helps increase the sweetness level to the point where it’s almost ironically saccharine (at least for me).

These lines are also quite dense in allusions to classical mythology–possibly confirming that Lysander and Hermia are well-read, especially about stories related to love.

There is an interesting contrast between what Hermia is conventionally saying (“I swear we’ll meet together!”) and what her allusions are referencing–all the allusions seem to reference situations in which men have left women in lurches.

You have cupid, who is love-poem appropriate. Did you know, however, that in myths, Cupid is the child of Venus and Mars (god of War)? Interesting to think of love and war as opposite producing this child who makes people fall in love (with an arrow no less!).  The “Carthage Queen” is Dido, founder of Carthage–the African nation that rivaled Rome in mythology. Dido fell in love with the man who would found Rome (Aenis) and when he rejected her (Like Demetrius rejected Helena), Dido kills herself. Then those two lines about men often breaking their vows to women. Outwardly, Hermia seems to be joyful and happy but it also seems like she’s worried that Lysander might abandon her–a plot line many of her stories confirm for her.

Or maybe… it’s a threat.

[hai lin]

In Act 1 of A Midsummer Nights Dream, When Hermia’s father want his daughter to marry with property matched Demetrius that if she is not in accordance with the instructions to marry Demetrius, her father is going to kill her by law of ancient Athens. Hermia express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to it. Even though Theseus said “Either to die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of men.”(1.1.66-67.), Hermia still stay the same attitude , say ,”so will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty”(1.1.79-82.)<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>this monologue perfectly representative of a characteristics of Hemia. Hemia choose to firmly defend her love.She refused to marry someone she doesn’t like. “My good Lysander,..Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee(1.1.168-178.)” Her behavior is also more rebellious and bold, even try to elope with her lover to resist unreasonable ethics and laws. This kind of frankness, enthusiasm, fortitude and tact also make her more characteristics, but we should also see that her dare to love and hate also gives her blind confidence, jealousy, impatience and irritability.

[Paul L. Hebert (he/him/his)]

I always get the sense, too, that she’s being particularly dramatic. This is a big decision for her and she shows it (“So will I live, so grow, so die…” I mean, c’mon!).

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