Compare and Contrast Helena and Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Two jockeyly berries moulded on to cardinal stem/ so with two seeming bodies that one philia.. In William Shakespe ars A Midsummer nighttimes pipe dream capital of Montana confronts Hermia to remind her once once more of their relationship. A Midsummer Nights Dream is a twist about the two Athenian couples who constantly run through the course of confessedly love. In this play capital of Montana and Hermia are the two characters that involve found their true lovers but are travel rapidly through obstacles that prevent them to be with their loves.Hermia who is in love with Lysander has to go against the will of her Father Eugeus, while capital of Montana has yet to twainer her love that is Demetrius fall in love with her. The whole play twists somewhat the lovers and the way they approach to love and courtship. Although Hermia and Helena are both spontaneous to luck reinforce for true love in truth Hermia is assured in her approach to courtship while Helena lacks self- esteem.Hermia and Helena are both unbidden to run a risk their honour for their true loves. For example Hermia is risking her honour by running away with her true love LysanderMy good Lysander, I sw pinnule to thee by Cupids strongest bow, By his best arrow with the luxurious head, By the simplicity of Venus doves.. By all vows that ever workforce have broke (In number more than ever women spoke), In that equivalent place thou hast appointed me, Tomorrow truly will I meet thee. (1.1.169-178)Hermia vows upon the strongest symbols of love such as Cupids strongest bow, and Venus doves as her promise to meet Lysander at the place where theyll elope. Hermia is risking her character by running away with Lysander, because she leaves the city with a person who she loves and organized religions but is non wed to, so whence the society whitethorn consider her act as a disappointing example for other civilians. While Hermia is willing to risk her honour for Lysander, Helena is willin g to risk her repute for the sake of her true love Demetrius. This is best illustrated by Demetrius who states You do impeach your moderateness in like manner much,To leave the city and commit yourself Into the hands of one that loves you not, To trust the prospect of night And the ill counsel of a desert place With the teeming worth of your virginity. (2.1. 199-204)This passage from Demetrius depicts that Helena is risking her reputation by being alone with him at night in a deserted forest. As state by Demetrius, Helena is committing herself to someone who does not love her and therefore she cannot trust Demetrius with the rich worth of her virginity. Your virtue is my privilege..(2.1.205).Helenas reply to Demetriuss narrative is that Demetrius will protect her with his virtue so therefore release the city and being alone with him does not seem to Helena as risking her honour. In conclusion Hermia and Helena are both connected in terms of risking their honour for Lysander and Demetrius. Helena and Hermia are both willing to risk their honour for true love, yet they both are also different in their approach to get to their lovers to be with them. For example the passage down the stairs shows Hermias impudence at her approach with Lysander. .But, gentle friend, for love and courtesyLie nevertheless off in human modesty. Such separation as whitethorn well be said Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. So far be distant. And, good night, odoriferous friend. Thy love neer alter till thy sweet life end (2.2. 45-50)Hermia is self-assured in her approach to courtship because knows how to say no to Lysander on something that may not seem right to her such as sleeping with him. withdrawal before marriage is a right thing for Hermia to do and she has the corporate trust to express herself to Lysander. When Hermia tells Lysander to lie further off in human modesty she says it without hesitation. In this case Helena lacks the confidence that Hermia has i n her approach to love. Helena is insecure about her identity and often compares her body compass to Hermias as she does in the following passage. Call you me fair? That fair again unsay.Demetrius loves your fair. O happy fair Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongues sweet air More tunable than lark to shepherds ear When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is catching. Oh, were favor so, Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go. My ear should catch your voice. My eye, your eye. My tongue should catch your tongues sweet melody (1.1. 181-189)This passage describes that Helena is insecure about her body image as well as her personality. Helena regards that Demetrius loves Hermia because of her beauty which makes Helena imply that she is inferior to Hermia. Even though both Helena and Hermia are both known to have the same beauty Helena finds herself uglier because she doesnt have the love of Demetrius. Helenas approach to her love is weaker than that of Hermias be cause of her hazard and a low self-esteem. Helena wants Hermias beauty to be a sickness that she can contract.Hermias sweet strain, her lodestar eyes, and Hermias overall beauty is what Helena wishes and her insecurity about herself. As a contribute Hermias approach to courtship is stronger because of the high level of confidence she has, whereas Helena lacks that confidence because of her insecurity about herself. To conclude, although Hermia and Helena are both willing to risk their honour for true love, Hermia is stronger at her approach to love and courtship, and Helena lacks self-esteembecause of the insecurity about herself.Hermia is willing to risk her reputation by running away with Lysander, while Helena is willing to risk her reputation by being alone with Demetrius at night. With this connection also comes an alteration, when Hermia proves her confidence that Helena is not bound to have. Hermia knows how to say no to something that may not seem right to her. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind/ therefore is wingd Cupid painted blind.. (1.1. 234-235). Helenas statement that love is blind and looks with the eyes depicts that she approaches to love thoughtlessly do you think this approach makes her successful in winning the heart of Demetrius?