Act 1, Scene 1 Journal A Midsummer's Night Dream

Act 1, Scene 1 Journal

Answer the following questions in your journal: 

1. As you have seen, there are many kinds of relationships involving “love” in this scene:  romantic, friendship, unrequited love, child/parent love.  Make a list of these and the individuals involved in them. 
1. Make a list of who controls - or attempts to control – whom in each of these relationships. 

Theseus and Hippolyta: love- they are set to be married in four days. I think in this case Theseus controls their relationship as in that time the man was of higher power and of course because he is the Duke of Athens.

Hermia and Egeus: child/parent love: You can’t really call this one love because it seems that Hermia has no respect or obedience for her father, therefore, Egeus wishes her to be exiled if she doesn’t do what he says. Each person is guilty of not seeing the situation from the other’s point of view which makes for even more trouble for the arranged marriage. Egeus attempts to control their relationship by enforcing the law to make Hermia obey him.

Demetrius and Hermia: unrequited love. Demetrius seems to really like Hermia but she has no interest in him. Egeus wants Hermia to marry him instead of Lysander but she refuses, she would apparently rather be a nun or dead before marrying him. Demetrius tries to control Hermia here siding with Egeus but Hermia is stubborn and doesn’t love him.

Hermia and Lysander: True love- As shown in their conversation in Act 1 Scene one lines 130-180, they profess their love for each other by planning to escape together and leave their lives behind in Athens without a glance back so they can live happily ever after. I think that the control in their relationship is pretty even, but more control rests on Hermia because she has to make the decision in her love triangle.

Demetrius and Helena: Unrequited love- From Helena`s long speech at the end, she says that Demetrius once took an interest in her but soon later had feelings for Hermia because of her beauty. Helena still has feelings for Demetrius but know there’s no hope for her so she wants to do whatever she can to ruin Hermia’s plans.

2. How does each of the above compare or contrast with your understanding of a loving relationship as a Christian?  To help you, please refer to the following biblical passages:

Mark 12:29-31 about the theme of sacrifice
1 John 4:16-20 about the inseparable love of God and the love of human beings
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 about making the choice to love.

From theses passages I can conclude that loving yourself, other and God equally is the most important for a happy life. I think that the love between Lysander and Hermia related to this because they have a very strong bond. The disjointed parent/child love between Egeus and Hermia is mangled because each person is stuck in their ways and they are not following this statement, “Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c]There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 the unrequited love between Demetrius and Hermia as well and Helena and Demetrius is unfortunate but they are still trying and this relates to the last statement in the first Corinthians, as the Bible says, “But do not have love, I gain nothing.” To repair, mend and resolve the relationship issues as explained above, they must take a step back and communicate their feelings and opinion to one another; I think that's the first step to a healthy, loving, relationship. 

2. Lysander and Hermia spend a great deal of time discussing the challenges of love in this scene as they sigh that “the course of true love never did run smooth” (1.1.134). Look closely at the ‘duet’ that follows this line until line 150 and list all of the trials and tribulations faced by young lovers.  How serious are these obstacles?  How seriously are we meant to take this language?

This conversation between the two lovers explains problems that other young loves face such as classism, or falling for someone that is of a lower class, a gap in ages like being too old for a lover who is so young and finally what they face, love being arranged by other people. Lysander follows to explain if none of these problems arise, there is always sickness, war or death that inevitably breaks the two apart. Nevertheless, they both have hope to run away and live happily ever after.