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| Character | Helena | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Teenager (13-19), Young Adult (20-35) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | In love, Lamenting, Malicious/scheming | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Comedy | |
| Description | Helena plans to win Demetrius back | |
| Details | ACT 1 Scene 1 | |
Summary
In the first scene of the play Egeus, a nobleman, appears at Theseus' (the Duke of Athens) court with his daughter Hermia and two men, Demetrius and Lysander. Egeus wants his daughter to marry Demetrius but she loves Lysander. Egeus expresses his complaint to the Duke of Athens. He accuses Lysander of having "bewitch'd" Hermia, and now she won't listen to him anymore. Egeus argues that, as her father, he has the right (given to him by an old law in Athens), to choose who she will marry. If she doesn't comply to his will then he demands to put her to death. Lysander accuses Demetrius that he betrayed Helena, Hermia's friend. He was engaged to Helena when he met Hermia and fell in love with her, forgetting Helena. Theseus orders Hermia to consider her options and make a wise choice.
After everybody leaves Lysander and Hermia talk about a plan to leave Athens and get married at his aunt's house. There, he says, the Athenian law doesn't apply.
Helena arrives, sad and depressed because Demetrius doesn't love her anymore. Lysander and Hermia tell her about their plan to get married. When they leave, at the end of the scene, Helena expresses her unhappiness because she can't be happy like they are since Demetrius doesn't love her anymore. She plans to tell Demetrius about their plan. When Demetrius will decide to follow them in the forest she will try to win his love back.
After everybody leaves Lysander and Hermia talk about a plan to leave Athens and get married at his aunt's house. There, he says, the Athenian law doesn't apply.
Helena arrives, sad and depressed because Demetrius doesn't love her anymore. Lysander and Hermia tell her about their plan to get married. When they leave, at the end of the scene, Helena expresses her unhappiness because she can't be happy like they are since Demetrius doesn't love her anymore. She plans to tell Demetrius about their plan. When Demetrius will decide to follow them in the forest she will try to win his love back.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| HELENA How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; He will not know what all but he do know: And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes, So I, admiring of his qualities: Things base and vile, folding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity: Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind: Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste; Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste: And therefore is Love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, So the boy Love is perjured every where: For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne, He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine; And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt. I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow 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. |
