A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Nights Dream – Hermia And Helenas Relationship Essay, Research Paper A Midsummer Nights Dream – Hermia and Helenas relationshipHermia and Helena’s relationship has changed greatly after the intervention of Puck with the love potion. Once best friends, they have become each others enemies, and all for the love of Lysander and Demetrius. Hermia and Helena were best friends when they were at school. "All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?" (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 201, Helena)They had complete trust in each other, telling each other their deepest secrets. "Is all the counsel that we two have shared, The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 198 - 199, Helena)They worked together on everything they

did including sewing and singing. "Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, Both warbling of one song, both in one key," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 205 – 206)To some people, Helena and Hermia became the same person, saying the same things, thinking the same thoughts and having the same morals and principles. "As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds Had been incorporate. So we grew together," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 207-208)Behaving in the same way, they spent as much time as possible together. This time passed quickly, whilst the time spent apart was slow and seemed pointless. "When we have chid the hasty-footed time For parting us-O, is all forgot?" (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 200 – 201, Helena)Although Helena and Hermia were two separate

people, they were, "a union in partition", compared to a double cherry. "Two lovely berries moulded on one stem." (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 211, Helena)Their friendship was so strong that they seemed to be connected, the same person in two different bodies. "So with two seeming bodies, but one heart," (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 212, Helena)This had lasted all their lives until the intervention of Lysander and Demetrius. The strong friendship between Helena and Hermia quickly disintegrated when they became involved with the two men. The love potion was meant to help, but Puck’s mistake managed to completely reverse the relationship. When both Demetrius and Lysander were under the influence of the "love-in-idleness" flower, Helena believed that both

were mocking her. "You both are rivals and love Hermia And now both rivals, to mock Helena." (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 155 – 156, Helena)When Hermia seems to take the same attitude, even though she doesn’t know what’s going on, Helena accuses her of betraying all women by entering into it. "Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it," (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 218, Helena)Helena and Hermia quickly enter into a massive argument, accusing each other of stealing their love. "You thief of love. What, have you come by night And stolen my love’s heart from him?" (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 283 – 284, Hermia)Their childhood friendship is forgotten in an instant, completely torn apart by the two men. It is not the love potion which has had this effect on the

women directly, it is the performance of the two men, arguing over Helena who have caused the break up. This exhibition of feelings upsets and confuses both Helena and Hermia. Hermia feels cheated, and Helena is the first person she can find to blame. "O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom," (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 282, Hermia)Helena, however, thinks everything is some kind of cruel trick against her, and remains slightly calmer than Hermia. "Lo, she is one of this confederacy. Now I perceive they have conjoined all three To fashion this false sport in spite of me." (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines192 – 194, Helena)As she is taller than Hermia, she calls her a "puppet". "Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you!" (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 288,