Show how the play examines the nature and consequence of infatuation

Glossary:

To examine: To consider in detail
Nature: the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
Consequence: effects or end results of a particular phenomenon
Infatuation: a foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration

Break down of question 1:

2 parts to question:
1- What characteristics are displayed by those who are infatuated?
2 – What consequences do those who are infatuated face?
Overarching question – What does the play have to say about infatuation?

FIRST: Start with a theme statement. This should address YOUR definition of what infatuation is – e.g.

“Infatuation is marked by a foolish and usually extravagant / excessive / exaggerated passion or love or admiration. It is embodied by the young lovers in Midsummer Night’s Dream – each of the Athenian youths is foolishly or extravagantly in love with another person and partakes in extreme behaviour as a show of their infatuation.”

(You can either choose to organize this based on character or based on similar behaviours carried out by a few characters. How are they foolish? How are they extravagant? What extreme behaviour do they have?)

Nature of infatuation:
- Hermia: -
o willing to take the risk to elope with Lysander
o went against her own father, when in the patriarchal Athenian society, it was expected for daughters to be filial and dutiful to their fathers.
 Egeus: “As she is mine, I may dispose of her.” (pg 29)
 Theseus: “To you your father should be as a god” (pg 31)
o Was in great emotional pain because she was not allowed to marry Lysander
 “O then, what graces in my love do dwell, that he hath turned a heaven unto a hell!” (pg 43)
o Exaggerated, extreme speech – swore she would rather be a nun than marry Demetrius (Would it really be so bad to marry Demetrius? What was wrong with him??)
 Hermia: “Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his lordship whose unwished yoke my soul consents not to give sovereignty.”
o Rather soppy and mawkish dialogue with Lysander when she bemoans her fate and/or swears her love for him
 “I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow, by his best arrow with the golden head, by…etc. etc.” (Repetitive to reinforce the fact that she will meet him. Essentially Hermia takes 10 lines to tell Lysander that she will meet him for the elopement AND it is done in rhyming couplets.)
- Lysander
o Similar points to Hermia.
o Later, his infatuation (through the love potion) drives him to attack Demetrius, and displays cruel behaviour to his previous lover
 calls Hermia “Tartar”, “Ethiope”, “dwarf”, “minimus of hindering knotgrass made”, “bead”, “acorn”
 tells her to her face that she does not love her – “Could not this make thee know the hate I bare thee made me leave thee so?”
 (Challenge to Dem)“Now follow – if thou dar’st – to try whose right, Of thine or mine is most in Helena.”
- Helena
o Does not cease in her pursuit of Demetrius despite his continuous rejection and insults
o Despite his threats, as well.
o Despite KNOWING and being AWARE of Demetrius’s bad points, she continues to follow and pine after him. (e.g. “Why doesn’t Demetrius love me?)
o In emotional turmoil due to her infatuation
o Strong love for him is revealed by how others describe her as “doting.
o She is “drawn” to Demetrius like a magnet (“You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant!”)
- Demetrius
o Similar points to Lysander.
o Infatuation causes him to start to praise Helena and pursue her.
- Titania
o Strong emotive words used on Bottom
 (pg 121) enamoured, enthralled
 repeatedly says she loves him
o Promises Bottom everything, serves him – “I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee.”
o Blind to his flaws
 “What angel wakes me from my flow’ry bed?” (pg 119)
 “Thou art wise as thou art beautiful” (pg 121)
 This echoes Helena’s soliloquy in Act 1 (pg 45) where she mentions that love is illogical and blind.
o Titania is the best example of the play’s expression of infatuation – the situation is quite extreme, and the matching of the fairy queen with an ass-headed commoner strongly enforces the notion that infatuation can cause very unexpected behaviour.


Group similar points together to show the nature of infatuation:
- characterised by strong, mawkish sentiment expressed through flowery and rhymed verse, praising loved one’s attributes

Some consequences
- Infatuated individuals are willing to do anything to be with the other party – engage in violence or take risks.
- They are driven to jealousy and heartbreak when love is not returned
- They are blind to the faults or flaws of others – “Things base and vile…. Love can transpose to form and dignity.”
- Risks may lead to death - re: Pyramus and Thisbe