“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – CONFLICT – HELENA
In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, Helena’s internal conflict with herself shows that she has hit rock bottom, as her jealousy, desperateness, and lovesickness has her stuck in an unfortunate situation. In the story, Helena shows unfortunate signs of jealousy when she talks about her relationship status with Hermia. She is jealous of Hermia, wanting to know what makes Hermia different from her, and asking to “Teach [Helena] how you look, and with what art / You sway the motion of Demetrius’ heart” (I.i.195-196). Another example line of jealousy is shown when she compares herself to Hermia, even talking about how she looks, and mentions that “Demetrius loves [Hermia’s] fair. O happy fair! Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue's sweet air / More tuneable than lark
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Shakespeare’s story demonstrates an example of how one’s jealousy is a negative part of love’s nature, as Helena’s jealousy towards of Hermia is undeniably shown. This starts the young lover’s internal conflict. Secondly, another issue about Helena is her desperateness for love. This is first shown when Helena follows Demetrius into a forest and says, “I am your spaniel, and Demitrius, / The more you beat me, I will fawn on you. / Use me but as your spaniel: spurn me, strike me, / Neglect me, lose me. Only give me leave, / Unworthy as I am, to follow you (II.i.207-211). This scene is where Helena has desperation in following him, and the trait is also shown when she is left by herself after desperately wanting to stay close to Demetrius. At a point where they were on the same spot, Demetrius tells Helena that he wants her to stay behind as he leaves alone, saying that “[He] charge thee hence, and do not haunt me thus. / Stay, on thy peril; I alone will go” (II.ii.84-86). Helena seems desperate to be with Demetrius, as she asks for him to