Examples Of Love And Justice In A Midsummer Night's Dream

757 Words4 Pages
Toba Beta once said: "“Justice could be as blind as love.” Shakespeare 's play A Midsummer Night 's Dream captures the blindness of both love and justice. Egeus, a respected nobleman in Athens, arranged for his daughter, Hermia, to marry nobleman Demetrius. Egeus tells his daughter that she must obey his wishes: If she does not, she can either choose to become a nun, or die. Hermia, much to her father 's dismay, is deeply in a mutual love with a different nobleman, Lysander. In addition, Hermia 's childhood best friend and Demetrius were in love prior to his sights turning towards Hermia. This crushed Helena, causing her to lose self-confidence, but still: she yearns for Demetrius 's love. Hermia and Lysander 's love, Egeus 's harsh rule, and Helena 's unrequited love for Demetrius causes the lovers to leave Athens. Various factors cause the lovers to run away together. Hermia and Lysander 's love causes them to leave Athens. While Egeus is trying to convince Hermia to marry Demetrius; Lysander objects, saying, "I am, my lord, as well deriv 'd as he, / As well possess 'd: My love is more than his . . . I am beloved of beauteous Hermia" (1.1.99-104). Lysander compares himself to Demetrius, saying that he is equal to him in every way. Lysander then points out that he has something Demetrius will never have, Hermia 's love. He makes it clear that the couple will do anything to be together. After Egeus denounces his daughter 's chosen love, Hermia and Lysander,