Jealousy In A Midsummer Night's Dream Essay

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The best aspect of Act II, scene II is the language Shakespeare uses to set the scene, introduce the characters and conflicts and the interactions between the different characters. Shakespeare uses rhyme, iambic pentameter and the passage of time to rhythmically explore the dramatic circumstances in the scene. For example, the language in which Helena describes Hermia is laced with jealousy; however, the rhythm and flow of the speech makes it sound poetic and charming. She discusses her insecurities, but also the jealousy she feels towards Hermia’s beauty. The notion of love in the play appears to center around the external beauty of the women rather than their personalities. This idea is explored through Helena’s hatred over her own appearance. She wishes to look like Hermia so Demetrius’s affections would be with her. She takes on the role of the aggressor by courting Demetrius. She says, “Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex. / We cannot fight for love, as men may do; / We should be woo’d, and were not made to woo” [II:ii]. Essentially, she pursues a male role by fighting for Demetrius’s love. The chaos in the play revolves around Hermia and Lysander’s decision to flee and Helena’s jealousy and determination to go after Demetrius. Sleeping Hermia has …show more content…

However, Oberon doesn’t appear to care and believes he can fix not only his problem but Helena’s problem as well. Furthermore, the second scene of Act II explores Oberon’s jealousy of the Indian boy Tatiana loves. He is willing to trick her into loving something or someone else in order to have the child for himself. He wants all affections to be placed with him. Therefore, he decides to trick and punish Tatiana by making her fall in love with “a vile thing.” In Act III, scene I, Tatiana is regarded as a fool because of her behavior toward Bottom. Essentially, Oberon gets his revenge by watching her humiliate