The Definition of Love
Love is a feeling that often brings many other emotions upon people; emotions like jealousy, anger, fear, and joy. When people say they love someone or something, they often mean that they are passionate about them. To me, love is an undying feeling of passion towards someone or something. Love can be defined in many different ways because it is a multi-purposeful word. William Shakespeare, who established himself in London in 1592, exemplifies love through his plays in very effective and relatable forms. The play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare is written during the years 1594-1595, in Early Modern English. The play focuses mainly on the four young Athenians, Lysander, Hermia, Helena, and Demetrius, who are caught in a complicated relationship. Hermia loves Lysander, but is expected, by her father, to wed Demetrius; both Lysander and Demetrius are in love with Hermia, while Helena adores Demetrius.
English: "Midsummer Nights Dream Act IV Scene I--A...
Canon Love
Washington Allston's 1818 painting Hermia and Hele...Lysander and Hermia run in to the woods, followed by Helena and Demetrius, where they encounter obstacles that test their love. William Shakespeare portrays love as blind, inexplicable, and difficult.
Love is Blind. Shakespeare utilizes Helena to illustrate the definition using Demetrius's love for Hermia. "Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. / But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; / He will not know what all but he do know. / And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes, / So I, admiring of his qualities. /Things base and vile, holding no quantity, /Love can transpose to form and dignity. / Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, /And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." (1.1.227-235) Upset because Demetrius loves Hermia and not her, Helena says that though she is as beautiful as Hermia, Demetrius cannot see her beauty. Helena...