Is love controlled by human beings who love one another or is love controlled by a higher power? There are many people who believe that a higher power has control over love. An example of a higher power would be a cupid, a flying angel-type creature who shoots arrows at people to make them fall in love. There are other people who reject the idea that a higher power controls love and that the people who experience love can control it. In the novel, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", by William Shakespeare, several examples of love's association with a higher power are presented. This novel shows evidence that love is associated with a higher power and not just through humans. Such as: Thesius arranging a marriage between himself and Hippolyta, Egeus choosing who Hermia should marry and the fairies who have the ability to control love in the Enchanted Forest.
English: "Midsummer Nights Dream Act IV Scene I--A...
Washington Allston's 1818 painting Hermia and Hele...
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Fi...In the story, the supreme ruler of Athens, Thesius ends up marrying Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazon. However, during the whole story, Hippolyta never throughly discusses her feelings and ideas about the marriage. "Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; Four nights will quickly dream away the time."(Act 1.1.7-8) She acts as if she has no choice but to marry Thesius and although he is excited and thinks everything is happening so slowly, Hippolyta believes it is rapid. This can be proven by examining Hippolyta's position in the relationship between herself and Thesius. Hippolyta was captured by Thesius during battle and Thesius intimidates Hippolyta into marrying him since he is a supreme ruler and she was defeated by him. Thesius reveals that he captured Hippolyta in battle in the following quote, "I wood thee by my sword And won thy love doing thee injuries" (Act I.1.17-18).