Hermia Character Analysis

 Hermia Is in love with Lysander and refuses to Marry Demetrius- despite the threat o death or a life as a nun from The Duke for disobeying her father  Her and Lysander agree to run away together in the forest, where they then end up lost and begin to sleep  As she awakes she realises Lysander is gone and fears that Demetrius had killed him and runs off to find him  When she finds the others, both Lysander and Demetrius reject her and she begins to think they are playing a joke on her  After pucks mishap Lysander and Demetrius were now in love with Helena- not Hermia  The disaster is resolved when antidote is put into Lysander’s eyes so that he and Hermia can again be in love together  After hearing the lovers story the Duke decides to allow the two to marry despite the threat of Egeus Summary of events Hermia was involved in:

 Hermia is fist introduced in the play, as the disobeying daughter of Egeus.  From this the assumption is made that Hermia is a bad daughter, a rebel standing up against the Patriarchal society she lives in.  It is also assumed that Hermia is just young and in love, and not very smart to be disobeying his father and the Duke for man she hardly knows. How is you character established in the exposition of the play? Are there any assumptions made?

EGEUS 22 Full of vexation come I, with complaint 23 Against my child, my daughter Hermia. 24 Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord, 25 This man hath my consent to marry her. 26 Stand forth, Lysander: and my gracious duke, 27 This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child; 28 Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, 29 And interchanged love-tokens with my child: 30 Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, 31 With feigning voice verses of feigning love, 32 And stol'n the impression of her fantasy 33 With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, 34 Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers 35 Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: 36 With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart, 37 Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, 38 To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke, 39 Be it so she will not here before your grace 40 Consent to marry with Demetrius, 41 I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, 42 As she is mine, I may dispose of her: 43 Which shall be either to this gentleman  44 Or to her death, according to our law  45 Immediately provided in that case.45 Immediately provided in that case. Act 1, Scene 1 ‘ Bewitched’ inferring that Egeus believes Hermia is not truly in love with Lysander but instead Lysander has used magic Referring to Hermia as his own, a posession Represents patriarchal society in Which Hermia lives, always obedient to a man Threatening Hermia that if she doesn't’t Marry Demetrius she will be killed

THESEUS 46 What say you, Hermia? Be advis'd fair maid: 47 To you your father should be as a god; 48 One that composed your beauties, yea, and one 49 To whom you are but as a form in wax 50 By him imprinted and within his power 51 To leave the figure or disfigure it. 52 Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. HERMIA 53 So is Lysander. THESEUS 53 In himself he is; 54 But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, 55 The other must be held the worthier. HERMIA  56 I would my father look'd but with my eyes. THESEUS 57 Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. HERMIA 58 I do entreat your grace to pardon me. 59 I know not by what power I am made bold, 60 Nor how it may concern my modesty, 61 In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; 62 But I beseech your grace that I may know 63 The worst that may befall me in this case, 64 If I refuse to wed Demetrius. Act 1, scene 1 continued Hermia standing up to the Duke, which was frowned upon at this time Hermia refuses to wed Demetrius, defying the patriarchal society and her fathers orders. Again describing the patriarchal society of this time- To Hermia Egeus should be seen as a ‘God’ and not fought against. She should obey her fathers orders to marry Demetrius Hermia is explaining that through her eyes Lysander is perfect and that her father has a very one sided view on the issue and only has eyes for Demetrius

 Her love for Lysander leads her away from her arranged marriage to Demetrius- she explains that she truly loves Lysander and she would rather die than marry Demetrius  Magic- Lysander is put under a spell to fall in love with Helena which drives Hermia and his relationship apart What forces stimulate their personal pursuit of/away from love/arranged marriage?

 Disobeying her fathers arranged marriage with Demetrius and having to overcome the possible threat of death and or a life of a nun.  The patriarchal society in which she lives  Hermia faces the challenge of following her heart or following her headAfter running off with Lysander and Lysander falling in love with Helena, Hermia faces the challenge of rejection form Lysander  Throughout the play, Hermia has to deal with her love being thrown in one way or another What obstacles and challenges does your character endure?

HER. What? Can you do me greater harm than hate? Hate me, wherefore? O me, what news, my love! Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Since night you lov’d me; yet since night you left me: Why then, you left me (O, the gods forbid!) In earnest, shall I say? LYS. Ay, by my life; And never did desire to see thee more. Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt; Be certain! Nothing truer; ’tis no jest That I do hate thee, and love Helena. HER. O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, You thief of love! What, have you come by night And stol’n my love’s heart from him? Act 3, Scene 2- lines Referring to Helena as a ‘thief of love’ because Helena has ‘stole’ Lysander's love – this is a powerful line exaggerating the fact that Lysander is now in love with Hermia Lysander explaining that he loves Helena and no longer loves Hermia, but in fact hates her Explaining that Hermia is confused as to the sudden change of heat, she doesn't’t understand why he has suddenly rejected her for Helena Hermia is explaining her distress and disappointment that Lysander has rejected her and by using the line ‘O, the gods forbid!) suggests her anger that she has risked her life for him and their love together

 Hermia’s pursuit of love has turned her Jealous and changes her behaviour towards Lysander, Demetrius and especially Helena What is the relationship between the pursuit of love and the challenge of transformation?

 The audience would enjoy watching Hermia’s journey towards self-discovery as her ambition for true love is admirable and can also be relatable to the audience  It can be frustrating to read or see Lysander reject Hermia, because of the love potion but Hermia’s ambition and strength with dealing with the situation is exciting to watch throughout the play How would an audience react to this characters journey towards self- discovery? Why?