ith a gentlewoman, Theseus won Hippolyta with his sword. Also, Helenas affection for Demetrius seems to make him hate her, but the hatred eventually turns to love. Helena constantly pursues Demetrius, just as deer chase tigers in the dream forest. Demetrius cruel treatment ironically compels her to love him more. The fairy world has greater impact than the real world. This is ironic because the fairies have no intelligence or emotions like mortals. (Dutton 32-34) A Midsummer Nights Dream is said to be the most romantic of Shakespeares comedies. The fantasy world and erotic nature of the play draws interest to the play. This interest leads to the making of several different movies, and countless number of theater performances. The viewing of the play adds to its dramatic nature, allowing first hand contrast between how we felt and how someone else felt about the text. (Dutton 147-150) Shakespeares masterpiece, A Midsummer Nights Dream, parallels with Romeo and Juliet. The similarity in characters and the plot suggest that Romeo and Juliet was written before A Midsummer Nights Dream. This play is a natural reaction of Shakespeares mind to Romeo because of his attitude toward love and life. (Draper 3152) The similarities between the beginning of the Dream and the main situation of Romeo and Juliet are obvious. The forbidden love, deceit, and pain are all elements in the comparison. This suggests that Shakespeare borrowed and condensed material from Romeo and Juliet. The two fathers, Capulet and Egeus, give the same orders to their daughters. Capulet: An you be mine, Ill give you to my friend. An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets. Egeus: As she is mine, I many dispose her: Which shall be either to this gentleman or to her death. (Magill 72-75) Egeus is less brutal, but just as threatening as Capulet. Lysander and Hermias artificial complaint of love, the first in a series of hindrances in the course of true love. This is evi...
