A Midsummer Nights Dream Analysis

There are many instances where the love potion â€Å"love-in-idleness is used in the play. The function of this love potion is to make someone fall in love with the first person/creature the see when awoken. The first instance where the love potion is used is when Oberon put’s the love potion on Titania’s eyes. The reason for this was is simply because Titania refuses to hand over the changeling boy. Oberon thinks that if Titania is so infatuated, she will be willing to hand over the changeling boy. Fortunately for Oberon, this is exactly what happens. The second time when the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion is used is when Oberon orders Puck to place the love potion on Demetrius’ eyes, so he may fall in love with Helena. However, this is not what takes place. Puck accidently places the love potion on Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius’, this cause Lysander to fall in love with Helena. The third occurrence where the love potion was used is when Oberon puts the love potion on the correct male, Demetrius. Although Demetrius is now in love with Helena, so is Lysander. This leads to a conflict where Helena thinks the two males are plotting and making fun of her. Puck realizes that he has done wrong, and puts an antidote on Lysander’s eyes, so when he awake he will be in love with Hermia again. Another time where the love potion is used is very different. A potion isn’t being used to make people fall in love; instead it is to make them fall out of love. This potion is an antidote to the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion. Oberon places the antidote on Titania’s eyes, out of pity, since she has handed over the changeling boy and has fallen in love with an ass. When Oberon places the antidote on Titania’s eyes that was the last time any potion was used. However, Demetrius is the only one still under a spell. b) The love potion adds to the plot of the play by giving us hints of what to expect next in the play and also complicating the plot. An example of where this idea is portrayed is when the â€Å"love-in-idleness† potion was mistakenly placed on Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius’. This lead to Lysander falling in love with Helena, and out of love with Hermia. This leaves Helena and Hermia confused. Later on, Oberon also places the love potion on Demetrius’ eyes, so instantly he falls in love with Helena as well. Helena now believes that Hermia, and the two males are making fun of her. Helena chides Hermia for treating their friendship so lightly, and the Demetrius and Lysander are ready to fight for Helena’s love. Hermia now believes that Helena has stolen Lysander from her. Hermia becomes furious and is ready to fight the two males then quickly become angry and go off into the forest to fight. Helena then runs off scared. This part of the play shows how one little mistake in the placing of the potion can lead to such huge complications. However, this is a good way to develop the plot of the play because when there are complications there must also be resolutions. c) The love potion helps us to understand the nature of human affections by showing the audience how irrational, the lovers think and act when they are in love. Helena, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, Hippolyta, and Bottom do some very crazy things when infatuated. This is idea was depicted with the love of Bottom and Hippolyta. Bottom was so caught up in infatuation that he began to lose himself as individual. He became very conceited, and was also very oblivious. Bottom was completely unaware about his appearance of being an ass, the entire time he was in love with Titania. Although Bottom was itchy and craving hay, he still had no idea he was an ass. However, Bottom wasn’t the only one who was very oblivious. Titania was also absent minded that she was in love with an ass. She was also so in love with Bottom that she gave up the changeling boy to Oberon. Other evidence that lover act irrational when in love is with Hermia. Hermia was willing to fight one of her good friends for Lysander. Although Helena seems to be the coward and the peacemaker, Hermia on the other hand is ready to fight her. Hermia says â€Å"I am not yet so low but that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. † This statement by Hermia, shows how violent she can be. This new side of Hermia that the audience sees is all brought out by love affections. The love potion certainly gives us an idea of the irrational behavior of the human nature when in love.