30 March 2007

Midsummer Post #4: Describing one of the characters

This is the fourth Midsummer post and is due before class starts on Tuesday, April 3.

Shakespeare created numerous memorable characters, who exhibit the human traits that people still have today. A Midsummer Night's Dream is no different. In this play, there are both human characters (mortals) and fairies, and all of them are unique.

Choose one of the characters we've met so far and describe what makes them unique. As part of your answer, choose a line or two of dialogue that the character speaks and use it to help explain that character's personality. Think of descriptive words and phrases to help illustrate just what kind of personality traits your chosen character has. Choose some lines of dialogue that accurately and clearly illustrate his or her personality.

Remember, when you cite dialoge from the play, follow this format: "Full of vexation come I, with complaint/Against my child, my daughter Hermia." (Act I, sc.1, lines 22- 23)

Good luck...


photo credit: Robert Huskisson. The Midsummer Night's Fairies, 1847.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Helena is a character that i find to be very unique. She loves Demetrious who loves Hermia who loves Lysander. In this very mixed up love circle Helena is left with no one loving her. :( Helena is convinced that she is just as good in every sort of way to Hermmia. > "Through Athens I am thought as fair as she." line 227 Helena clearly wants Demetrious to love her and does not understand why he does not. Helena is rather full of herself in my opinion. She tells Hermia that she doesnt understand why Demetrious loves her and not she when Hermia continiously tells her that she does not want it. Helena knows that she is pretty and is not afraid to tell everyone. I also think that Helena is not a very good friend. Instead of being understanding twards Hermia in this situation she gets angry at her and basicaly blames Demetrious not loving her on Hermia. >Hermia: I frown upon him; yet he loves me still.
Helena: O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill.
I believe that Demetrious loving Hermia more then Helena is not about the appearence of one or the other. It is about their atitudes and Demetrious has a very good reason for not liking Helena with that being said!

Anonymous said...

Someone in this story that I believe to be unique is the King of the fairies, Oberon. He seems to be unique to me because of how he exhibits a human trait which is jealousy and stubbornness. He shows jealousy and stubbornness toward his wife, Queen Titania, after she says that she wants the Indian boy to become someone that is like her own child and that she could take care of as well as treat it very carefully like a baby now that she is guardian of him. In the story, she is described taking care of the boy by having it said, "But she perforce withholds the loved boy, crowns him with flowers and makes him all her joy..." (Act II, sc. 1, lines 26-27). This is saying that she feels the need that she must keep the boy in check or protect it for any danger around it. On the other hand, Oberon does not want Titania to do this and is jealous because he wants the boy to become a warrior or knight and to become a strong man who does need to be taken care of in such a way that Titania wants him to be taken care of in, but instead, the boy can be able to live on his own and take care of himself. In the story, this is proved when it says, "And jealous Oberon would have the child knight of his train, to trace the forests wild..." (Act II, sc. 1, lines 24-25). Oberon is so stubborn and jealous that he and Titania do not ever meet anyone anymore. This is proved when it is said in the story, "And now they never meet in grove or green..." (Act II, sc. 1, line 28). I would also call Oberon selfish. Due to the fact that the two head fairies are not getting along, the whole world is out of control. One major example of what is going on because of their feud is proved when it is said, “Hath every pelting river made so proud that they have overborne their continents: The ox hath therefore stretch‘d his yoke in vain, the ploughman lost his sweat, and the green corn hath rotted ere hi youth attain‘d a beard…“ (Act II, sc. 1, lines 91-95). What this is saying is that the rivers are now flooded and because they are flooded, the farmers have no work to do and all their food is now rotted and dead. The two of them cannot just get back together and stop thinking about themselves but about everyone and everything else around them for a change.

Miller said...

Brianna and Ted, so far, so good. You both bring up some strong insight into the characters.

Just a couple of reminders students. No last names and remember to cite the lines properly, just like Ted did.

Thanks. I enjoy reading your thoughts.

Anonymous said...

I find Helena the most unique character in the play. She’s unique because most people can relate to her the most. She is going through what most humans go through. She is experiencing the phrase “you can’t always get what you want”. For example, she loves Demetrious who loves Hermia who loves Lysander. Now Helena is lonely because not only does Demetrious doesn’t like her, no one likes her. She needs to make more mature decisions and show Demetrious that she can live without him no matter how hard it is. I think Helena is full of herself. She tells Hermia that she doesn’t understand why Demetrious loves her and not she when Hermia contentiously tells her that she does not want it. Even though she cant get the guy she wants, she knows that she is pretty and is not afraid to tell everyone

Anonymous said...

I think Hermia is my favorite character so far. She is the character that i can relate to the most. She is dealing with problems that highschool kids go through today. She is being forced to marry Demetrius, but loves Lysander, so to avoid doing what she dosent want, to runs away with Lysander. Sounds pretty highshool to me =] She also seems to be very strong-willed and independent."So will I grow, so live,so die,my lord.Ere i will my virgin patent up unto his lordship,whose unwished yoke my soul consents not to give sovereignty." (Act. 1, Sc. 1, lines 79-82) Even when Thesus orders her to obey her father or die, she still chooses to elope with Lysander. I consider myself very independent and in this situation, would do the same as Hermia. She is very unique because she would die before she would marry someone she dosent love. It sounds like an obvious choice but most people would rather live than die over love.

-Olivia
Per.4

Anonymous said...

A character I that I find unique is Egeus because he declares that Hermia Must Many Demetrius or be put to death noncompliance. Furthermore, according to the law of Athens, daughters must obey their fathers or give up their lives. This makes him unique because I have never known a father that would put his daughter to death if they did not marry who he wanted them too. Also, Egeus brings in Theseus to fight with him against Hermia so she has to marry Demetrius. Egeus brings the complaint to Theseus as “I beg the ancient privilege of Athens: as she is mine, I may dispose of her;” (Act 1, sc. 1, lines 41-42). This shows that Egeus is not willing to give in to Hermia and her request. He wants his way and she must obey it. Overall I think Egues is unique mainly because I am not accustomed to the way of marriage back then.

Luke
Per. 4

James said...

There are a lot of unique characters in this book. They show a lot of characteristics that are simlar to how people act today. One good example of this is Lysander. Lysander is just a lover. From the reading I can paint a picture of him loving Hermia so much and just doing and saying all of the right things. This is very similar to how some guys act these days. A good example from, the story showing how Lysander is such a kind and gentle lover is when he is discussing with Hermia his plan to run away with her. "A good persuasion;...There I will stay for thee" (Act 1, sc.1, lines 156-168) This quote is showing how Lysander will do anything for love, even though it means breakng the law and running away from his home.

James
Period 1

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of different characters in the book. The character I like the most is Lysander. Lysander really loves Hermia but they can’t be together. Lysander is trying to do anything he can do to be with her. The kind of guy Lysander is he is a caring and loving guy. One of the things Lysander said in the play act 1 sc 1 line 134-135 is “The course of true love never did run smooth”. What he understands about love is that he knows what love can do that there is always going to be problems. In the play he talks about how he should being marrying Hermia because he thinks he the better guy for her. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get married, like run away. He knows what could happen to him if he does that, but he doesn’t care.

Anthony p.4

Anonymous said...

Demetrius is a unique character in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Demetrius is the kind of person that tells what he means, like when Helena is following him demertuis tells her straight out that she makes him sick. He makes it so people get the point and tells them only the truth, nothing else. Demetrius in act 2 scene 1 line 188 says, "I love thee not; therefore pursue me not." This line shows that he does not love Helena and he doesn't care what Helena thinks.
Giuseppe period 4

Anonymous said...

In this play, I think that Helena is definitely the most unique. Helena loves Demetrius, who is in love with Hermia, who is in love with Lysander. However, nobody is really fond of Helena, including Demetrius. They are all in one big mess and there’s not one person who happens to be in love with Helena. I think that Helena is very self-centered in the part of the play we‘ve read already.. Helena knows she is a pretty girl and just says how pretty she is even though no guys want to be a part of her. She is very rude to her friends, rather than being understanding. Especially towards Hermia. I think she needs to change and start being a little more kind to others. One of the lines in the play that really stood out that Hermia said was “I frown upon him; yet he loves me still.” This line was during a conversation between Hermia and Helena. Helena is blaming Hermia that Demetrius does not love her. This is a very mean thing to do to a friend and it put Hermia in an awkward position considering she doesn’t even want Demetrius.
Morgan Krause
Period 1

Anonymous said...

A unique character in the play is Helena. Helena has no self-respect for herself. She says she is ugly and Hermia is more beautiful. She told Demetrius to at least treat her as his dog. She is lowering herself to be treated as nothing to someone that doesn’t even care about her. In the play Helena says to Demetrius “And yet a place of high respect with me,-- Than to be used as you use your dog?”(Act II, scene 1) Helena lacks self confidence and self-esteem. She treats herself as if she isn’t worth anything. Helena needs to let go of Demetrius or she will end up completely alone. She continues to make Demetrius love her, but needs to find someone else that feels the same way about her.

Michelle
Period 1

Anonymous said...

Hermia is a unique character in many ways. One thing that makes her unique is that she is one of the characters that are stuck in a love triangle. Lysander loves her, as she does him, yet Demetrius loves her too. Hermia is also a character that has a passion to be in control of her life. Her father Egius is a powerful and protective man who wants things for his daughter that she may not necessarily agree with. Hermia wishes for her father to see what she sees, and know what she wants to do in life and with whom she wishes to share her life with. He isn’t very voluntarily willing to listen to how she feels, yet he wants certain things to happen in the way that he wishes for them to happen. For example Hermia says: “I would my father look’d but with my eyes.” (Act I, sc.1, line 56)She wants Egius to know that it isn’t about disobeying her father, yet she wants him to understand her, and for him to feel for his daughter. Hermia wants Egius to want her to be happy, and the only way she is going to be happy is if she spends her life loving the man that she loves rather then the man her father wants her to love.

Anonymous said...

Mark S
Out of the four main characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream I think Hermia is the most unique. Out of the four she seems like she is the only one who is trully in love. Today in class we read act two and even Lysander seemed to want to take advantage of Hermia. Hermia is stuck in the most unique situation in the book thus far. She must basically choose life, death, or a life of seclution. The choice in who she chooses to marry is the main plot of the story and will most likely be the climax of the play. I also think Hermia is the strongest charcter in the book because she had the courage to go go into the woods and possibly go against her fathers wishes and marry Lysander. Her bravery and courage are a strong virtue. If i had to choose who the most important and unique charcter was in the book i would choose Hermia.

Anonymous said...

So far from reading this book, I feel that the character who is the most unique is Helena. This is because even though Demetrius continues to love Hermia, Helena persists that Demetrius give his love to her. She says to him,"I am your spaniel. And Demetrius, the more you beat me, I will fawn on you. Use me - but as your spaniel. Spurn me, strike me, neglect me, lose me, but give me leave, unworthy as I am, to follow you."(Act 2, scene 1; lines 211-215) It is normal for anyone to become upset with another person if that other person loves someone else who is just like you in many ways. In this case, Hermia and Helena are known to be very alike, so Helena finds herself questioning Demetrius's love for Hermia, rather than for herself. Helena is so desperate for some attention that she is willing to lose her self dignity for the man whom she loves. In this quote she states that he is open for treating her any way he would like, as long as she's able to be near him and follow him. Usually, if someone is neglected by another, that person who was neglected would move on. In Helena's case, she persists and pleads that Demetrius feel the same way she feels about him. If another person was in her situation, wouldn't that person feel that by persisting, it would only make things worse for the other person?

-Lindsay, Period 1

Anonymous said...

One character which I find rather unique is Puck. He’s a loyal servant to Oberon, but he is also a very mischievous fairy. He has quite a reputation among the fairies for being a trouble maker, “…you are that shrewd and knavish sprite…Are you not he/That frights the maidens of the villagery…” (Act II, sc. 1, lines 33-35) He also is the one who likes to mess everything up for everyone. He was the one who decide to turn Bottom’s head into and ass’s head. He looks down on people, “What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here” (Act III, sc. 1, line 69) This line clearly shows him as someone who just goes around looking for people to mess with. However, when something really goes wrong he doesn’t take the blame. “Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. Did not you tell me I should know the man By the Athenian garments he had on?” (Act III, sc. 2, lines 347-349) Puck is just very roguish, and he’s the one that makes this entire play work. He’s the one that makes the play funny because of all his tricks.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, I'd say Helena is a very "interesting" character. Her weird personality makes her some what unique. She has love for Demetrius but he can not returnt he love. After Puck puts a spell on Lysander (who loves Hermia) he falls in love with Helena. She says to Demetrius "I am your spaniel. And Demetrius, the more you beat me, I will fawn on you. Use me - but as your spaniel. Spurn me, strike me, neglect me, lose me, but give me leave, unworthy as I am, to follow you."(Act 2, Scene 1; lines 211-215). It's a normal thing that women today still do, the desperate physco ones, but it still happens. She's a very different interesting woman who seems so be lacking independence. and self-confidence. Not saying she should go for Lysander and take advantage of his spell because for some awkward reason she doesn't want him but she wants someone who doesn't want her. But she should find someone who does. Maybe Puck should put Demetrius under Lysander's spell for Helena,and just take away the spell from Lysander and everyone will be happy.
Nicole T
P 1

Anonymous said...

I think a very unique character in the play is Demetrius. He seems to be very hypocritical, and doesn't really care about people other than himself. He is only concerned with Hermia, and disregards that she doesn't love him, and that she's in love with Lysander. He also slept with Helena, even though he doesn't love her, and then he's really mean to her when she stalks him. It's kind of his own fault. Demetrius says to Helena,"Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee." (act 1, scene 1, lines 211-212) He slept with her, and now he tells her he hates her. He's mean to people and uses them.

Anonymous said...

Midsummer Post # 3 April 3

The most unique character we have read about in this play would have to be Puck. Puck is a very clever and also mischievous fairy. Puck uses his ability to change his shape and to play little tricks on the mortal people. An example from the book is as follows “The wisest aunt, telling the saddest tale, sometime for a three-foot stool mistaketh me: then I slip I from her bum, down topples she, and “tailor” cries, and falls into a cough…” (Act II, sc.1, lines 51-54) In this quote Puck sort of brags to a fairy of how he turns himself into a chair and when a lady goes to sit down he quickly vanishes. Puck is very proud of himself for the tricks he plays and he is also known for this.
-Matt T.

Anonymous said...

In the play, I think the most unique character is Titania. She is the queen of the fairies, and when she gets angry, the world “turns upside-down.” While her and her husband, Oberon, are fighting every other fairy clears away. Bad things, like natural disasters, occur while the two fairies are fighting, like floods, droughts, etc. Titania is also unique because she wants to care for her deceased friend’s son (the Indian Boy). That is very nice of her to do that, and that is the reason why she and Oberon are fighting. He wants to raise him as a soldier, and she doesn’t want that for him. She runs away into the woods, and that is where she spends her time while she is fighting with her husband. Although fighting with your husband might not be unique, running away and sleeping all by yourself in the woods is. It takes a lot of guts to do that. Who knows what gross and creepy things could live there. I don’t have any quotes from the book to prove that Titania is unique because I didn’t bring my book home.

Anonymous said...

OUt of the charecters we've meet so far I personally think Bottom is the most unique. His personality can be catecterized as being a little crazy that is srenghtend by stupidity and ingnorence. " lEt me play the lion too.I will roar that I will do any man's heart good to hear me."(act 1 scene ii, lins64-65) He is truely unique in that his speach is blundered, his use of words is out of place, and is sentences are unorganized. Out of the other mechanicals he is "wild,"the others seems to be asleep in the act, spacing out as if they dont know what is going on.Bottom is a truely unique charecter.

Anonymous said...

One person that I find very unique is Helena, for she would give her life up to be with Demetrius, the one she loves. No matter what Demetrius does to Helena, she will always go after him as an act of love. One example of her outrageous acts would be when she said, “I am your spaniel. And Demetrius, the more you beat me, I will fawn on you. Use me - but as your spaniel. Spurn me, strike me, neglect me, lose me, but give me leave, unworthy as I am, to follow you.” (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 211-215). Although people would imagine that she sounds like many other desperate women, but she is unique from them because she does not know how to stop. Even after Demetrius continues to ignore her, she continues to bother him.

Anonymous said...

My favorite character thus far is Lysander. He is very unique because he possesses traits unlike the others, such as loving and courageous. He is obsessed with Hermia and would do anything to marry her. Therefore, he is courageous because he constantly attempts to persuade the king (Hermia's father) into having Hermia marry him rather than Demetrius. For example, he says "The course of true love never did run smooth." (Act 1, sc. 1, lines 134-135) He realizes that true, divine love never has or will be truly perfect, it always has its ups and downs within the relationship. Yet, it shows that he understands and is therefore willing to make these sacrifices so that him and Hermia could be together. He is even willing to run away from his community into the woods, basically exiling himself all for the purpose of falling in love with this one special girl. He is therefore quite a sacrificial and caring man as well.

Anonymous said...

I think that both Lysander and Hermia are unique because of the immense love that they both have for eachother. But I'm chosing Lysander because even though he does not have the approval of her father and has the competition of Demetrius, he is still willing to go through all of it just to be with her.

“The course of true love never did run smooth" (Act 1, sc. 1, lines 134-135)


His strength comes from the love of Hermia, which is what makes him portray his character's personality as strong-hearted and strong-willed. He knows of the difficulties and the challenges he must face, but he is willing to fight for it and do anything he can to be with her.

-Brandon Period 1

Anonymous said...

After reading both Act I and II, I believe that the most developed, unique character in this story is Helena. Helena displays a very distinct sense of determination regarding her plans to woo Demetrius. At the same time, she humors the reader with an unheard of ignorance and disregard toward the fact that Demetrius is not one bit attracted to her. In my opinion, Helena lightens the mood of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” During Demetrius and Helena’s quest in the woods, Helena’s attempts to win over the heart of Demetrius become so pathetic and annoying that Demetrius states, “I’ll run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, and eave thee to the mercy of the wild beast.” This passage means that Demetrius would rather risk his life with the beasts than spend his time with her. Essentially, Helena’s characteristics are what keep the reader focused on the story-line.

matt r - period #1

Anonymous said...

One character that I think sticks out the most and if the most unique is Puck. He is a very intelligent little fairy. He is always changing himself into different shapes and knows how to make people think he’s something else. He likes to play tricks with people, he is very sneaky. One example from the book is “And sometime lurk I in a gossip’s bowl, in very likeness of a roasted crab, and when she drinks, against her lips I bob, and on her withered dewlop pour the ale.” In this quote Puck is a crap apple, listening to an old lady gossip. When she drinks from her bowl he makes her spill her ale all over herself. He likes to be mischievous and mess with people. He thinks he is really cool for doing all these crazy things.

Anonymous said...

My favorite Charicter is Lysander. he is very wise and his love for Hermia is true. He knows that his loving Hermia is dangerous and even knowing that he still loves her and shows her his love. He knows what consequences both he and Hermia face if she does not marry Demitrius. Most men would act cowardly and run away from the situation but, Lysander doesn't. He stays by Hermias side.
“The course of true love never did run smooth" {Act 1 scene 1 lines 134-135}

~Jesse per. 4

Anonymous said...

In my opinion so far reading in the book. I actually was surpirsed myself but I like Helena. I think she has a lot of courage and bravery for showing Demetrius how much she loves him even though he dosne't love her back. In a way many people would totally stop liking the guy they like just becuase they don't like the girl back. Helena to me is a different character and I would of expected by now for her to just give up on Demetrius. On page 23 I found a quote by her that caught my attention. " You drawme, you hardhearted adamant;But yet you draw not iron, for my heart Is true as steel: Leave you your power to draw, And i shall have no power to follow you."

Anonymous said...

I think Hermia is very unique. She has a very strong will and she knows what is right for her and she does not let anyone tell her what to do. "So will I grow, so live,so die,my lord.Ere i will my virgin patent up unto his lordship,whose unwished yoke my soul consents not to give sovereignty." (Act. 1, Sc. 1, lines 79-82. Even when the King of her country tells her to marry Demetrius she does not comply and still goes against her father. I believe the reason she goes against the authority is that she knows she is truly in love.

adam

Anonymous said...

One of the characters we've met so far is Titania. Being queen of the fairies, she has the ability to change size, making her unique. Titania also exhibits displays of responsibility that make her unique. Since the death of her "vot'ress", she has been attempting to protect the well-being of the deceased friend's son. Most people at this point could give up, and forget about the boy, but Titania has continued to pursue what she thinks is right,"But she, being mortal, of that boy did die/And for her sake do I rear up her boy/And for her sake I will not part with him." (Act II, sc. 1, lines 135-137)
Rebekah
Period 6

Anonymous said...

I think a character that has a strange but unique personality is Helena. She's madly in love with Demetrius although he has no interest in her. Most people might have given up on it, but Helena doesn't stop. "Your virtue is my privelege. For that it is not night when I do see your face, therefore I think I am not in the night, nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, for you in my respect are all the world." (Act II, scene i, lines 220-224)

-Mike Merrill
-Period 6

Anonymous said...

A character that I admire a lot is Lysander.Lysander sticks out the most to me out of all the other characters because of his loyalty and couragousness.I find Lysander to be loyal because hes absolutely imfatuated with Hermia and he's tryign everything he can to make their love live free. He never gives up on them.Lysander is also couragous because he always goes to the king and trys to persuade him into accepting Hermia's and his love for one another.But it hasn't worked.An example of Lysanders loyalty and sticking with his word is when he said "The course of true love never did run smooth." (Act 1, sc. 1, lines 134-135). When he said that it showed that he never gave up , he knew it was hard and maybe he was getting tired from trying to convince the king into accepting their marriage but he still never gave up.He realizes that every love goes through struggles, but if its real ,then you'll always make it through.


-Liz P.

Anonymous said...

I think that Nick Bottom is a unique character in the story for many reasons. For one, he basically runs it, and chooses all the actors and what not, and is trying to make everything in the play run his way. He is always clowning around, and finds everything he does humourours, and is always making his crew of mechanicals laugh. Even they view him as a high authority, and seem to respect him, laugh at his jokes, beg to be in the play for him, etc. Nick Bottom also I see as a very crazy person with the way he is doing things, which is another reason I feel he is unique.

Anonymous said...

I think that Nick Bottom is one of Shakespeare's unique characters. Shakespeare used and overused lovers and tyrants and such characters, but I don't think there is another character, [with the exception of Falstaff from Merry Wives of Windsor/Henry V] that embodies the true spirit of human nature [extremely stupid, no matter how educated] so well, and that he uses him as a multi-faceted character in many situations, which he faces with vigor and glee.

Anonymous said...

I think that the most unique character in this book so far is puck. He is a very active character who is constanly moving. To me, he is very mischevious and childish. in the book he says, "And sometimes lurk I in the gossip bowl." He enjoys gossiping and playing jokes, that seems to just be in his nature.