MSND: Helena’s Character

Q3. Discuss how Shakespeare makes Helena a dynamic character in ‘A Midsummer Night’s
Dream’.

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare is a romantic comedy between the people
of Athens. The playwright shows how Helena’s troubled relationship with Demetrius, brings
changes in her personality, throughout the play. The dramatist shows Helena's transformation
throughout the play, outlining Helena’s journey from a jealous and obsessive lover to a logical
advocate for sisterhood by the end of the play, highlighting her as a dynamic character.

At the beginning of the play, we are introduced to a reckless Helena, a character who keeps on
Metamorphosing
changing as the play moves forward. We are introduced to Helena at a point at which she is in love
with Demetrius, someone who once courted her but now wants to marry her best friend, Hermia. To
begin with, she cannot even bear to be called “fair” by Hermia because she is so jealous of
Hermia’s beauty that “Demetrius loves”. She wishes to be transformed into Hermia so that
Demetrius loves her instead. She even accuses Hermia of influencing “the motion of Demetrius'
heart” and subtly criticizes her beauty. Even though Hermia tries to comfort her by revealing her
plans of elopement with Lysander, it is not enough for Helena. Although she knows that her
admiration for Demetrius is foolish, she has no control over her feelings.In her helplessness, Helena
even goes to the length of deceiving her childhood friend. She ends up telling Demetrius of “fair
Hermia’s flight” just to gain thanks and have him “back again” once he sees Hermia and Lysander
together in the woods. Shakespeare introduces Helena’s character in Act 1 to reveal the jealousy and
helplessness she feels as a result of unanswered love. However, Helena’s envious and vulnerable
character evolves as the play moves forward.

As the play progresses, Helena alters into an obsessive lover due to one of the major conflicts.
Helena makes a decision to
In Act 2, Helena follows through with her decision to follow Demetrius into the woods. She hopes
that he will be heartbroken to see Hermia happy with Lysander. However, in Act 2 Scene 1,
Demetrius clearly states that he cannot love her. Helena, obsessed with Demetrius, is desperate
enough to become Demetrius’ “spaniel”, encouraging him to neglect and beat her. Ultimately, even
though Demetrius gets frustrated enough to run and hide from Helena, even then she decides to
pursue Demetrius. Moving ahead, in Act 2 Scene 2, when Helena is “out of breath” chasing
Demetrius, a bewitched Lysander starts to seduce her. She feels that Lysander is mocking her
because of her incapability to attract Demetrius. She is not only obsessed with Demetrius but also
with Hermia’s bright, “blessed and attractive eyes”. According to her, Demetrius has “run away”
from her due to her being as “ugly as a bear”. Shakespeare uses Helena’s passionate character to
portray one of the major themes of the play, which is - metamorphosis. Hence, Helena shows an
extreme transformation from what she is in Act 1 of the play.

In Act 3 of the play, Helena yet again showcases an immense shift in her personality. Helena goes
from being jealous and obsessive to becoming somebody who is a logical person. She raises the
issue of loyalty between women, even though Helena is the only female in the play who is truly
disloyal by telling Demetrius about the elopement plan. She starts by fondly remembering
“schoolday’s friendship” with Hermia. She recollects how they sang the same song and sat on
“one cushion” while embroidering the same flower since they used to be such close friends like
“two lovely berries moulded on one stem”. She even begs Hermia not to “be so bitter” since she
has always loved her. When she finally understands that Demetrius's threats to “strike, spurn,” and
“kill” her are unacceptable, her love for him starts to disappear. She finally understands her
foolishness in coming to the forest and decides to go back to Athens. Shakespeare further illustrates
Helena’s character by reflecting on her growing sense of maturity. Helena is a passionate character
who changes a lot as the story progresses.

A close examination of the play reveals how Shakespeare makes Helena’s dynamic character follow
the course of a lovesick, abandoned lover to a rebellious, logical woman. He achieves this via
multiple plot twists, which are common in Shakespearean comedies. As a result, the audience
senses her as one of the most extraordinary heroines created in his plays.