Teaching Shakespeare
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Helena chases after her former love Demetrius, who wooed her and won her heart before turning his attention to Hermia instead. Helena cannot accept this. She chases after him for a good three acts, long after her charm has faded, professing love to the point where it becomes humiliating. She offers to be his "spaniel": "Spurn me, strike me, use me, neglect me," she implores, only let me stay by your side.
At this point, half my class sighs, "Poor Helena!"
"Poor Demetrius!" the other half argues.
We talk about love vs. obsession and the necessity of conflict in fiction; we make predictions about what might happen; and, God help us, we make real-life connections. Theirs are excusable; they are twelve. Mine are darker, buried, deeply embarrassing.
Because this is fiction, and because the conflict must be resolved, Demetrius eventually, unknowingly, submits to a magical enchantment whereby he's made to dote strongly, madly on Helena. The two couples (Helena and her brainwashed man, Hermia and hers) celebrate a joint wedding. How long will the enchantment last? Why not forever? No matter. This story has a happy ending, and that is why we call it a "comedy."
Forget "Poor Demetrius!" Demetrius is a douchebag, and you should say so to your class before they start to think such behavior is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteDemetrius is wildly in love with Hermia. Hermia just happens to be Helena's best friend. Demetrius backstabs his own best friend Lysander just for a shot at his ex-girlfriend's best friend? How gauche. Has he never heard of guy code? (Or girl code for that matter, as his action violates both!) Plus, rather than be up front about it, he goes to Hermia's father and gets an arranged marriage. His thoughts on love consist of, "The law is on my side!" Gee, what a romantic.
Hermia spurns him. He gets his arranged marriage, and yet still she spurns him. Demetrius has his lovesick heart trampled on, and just when he is at his most vulnerable, Helena comes along to give him a chance at redemption.
Oh Helena, a fool I must have been
For Hermia alone to bring me glee,
My eyes were opened, now at last I've seen
Why Athens thinks you just as fair as she!
To trade a bird in hand for one in bush
Is trade most folly, not a trade most fair;
Besides, thou hast the cutest little tush,
Come now, I've got to tap that derriere!
Does Demetrius say this? NO! He sees this woman who is in the exact same predicament as him (only in her case, it's not her fault). Of all people, she understands his love problems, and of all people, he should understand him. So what does he do? He berates her and makes her cry. It's like taking out your frustration by kicking your dog. Demetrius is a no good, rotten dog kicker.
If you don't believe me, listen to Shakespeare. Oberon and Puck (the author's running commentary in this play) say to hell with this guy; if he won't make the right choice, we'll make it for him. Hijinks ensue, but in the end we have two happy couples and a happy ending. Could the same be said Oberon told puck to work his magic on Helena so that she would leave Demetrius alone? I think not! Demetrius, left to his own devices, would not stop until he dragged Hermia back to Athens to get married, probably having to kill Lysander in the process. End result: Zero happy couples, no happy ending. Clearly Shakespeare is with me on this one.
PS - Lysander is a Smooth Pimp O' Love, just like your brother.
The Boy
Oh my god I LOVE YOU. When did you grow up to be so cool??? How much was my influence? Most of it, right?
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we post images?
ReplyDelete(Pretend you can see the image located here: http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/stratford/titania2.jpg)
Thank goodness there are some enchantments we awake from, even if it takes a little while.
-L