Hermia and Helenas relationship (Midsummer Nights Dream)
Uploaded by hayley_fisher on Sep 12, 1999
To what extent has the love potion affected the relationship between Helena and Hermia?
Hermia and Helena's relationship has changed greatly after the intervention of Puck with the love potion. Once best friends, they have become each others enemies, and all for the love of Lysander and Demetrius.
Hermia and Helena were best friends when they were at school.
"All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?"
(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 201, Helena)
They had complete trust in each other, telling each other their deepest secrets.
"Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 198 - 199, Helena)
They worked together on everything they did including sewing and singing.
"Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 205 - 206)
To some people, Helena and Hermia became the same person, saying the same things, thinking the same thoughts and having the same morals and principles.
"As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grew together," (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 207-208)
Behaving in the same way, they spent as much time as possible together. This time passed quickly, whilst the time spent apart was slow and seemed pointless.
"When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us-O, is all forgot?"
(Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 200 - 201, Helena)
Although Helena and Hermia were two separate people, they were, "a union in partition", compared to a double cherry.
"Two lovely berries moulded on one stem."
(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 211, Helena)
Their friendship was so strong that they seemed to be connected, the same person in two different bodies.
"So with two seeming bodies, but one heart,"
(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 212, Helena)
This had lasted all their lives until the intervention of Lysander and Demetrius.
The strong friendship between Helena and Hermia quickly disintegrated when they became involved with the two men. The love potion was meant to help, but Puck's mistake managed to completely reverse the relationship. When both Demetrius and Lysander were under the influence of the "love-in-idleness" flower, Helena believed that both were mocking her.
"You both are rivals and love Hermia
And now both rivals, to mock Helena."
(Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 155 - 156, Helena)
When Hermia seems to take the same attitude, even though she doesn't know what's going on, Helena accuses her of betraying all women...