The four lovers see that “the course of true love ne’er runs smooth” because there are all sorts of things that keep getting in the way of there love such as Egeus' meddling. For Hermia and Demetrius love is definitely not running smoothly, Hermia does not love Demetrius but is about to be forced to marry him or die, she says she would rather die than marry anyone but Lysander! This may be similar to how Hippolyta and Theseus felt originally but their relationship works in the end so the audience begins to wonder if Egeus is correct and if true love will be found if Hermia and Demetrius give the relationship time.
The course of love between Hermia and Lysander would run smoothly were it not for Egeus and Demetrius getting in the way of it. To try and remove all the ‘bumps in the road’ and lead a life where they can love each other, they run away to the woods, even this doesn’t work! The fact that this relationship works out in the end shows the audience that this relationship is one of true love and was meant to be! The events and people that got in the way were obviously just ‘bumps in the road’. These events show that the course of true love may “ne’er run smooth” but it does turn out fine in the end and after the challenges they faced on the way, they are probably all better people for it!
Another love in the play is that of Helena to Demetrius, this does not work all throughout the play, except when the love potion is involved, but in the end, after the audience thinks that the love potion has made a big mess of everything, we find out that it has actually made Demetrius realise that he doesn’t really love Hermia but actually it is Helena that he loves. As before this shows the audience that no matter what happens at the beginning and through the middle that true love will always sort things out in the end and clear up the mess of everything. It may be a bumpy road but the destination of true love will be reached all the same.
The love, or breakdown of love, between Oberon and Titania shows that love can be extremely powerful as two Fairies arguing can cause problems for the entire world as this quote demonstrates, (storms quote). This shows that when there is true love between people it is very powerful and cannot be silenced. On the other hand though because they are fighting during the play their relationship is stronger in the end. This again shows that no matter how many problems there are true love will run its course and be stronger because of the obstacles.
The love of Titania to Bottom is obviously never going to last as it is a mad love, caused by the love flower. I think that this love is put into the play to show that false love will not last and will only cause pain in the end, and it is only true love that will triumph in the end no matter how bumpy the road is.
Lastly there is the love in the craftsmen’s play between Pyramus and Thisby. The play is very similar to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as there are two lovers who are separated and at the end one of them (Pyramus) commits suicide because he thinks that his love, Thisby, is dead, she then also commits suicide. I think this was put in a Midsummer Night’s Dream to show what a horrible ending could have come of all this if Theseus had stood firm at the end and forced Hermia to marry Demetrius, she would have died and so Lysander would commit suicide and more characters would follow!
Overall I think that Shakespeare was trying to tell us that, ”The course of true love ne’er runs smooth” as it is a very dominant theme in A Midsummer Nights Dream and it is very true in the play. He is also saying that love is very powerful and can bring great happiness but if it is abused it can cause great problems and unhappiness. In my opinion he invites the audience to conclude that although the course of true love may never run smoothly, it is an emotion so powerful that in the end it will triumph and the destination of a loving relationship will justify the journey however bumpy.
