More then one type of love in Mid Summer Nights Dream

        The other type of love we read about is in Sonnet 116 is the love of true minds. In sonnet 116, lines 13 and 14 really stand out, “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,  But bears it out even to the edge of doom,” Shakespeare is saying that the love of true minds does not change with hours or weeks but rather remains until death.  The perfect example of this is Lysander and Hermia, lovers since the beginning.  Hermia’s love for Lysander is so great that she agrees to go off into the woods with Lysander, she says “I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow…tomorrow truly  will I meet with thee” Act 1 Scene 1 line 171-181, in this quote Hermia is promising Lysander she will run away with him to the woods. This is a very big deal not only is she defying Egeues by running away with Lysander, and if she caught doing would result in her being killed but also she’s giving her friends, family and life away all for this one boy.  What Hermia is saying  truly reveals how great and passionate her love is for Lysander. This love is so passionate that each member is willing to  give up everything for one another.  Compared to all the other couples in the book Lysander never willfully stops loving Hermia and Hermia never stops loving Lysander. This love is very unique and you never doubt that they’re right for each other.  True love almost seems magical, in that the emotion is unbreakable.

        In Midsummer Nights Dream, there is a third type of love not mentioned in either of Shakespeare’s sonnets. This third type of love is a false and misguided love. This type of love is very different from the other types, as it appears to be real however is not.  This love is not actually love but more of an illusion. Bottom and Titania are a perfect example. While practicing in the forest, Bottom wakens Titania who has had the flower juice placed on her, as soon as Titania sees Bottom, she is obsessed. Within a few moments of knowing him she declares “Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.” Act 3 Scene 1 Line 150, those words are remarkably deep for someone you just met. Titania believes that Bottom is the love of her life, with just looking at him.  She insists he remain in the woods with her and even tells bottom that she loves him.  At the end she ends up giving him a group of fairies to attend to him and watch over him. Ironically while all this is happening Bottom seems to be clueless and lost. This type of “love” is not meant to be and is as hopeless as that tricky math problem you can never seem to solve.

        Love comes in many different shapes and forms. But nonetheless, it is love. Love is an emotion that is reckless and changes according to the situation. It’s a magical thing that can be created by a dash of fairy juice or a strong unbreakable bond between two people.  But then again, can love really be explained?