TwoPathsofLove

Athenianmen,DemetriusandLysander,bothadorethefairmaiden,Hermia.Despitehaving
multiplesimilarities,theycontradicteachotherwithnumerousdifferences.Ononehand,youhave
Demetrius,theboldwarriorwhobelievesheiscapableofeverything.Ontheother,agentlemenwhois
downtoearthandsensitivebythenameofLysander.Twoverydifferentmenwithtwoverydifferent
personalities.Manywouldinterpretthatoneisbetterthantheother.Mycaserestsonthesensitive
gentleman,Lysander.
Ayme!ForaughtthatIcouldeverread,
Couldeverhearbytaleorhistory,
Thecourseoftrueloveneverdidrunsmooth.
(ActI,Scene1,LL134136)

Fromthebeginning,weareinformedaboutLysanderandHermiascurrentrelationship.Weknow
thatLysanderpreferstogainHermiaslovebygivinghergiftsandcreatingromanticgestures.Both
lovebirdsadmireoneanothervoluntarily.Although,welearnthatHermiaisbeingforcedtomarryDemetrius,
Lysanderslaterrival,byherfather,Egeus.Butrightoffthebat,IbelieveLysanderisthebetteroneoutof
himandDemetriusbecauseheiscaringandthoughtful.Heattemptstowinhisladyslovebygivingher
presentsandshowingherhowhetrulyfeels.Meanwhile,Demetriusthinksheisthebettermanbysimply
statingwhatispresented.Furthermore,DemetriusdoesnotshowreallovetoHermia.Evenafterbeing
inducedbythelovepotion,Demetriusremainsenthralledforanother.(Helena)ButasforLysander,the
potionspowerfadesandhereturnshislovetoHermia.

WhatmakesLysandersogreatishisstubbornness.Iagreethatstubbornnessmightnotbethebest
traitforalover,butLysanderdisplaysitwell.

Iam,mylord,aswellderivedashe,
Aswellpossess'dmyloveismorethanhis
Myfortuneseverywayasfairlyrank'd,
Ifnotwithvantage,asDemetrius
(Act1,Scene1,LL101104)

Lysanderisnotasimpleman,butnotacomplexoneeither.Heexhibitstraitsofdeterminationtowards
Hermia.Hewasnotwillingtotakedefeatandallowhislovetomarryanotherman.Whilearguingwith
Egeus,LysanderpointsoutthatheisasrichandascapableasDemetriustomarryHermia.Inaddition,
LysanderclaimshehasacquiredHermiaslove,meanwhileDemetriushasEgeus.Bothgentlemenlove
someoneandhavesomeonewhowantstoacquiretheirlove.Thetwoalsodonotadoretheirinitiallover
afterbeingdosedwiththelovepotion.Though,DemetriusandLysanderchangetheirminds(temporarily)
Lysandersprimarytraitsarestillvisible.

Beingthecaring,ambitiousnoblemanheis,Lysanderkeepshistraitsashesbeingmanipulatedby
theflowerspell.Previously,wereadthatLysanderlovesHermiadearly,butafterbeinghypnotized,hestarts
tohavefeelingsforHelena.Evenafterthespelltookaction,Lysanderscaringtraitcontinuedtoshine
through.
Thoucanstcompelnomorethansheentreat
Thythreatshavenomorestrengththanherweakprayers.
Helen,Ilovetheebymylife,Ido.
IswearbythatwhichIwillloseforthee,
ToprovehimfalsethatsaysIlovetheenot.

(ActIII,Scene2,LL12661271)

Lysandertakesaturn,butstillongoinglykeepsupwithhiskindattitudetowardsHelena.Theambitiousman
wouldriskhislifeforsomeonehelovesandhewoulddoalmostanythingtoproveit.Demetrius,theplayer,
movesfrommaidentomaidentothepointwherehewouldnolongerhavesympathyforprevious
relationships.ThatproveswhyLysanderisthebetterhusbandfigureandnotDemetrius.

Theidealhusbandistheonethatcaresforyou,standsupforyou,spendstimewithyou,andloves
you.Theoppositewoulddescribesomeonewhoisselfcentered,abusive,andinsensitive.Ifoneisnot
worthyofintegrityandtrust,theyshouldnotbebelievedinthewayoflove.Inaway,Demetriusdoesnot
trulycareforlove.MytheoryisthatheonlywantstomarryHermiajustforwealthandstatus.Meanwhile
Lysanderdesireslovefrommarriage.Theconflictisresolvedandtheanswerremains.Buttherealquestion
liesinhowyouseeeachargument.Toputiteasy:Lysandercares,butDemetriusdoesnotfair.Thus,
makingLysanderthebetterman.

WorksCited
1.

"CompareandContrasttheCharactersofDemetriusandLysanderinAMidsummerNight'sDream.
HomeworkHelpENotes.com."
Enotes.com.
Enotes.com.Web.26Feb.2016.

2.

"LysanderandDemetrius."
Prezi.com
.Web.26Feb.2016.

3.

"WhatAretheDifferencesbetweenDemetriusandLysanderinShakespeare'sAMidsummer
Night'sDream?HomeworkHelpENotes.com."
Enotes.com.
Enotes.com.Web.26Feb.2016.