Sunday, November 21, 2004

An Arguement for Hermia

I was thinking recently about what Shakespeare character I most identify with. I think most women would choose Ophelia from Hamlet. It is understandable why; he used to seem like a good guy until he started acting like a something he wasn't, he couldn't make up his mind about anything and kept comparing her to his mother. Something many women can relate to. I find Ophelia to be the cliched choice.

I find I much more can relate to Hermia from A Midsummer's Night Dream. I am falling for a guy who want nothing to do with me. Even when he treats me poorly, I make excuses for him convincing myself he really does care.

Here is an example:
DEMETRIUS
Do I entice you? do I speak you fair?
Or, rather, do I not in plainest truth
Tell you, I do not, nor I cannot love you?

HELENA
And even for that do I love you the more.
I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,
The more you beat me, I will fawn on you:
Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
What worser place can I beg in your love,--
And yet a place of high respect with me,--
Than to be used as you use your dog?

(Act II, Scene I, 204-215)

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