Who is helena midsummer nights dream

In chasing Demetrius, Helena claims to have appropriated Apollo's role, yet Demetrius is still the one who threatens violence when he vows to "do [her] mischief in the wood" if she doesn't stop following him. Not only must woman patiently wait for her chosen lover to call, but she is also constantly threatened by male sexual violence if she resists unwanted male attentions.

What recourse do women have? Banding together. Thus, Helena is upset when she believes Hermia has betrayed her by joining Demetrius and Lysander. Childhood friendships between women should be stronger than the fickle love of men.

Her comments make us question the position of all women in the play. For example, what is the source of Hippolyta's passivity in the play? Helena is totally in love with Demetrius, but he only has eyes for Hermia.

In fact he tells Helena he hates her. Helena lets a man get in the way of her friendship with Hermia. She allows Demetrius to make a fool of her and be cruel to her. She goes through a lot to get her man. Why is Helena such a jealous character? Helena is jealous of Hermia. She is frustrated that Demetrius loves Hermia, and not her, even though they are equally pretty. Of the other characters, Helena, the lovesick young woman desperately in love with Demetrius, is perhaps the most fully drawn.

Among the quartet of Athenian lovers, Helena is the one who thinks most about the nature of love—which makes sense, given that at the beginning of the play she is left out of the love triangle involving Lysander, Hermia, and Demetrius. Helena needs to overcome her own insecurities. She should genuinely deal with them, instead of rationalizing them away by assuming she's just inferior to prettier women.

Then, she might be able to relax and just enjoy love. There's a lesson for everybody here: Hermia needs to calm down, Lysander needs to toughen up, Demetrius needs to get off his high horse, and Helena needs to accept the confidence that comes with being loved. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. By William Shakespeare.