Crazy Helena
A midsummer night's dream
People's emotions usually control how they act.
Throughout act II of A midsummer nights dream, Helena shows with her actions that people's emotion do usually control how they act. For example, in Act I we know Helena is in love with Demetrius, but he loves her best friend, Helena and when Hermia finds out she is going to leave Athens with Lysander to be happy with him. Helena reveals that she will do anything to get Demetrius attention when she says "I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight. Then to the wood will he tomorrow night Pursue her"(I.i.246-249). This quote show's that Helena is going to tell Demetrius about Helena leaving just to cause attention and cause trouble. Overall in Act I, Helena shows that her feelings towards Demetrius led her to snitch on them and ruin Hermia's and Lysander's happiness.
Love is the most powerful emotion we feel.
Later in Act II, Helena confronts Demetrius when he tells her once again that he does not and could not love her. In this Act Helena shows that love is the most powerful emotion we feel when she tells Demetrius "And even for that I do 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"(II.i.187-192). This quote shows that Helena puts her love for Demetrius first than anything, even her dignity. She doesn't care how He treat her as long as he is with her. Overall she proves that love is the most powerful emotion anyone can feel by letting Demetrius treat her like garbage as long as she gets to see him and be with him.
People's actions can influence other people's lives.
Later, Helena proves that people's actions can influence other people's lives. In Act II, when Helena goes to Demetrius to tell him that Hermia and Lysander are planning to escape before her father makes her marry Demetrius. We can tell this affects Hermia's and Lysander's future when Demetrius says "Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I'll stay, the other stayeth me. Thou told'st me they were stol'n unto this wood. And here am I, and wood within this wood, Because I cannot meet my Hermia"(II.I.174-178). This quote shows that Demetrius is determine to find Hermia, this affects Hermia's and Lysander's happiness, all they want is to be together. Overall this proves that Helena's actions influences people's lives in not a really good way.
CONNECTION THE CHARACTER
While Helena might be a fictional, mythical character, I find that she is at relatable at times. Although I wouldn't let anyone treat me like she wants Demetrius to treat her, I do as well think that people's emotions can control how they act, I always find myself making decisions based on how I feel whether they're good or bad. I also relate to Helena that people's actions can influence other people's lives, but unlike her I like my actions to have a good influence on people's lives.