Character Analysis Hermia When we first meet Hermia she is the typical girl in
love against her fathers wishes. Obviously we see from the start that she is
very devoted to Lysander, her love, and she does not like to be forced to do
things that she does not want. She does not want to marry Demetrius even though
her father has pretty much told her it is that or death. Yes, she could always
go live in a nunnery or live a life of chastity but who really wants that. So
from the start we see that she is very adamant and very in love. Before going
into Hermia’s inner self I must address her physical appearance. She is Egeus’
daughter and she is a tiny woman with a dark completion. She is often mocked for
this like when Helena and her were quarreling in the woods Hermia says this in
regards to height – “Now I perceive that she hath made compare between our
statures: she hath urged her height, And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.” (Act III Scene 2 Line
292). So obviously she is aware of her lack in height and it seems to cause her
a bit of pain. Though Helena is taller than Hermia even she admits that Hermia
has “sparkling eyes and a lovely voice”. Hermia is very set in what she
wants from the very first scene. She has eyes only for Lysander.So obviously she
is very faithful. Even when faced with the decision her father gave her she did
not waver for a second in her love for him. Throughout the story Hermia’s
emotions were kind of tossed around and at one point she even says, “ Am I not
Hermia? Are you not Lysander? (Act III Scene 2 line 274). So we see that she
gets a little confused and a bit hurt when hurt feelings we cast aside. At that
point in the story I think she lost a part of her self. She had put a part of
her self in side Lysander a he had just brushed it away. So when Lysander came
back to her she then became herself again. So in that we see that she has
intrusted herself in Lysander and had no doubt that he loved her. Boy did she
get a slap in the face. Hermia is a very key figure in the story so she has
relations with almost all the characters in the story. The first and most
important relationship Hermia had was with the man she loved, Lysander. From the
start we see that Hermia loved Lysander with all her heart and he loved her the
same in return. The only time that there was a flaw in their relationship was
when Puck put the magic into Lysander's eyes and he fell in love with Helena.
Hermia had very right to be mad and to feel rejected. But once Puck straightened
out his goof up their relationship went back to the euphoric state like before.
The next relationship is that of Helena’s and Hermia’s. These two grew up
together and were probably extremely close all their life. Then they hit
womanhood and there it went crazy. Hermia was loved by everyone including
Demetrius, the one Helena wanted. So obviously Helena was jealous and she had a
right to be. So at this point in their lives there was a major strain in their
relationship. In the end though it all turns out all right. Both of them are
with who they want to be with. Hermia and Egues’ relationship is that of a
typical father-daughter relationship. Egues only wants the best for is daughter
and Hermia is only thinking about her own welfare. She loves Lysander and her
father does not think he is the best man to marry his little girl. So as for
that their relationship is completely healthy. Hermia just says – “ I would
my father looked but with my eyes.” (Act I Scene 1 line 56). But fathers can
definitly be that way at times. They see what they want to see. Hermia and
Demetrius are only but members in the same love triangle. There is truly no hope
that Hermia will ever love Demetrius in return unless Puck comes along with his
magic flower. So as far as that goes unless magic is involve there is really no
hope. Hermia is very sure of who she loves. Overall Hermia was very true to her
emotions. She new what she wanted and eevn in the face of losing the love of her
life she stayed strong yet hot tempered about the whole thing. Amazingly enough
through out all the confusion Hermia stayed very much in control.