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Lysander: Character Traits in Shakespeare

Lysander is the main character in William Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is a clever, fierce, and noble lover of Hermia. However, he is considered a flat character since his personality traits remain consistent throughout the play. Lysander devises a plan for him and Hermia to elope since she is forced by law to marry Demetrius. Later, Lysander is enchanted by a magic potion to fall in love with Helena, but returns to loving Hermia when the spell wears off, demonstrating his loyalty. In the end, Lysander and Hermia marry with the Duke's permission.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
917 views3 pages

Lysander: Character Traits in Shakespeare

Lysander is the main character in William Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is a clever, fierce, and noble lover of Hermia. However, he is considered a flat character since his personality traits remain consistent throughout the play. Lysander devises a plan for him and Hermia to elope since she is forced by law to marry Demetrius. Later, Lysander is enchanted by a magic potion to fall in love with Helena, but returns to loving Hermia when the spell wears off, demonstrating his loyalty. In the end, Lysander and Hermia marry with the Duke's permission.

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Kalaivani Vel
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Introduction to Lysander
  • Analysis of Lysander’s Traits
  • Conclusion and References

“Lysander”

(A Character Analysis Essay)


By Sophia D.
First Place Award

“You have her father’s love, Demetrius;/ [l]et me have Hermia’s - do you marry him”

(Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I.i.93-94). This sentence is spoken by a

character named Lysander in William Shakespeare’s famous comedy A Midsummer Night’s

Dream. First of all, Lysander is a clever character, and he thinks on his feet. Second, he is fierce,

and he fights his own battles instead of backing away. Finally, he stays true and noble, as his

beliefs do not change through all five acts of the play. All things considered, even though

Lysander is a main character, he is a flat character since his personality traits are the same from

beginning to end.

As Lysander is the noble lover to the character Hermia, he must be able to come up with

clever plans to help their dream of getting married come true. Currently, Hermia and he are

having some trouble as Theseus, the Duke of Athens, enforces the Athenian law at the request of

Egeus, Hermia’s father. The Athenian law gives Hermia the choice between marrying her

father’s choice, being a nun, or dying. Unfortunately, Egeus’s choice is not Lysander but a

playboy by the name of Demetrius. As Lysander and Hermia do not want to be split apart, he

creates a plan and says, “There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;/[a]nd to that place the sharp

Athenian law/[c]annot pursue us. If thou lov’st me. . .” (I. i. 161-163). This is Lysander

explaining to Hermia his plan for them to run away to his widow aunt’s house where the

Athenian law does not apply. His ability to come up with plans demonstrates Lysander’s

cleverness.

As Lysander has to protect Hermia and himself from the people trying to split them apart,

he must be fierce and not back down easily. He stands up against people who disapprove of their
love, including those in higher authority. When first hearing about the Athenian law’s

consequences he says, “I am beloved by the beauteous Hermia./Why should not I then prosecute

my right?” (I. i.104-105). Lysander speaks this line when Theseus tells Hermia about her three

choices under the law. He is staking his claim to Theseus on why he should marry her; after all,

they both want to be together, whereas Hermia is not in love with Demetrius. This evidence

shows from the very beginning of the play that Lysander is a strong, fierce character who stands

his ground even when up against a severe law.

As Lysander goes through so much to be with Hermia, he shows himself to be noble and

true. When Lysander and Hermia decided to run into the magical forest, they confide in

Hermia’s best friend, Helena. This becomes a mistake. Helena shares the secret with Demetrius,

who is the one she dotes upon. The two of them run after the lovers in hope of stopping them.

Fairy King Oberon who lives in the forest witnesses how Demetrius mistreats Helena, but

she loves him all the same. He pities her and tells his loyal servant Puck, to put a magical juice

on Demetrius’s eyes that will make the Athenian youth fall in love with the first person he sees

(which is supposed to be Helena). Unfortunately, Puck gets it wrong and puts it into Lysander's

eyes instead of Demetrius’s. So when Helena finds Lysander, who is sleeping, and wakes him

up, he automatically falls madly in love Helena and abandons Hermia. He falls so in love with

Helena that he says to Hermia, “Hang off, thou cat, though burr! Vile thing, let loose,/ [o]r I will

shake thee from me like a serpent” (III. ii. 260-261). These lines demonstrate how strong the

love potion is.

But by the end of the play, the magic is removed, and Lysander returns to Athens to take

Hermia as his bride. Even though Lysander is under a spell for a while, when it is lifted he feels
exactly the same for Hermia as he did before Puck’s error. This proves Lysander is loyal, noble,

and true as the romantic lover that Shakespeare intends him to be.

In conclusion, Lysander and Hermia marry one another thanks to Theseus, the Duke of

Athens who has the power to bend the law in Hermia’s favor once he learns Demetrius loves

Helena again. Moreover, Lysander presents himself as a noble, loyal, and true individual when

he plans their elopement and remains faithful to Hermia until placed under a magic spell. He also

shows that he is fierce and that he is willing to fight for what he wants, which is to marry Hermia

at all costs. Lysander wanted to run away with Hermia to get married, but they need not after

Theseus grants their marriage. Even if he had not, they would most likely have gotten married

because of Lysander’s brilliant plan. This demonstrates Lysander’s cleverness. In summary,

Lysander is a flat character, a clever character, a fierce character, a noble character, and a

authentic lover.

Work Cited

Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ed. Linda Buckle. Cambridge, England,

Cambridge University Press, 2016.

Common questions

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Loyalty is a defining trait of Lysander's character throughout the play, exemplified by his unwavering commitment to Hermia even amidst adverse circumstances . Although temporarily influenced by magic, Lysander's true nature reasserts itself once the enchantment is lifted, showing that his love for Hermia remained untainted by the spell . This persistent loyalty emphasizes that, despite the chaos introduced by the magical forest, Lysander's devotion is sincere and resilient, highlighting his role as a steadfast lover .

Lysander exhibits nobility by staying true and honorable to Hermia throughout the play, despite numerous challenges . He defends his right to marry Hermia by asserting their mutual love to Theseus, reflecting his commitment to fairness and partnership . Even when the magical spell causes him to fall for Helena, once it is reversed, he remains as devoted to Hermia as before, which underscores his hallmark as a noble character .

Lysander uses his rhetorical skills effectively when he challenges the application of Athenian law regarding his marriage to Hermia . He articulates a logical, emotional plea, asserting that since both he and Hermia want to marry, he should be allowed to do so, contrasting their mutual love against Demetrius's unrequited affection for Hermia . This dialectical approach showcases his cleverness and bravery, portraying him as a character willing to publicly oppose societal norms and authority in the pursuit of love .

The magical interference significantly disrupts Lysander's relationships by causing him to temporarily abandon Hermia for Helena. Due to Puck's mistake, Lysander becomes infatuated with Helena under the influence of Oberon's love potion . This leads to tensions and conflicts as Lysander vehemently rejects Hermia, who is confused and heartbroken by his sudden change of heart . However, once the magic is removed, Lysander's true feelings resurface, reaffirming his loyalty and love for Hermia, thus restoring the order in their relationship .

Lysander's role as a 'flat character' is significant because it emphasizes the constancy of true love amidst external turmoil. His unchanging traits, such as loyalty and fierce devotion, provide stability in a narrative filled with magic-induced confusion and character transformations . Despite the disruptions caused by interventions like Puck's mistake, Lysander's consistent nature reassures the audience of true love's enduring power, serving as a counterbalance to the more dynamic characters, thus highlighting the theme of constancy versus change in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" .

Lysander's plan to elope with Hermia to escape the enforcement of Athenian law demonstrates his cleverness and his ability to think on his feet . His suggestion to flee to his widow aunt’s house, where the Athenian law cannot reach them, shows his resourcefulness and determination to protect his relationship with Hermia . This action highlights his fierce nature, as he stands against societal and legal pressures for the sake of true love. Despite the obstacles, his resolve to marry Hermia underscores his nobility and steadfastness in his affections .

Puck's error in applying the love potion to Lysander instead of Demetrius injects significant chaos and miscommunication, complicating the central theme of love's unpredictability and erratic nature . This mistake causes a temporary shift in affections, challenging the reliability of romantic love as characters oscillate between different partners under enchantment . This comedic turmoil illustrates the fragility and confusion inherent in relationships, underscoring that love is often subject to whimsical, unpredictable forces, thereby enhancing the theme of disorder versus the restoration of order in the play .

Theseus intervenes in Hermia and Lysander's relationship by using his authority to override Egeus's wishes, ultimately allowing them to marry . Even though Egeus had initially invoked Athenian law to force Hermia into marrying Demetrius, Theseus resolves the conflict once he sees that Demetrius no longer loves Hermia, but Helena . His decision upholds the true affections of the characters, ensuring that Lysander and Hermia can be together officially, demonstrating the impact of benevolent authority in resolving personal disputes .

Magic serves as a critical motif that propels the plot and alters character dynamics by creating confusion and conflict, notably through the love potion's accidental application on Lysander’s eyes . This magical intervention causes a temporary upheaval in relationships, as Lysander falls for Helena, leading to a comedic but intense confrontation among the young lovers . The resolution of magic’s effects restores natural order and reconciles chaotic emotions, demonstrating its role in both complicating and resolving the narrative. Thus, magic underscores themes of love's irrationality and the transformative nature of fantasy in the play .

Hermia's agency plays a vital role in the narrative as she exercises her will by choosing to elope with Lysander, rather than submitting to Athenian patriarchal constraints . Her decision to defy her father Egeus and attempt escape with Lysander demonstrates her active participation in shaping her own destiny, challenging gender norms in the process. While Lysander's plans show his cleverness and commitment, Hermia's agreement and enthusiasm to act upon those plans highlight her autonomy and determination in pursuing true love and personal freedom against societal impositions, reflecting an empowered character .

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