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Love and Shakespeare

 

            Theseus and Hippolyta's love toward each other is unconditional. The relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta represents ideal, mature love, and contrasts with other lovers' relationships. In Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theseus and Hippolyta face many obstacles, but due to their mature personalities, they are able to confront their problems,resolve them, and let them go. Despite the fact that Hippolyta struggles with her beliefs and her love for Theseus in the beginning of the play, they stay true to each other till the very end. The affection between these two characters shows us that love is an inevitable experience one can possess. Although many people lack it, it can only be found in true hearts.
             A major obstacle that these lovers faced was that fact that they led opposing armies to war. Being of the Amazon tribe, a nation of women warriors; Hippolyta's surrender to Theseus in battle and marriage was more significant than the petty trifles of the lovers.When A Midsummer Night's Dream opens,she is no longer the warrior woman she used to be because she's already been conquered by Theseus, who happily reminds her " I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries, but i will wed thee in another key, with pomp, with triumph, and with reveling."(1.1.17-19). As far as we can tell, Shakespeare's Hippolyta doesn't mind being a literal trophy wife. Matter of fact, she seems happy to be engaged to Theseus and even looks forward to her wedding night. "And then the moon, like to a silver bow [New]-bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities."(1.1.9-11) Hippolyta seems to love Theseus with a passion. Even after he defeated her tribe, these lovers seem to have incredibly strong feeling towards each other.
             In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theseus is anxiously awaiting his marriage to Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, which is to be held in four days on the first night of the new moon.


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