THE BATTLE BETWEEN LOVERS

          Great stories like William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" begin with a fundamental list of ingredients: the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. All of these ingredients make up the plot or the events of the story but the most important ingredient in the recipe is the climax. The climax is the point of highest tension or drama and this is where the action starts in which the solution is given.

          "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of Shakespeare's strangest and most delightful creations, and it demonstrates both the extent of his learning and the expansiveness of his imagination. I believe that the climax of this play comes in Act III, Scene 2, where the four lovers, Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia, are at the height of their confusion. Both Demetrius and Lysander end up pursuing Helena instead of Hermia because of the love potion and this made Helena believe that the three of them are mocking her. Demetrius and Lysander decided to fight for Helena's love and Hermia becomes so jealous that she tries to challenge Helena to a physical fight as well. As they all run off to fight, Puck and Oberon are left to prevent them from hurting each other by tricking them into the right areas to lead them apart and sort the problem out.

          The supposed to be physical fight became an emotional fight between the girls. Harsh words were thrown around and ugly memories from the past were brought up such as Helena thinking that Hermia was a spiteful woman when they were younger. These are the reasons that made this part of the story thrilling and exciting. It made me want to continue reading because it is intriguing to know the true feelings of the girls when you know that they aren't under any kind of spell.

          There are other interpretations of the climax of this play because there are other sub plots and characters involved. My opinions are based on the plot of the four lovers but I believe that no matter what interpretation there may be, this masterpiece will continue to inspire other people and it is truly one of the best.