i'm studying A Midsummer Night's Dream, and i am a bit confused about the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Please help!
In act 1 scene 1, Theseus said "Hippolyta, i wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries". The modern translation of that would be "Hippolyta, I wooed you with violence, using my sword, and got you to fall in love with me by injuring you." Well that doesn't exactly make sense to me... How is Theseus able to make Hippolyta fall in love with him by hurting and injuring her?? Is Hippolyta forced to marry Theseus? Before the play began, Hippolyta and Theseus were enemies, if i'm not wrong, and they fought each other. So, how did they fall in love with each other, and decide to marry each other at the start of the play?
First of all, here are some websites (the first is my all-time favorite!) that will help you with your Shakespeare assignments:
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/
Click on the title of the play you want, then click on the act and scene. You'll find original Shakespearean language on the left and a modern-day "translation" on the right.
This section looks like several in the very first act and scene of other Shakespearean plays -- it seems to be a type of irony, or even an attempt at chiaroscuro. It's briefly mentioned, and its opposite state is developed from there.
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/irony.html (def. #3)
and
http://www.answers.com/topic/chiaroscuro
Here are several other really good websites about Shakespeare and his works and his times. Be sure to add ALL THESE to your favorites so you can find them again.
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/
http://www.bardweb.net/
http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/
The relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta in William Shakespeare's play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," is complex and requires some context to understand. Let's break it down.
1. Background: Before the events of the play, Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, were indeed enemies. They fought against each other in battle.
2. The quote: When Theseus says, "Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries," he is referring to their initial meeting and courtship. However, it's important to note that the meaning may not be as literal as it sounds.
3. Interpretation: Theseus uses a metaphorical language here, portraying his courtship as a conquest. By "wooing with his sword," he means that he impressed Hippolyta with his bravery and skill in battle, which ultimately won her admiration and respect.
4. Love through conquest: In Shakespeare's time, it was a common literary trope to showcase a man's bravery and military prowess as a way to win a woman's heart. Theseus may be boasting about his victory in battle and how it played a role in impressing Hippolyta.
5. Forced marriage: It's important to understand that although Theseus may have initially won Hippolyta's admiration, their subsequent marriage is not portrayed as forced. In fact, it suggests that over time, their relationship evolved, and they fell in love with each other genuinely.
6. Character growth: Throughout the play, Theseus and Hippolyta's relationship represents growth and transformation. Their reconciliation symbolizes the resolution of past conflicts and the harmony between two opposing forces.
To fully grasp the nuances of their relationship, it's crucial to read and analyze the entire play. As you progress through "A Midsummer Night's Dream," you'll see how their love story develops and intertwines with the other themes of the play.