# Scene I explained — A Midsummer Night's Dream

> Chapter companion for A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

In the woods near Athens, Oberon and Titania quarrel over a changeling boy, causing natural chaos. Oberon sends Puck to fetch a love potion to trick Titania, and later witnesses Demetrius rejecting Helena, prompting him to order Puck to use the potion on Demetrius to make him fall for Helena.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Helena's unrequited love for Demetrius and Oberon's manipulation of love highlight the complexities and irrationality of romantic desire.

### Jealousy and Conflict

Oberon and Titania's bitter quarrel over the changeling boy disrupts nature, symbolizing how jealousy breeds chaos.

### Nature and the Supernatural

The fairy world's influence on nature is evident in Titania's description of environmental decay caused by their discord, and the magical love potion.

## Character check-ins

### Oberon

Quarrels with Titania over the changeling boy and plots to use love juice on her.

### Titania

Refuses to give up the changeling boy and accuses Oberon of jealousy.

### Puck

Retrieves the love-in-idleness flower and is ordered to anoint Demetrius's eyes.

### Demetrius

Rejects Helena harshly in the woods, pursued by her despite his disdain.

### Helena

Desperately follows Demetrius, declaring her unwavering love even as he spurns her.

## Key lines

> I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.

I do not love you, so stop following me.

_Demetrius bluntly rejects Helena's advances._

> The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid Will make or man or woman madly dote Upon the next live creature that it sees.

If you put this juice on someone's eyelids while they sleep, they will fall madly in love with the first living thing they see when they wake.

_Oberon explains the power of the love-in-idleness flower._

> I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you

I am like your dog, Demetrius; the more you mistreat me, the more I will adore you.

_Helena compares herself to a spaniel to express her unconditional devotion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_midsummer_nights_dream_se/chapters