Hermia (character)

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Hermia is a fictional character from the Shakespeare play, A Midsummer's Night Dream. She is caught in a romantic dilemma in which she is loved by two men, Lysander and Demetrius. However, she only loves Lysander. The problem is that her father, Egeus, wants her engaged to Demetrius. If she does not comply with her father's wishes, Hermia may be sentenced to death or have to go to a nunnery as part of Athenian law. Later on, Oberon's sprite, Puck, is sent to place a drop of a magical flower on Demetrius's eyelids so that he would lust after Helena, and everyone would be content; however, Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius; therefore, when he sets his sights on her, he falls in love with Helena instead. Luckily, Puck sorts matters out and Lysander's love for Hermia is restored.

Hermia is best friends with Helena, who is besotted with Demetrius. When both Demetrius and Lysander fall in love (both through a love potion) with Helena, Helena accuses Hermia of being part of a cruel joke. Hermia feels betrayed by the accusation and retorts that she would never hurt her friend that way.

She is in love with Lysander, so they plan to run off together. However when they get lost in the woods they decide to call it a night. Hermia refuses to sleep next to Lysander in the woods, so they sleep apart. When they return to their slumber, Puck places the magical flower on Lysander's eyelids by