Monday, February 26, 2018

Devon on Theseus and Hippolyta


Hippolyta and Theseus (Devon Roberts)


Hippolyta & Theseus Played by Eleanor Matsuura & John Hannah

The relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta can be seen changing throughout the play, during which we see Hippolyta take more control in her role. In an essay posted on Scribd called “Women’s Defiance of Social Standards in a Midsummer Night’s Dream: Illusion or Reality,” this change is demonstrated throughout three different verbal reactions.
“These stages are important to demonstrating how Hippolyta gains verbal space and presence during their exchange, so as to change the tone and lower the tension between her and the duke. There are differences in those three moments, regarding who initiates and maintains the dialogue, concerning the tension of the situation and the topic of the conversation.”
The first interaction occurs act one, scene one. Theseus is assertive and reminds Hippolyta of the circumstances of their arrangement, which was “shaped by violence, not love.”  The tone of their second interaction is a bit different, with Hippolyta speaking longer than before and the two of them finding some common ground, such as hunting. The final interaction, in act 5, Hippolyta is the first to speak, and we see the tension fade and the discussion turn to love.
“We see that the topic developed by the future marriage couple is about love, the core reason to marriage. And though, it may be not their own love they speak about, it is a leading excuse to a happy mood and a more appropriate disposition towards their wedding night.”

References:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03w4mf0/p03w4jph

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