“The course of true love never did run smooth” - Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s dream’
In the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Shakespeare, the quote ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’ is discussing the idea of true love and what it entails. The quote implies that when it is true love, it will not be easy, but, essentially, it is worth all the trouble. The use of the phrase ‘true love’ in the quote creates a very contradicting effect as the phrase is usually associated with feelings of harmony and peace, but however, the quote is of a negative theme. This provokes an uncertain feeling in the reader, as it is of an unorthodox manner.
True love is often falsely portrayed in movies and by the media as perfect and flawless, which is incredibly inaccurate. It creates a fabricated illusion and forms unattainable expectations, which Shakespeare challenges in his writing of the play, as it is about a love triangle with four people involved. Essentially, Shakespeare is depicting how love is complicated and that when you love someone, they might not necessarily love you back, which creates complications in the harmonious expectations. However, he implies that with some work and effort, the core idea of ‘true love’ is not unachievable, and it might work out in the end.
The dissertations of true love in most dictionaries include the word ‘marriage’. Fundamentally, ‘true love’ is a journey, and those who emerge victorious will show that by marriage, it is a prize or an achievement. I feel that Shakespeare is challenging the idea of a marriage by ridiculing the characters relationships with each other. He is trying to get his audience to question the legitimacy of marriage, the reasons for marriage and if it is necessary or not. He achieves this by portraying the characters relationships in an exaggerated manner, bringing to attention the absurdity of petty disturbances in their relationships, and how the character reacts,