Context: Demetrius begins the play as the fickle lover. He has deserted Helena to whom he was engaged and decided he is more attracted to Hermia. His rival, Lysander, appears to be the true lover who has won Hermia's heart. In the forest, however, these roles will change as, under enchantment, Lysander will desert Hermia and Demetrius will rediscover the truth of his love for Helena.
Did you know?A Midsummer Night's Dream is an early play written around 1594-5 at about the same time as Romeo and Juliet. Only a couple of years before this, Shakespeare had written Two Gentlemen of Verona. All three plays concern young men who change their minds about who they love. Romeo claims at first to be in love with Rosalind. Proteus deserts Julia finding himself attracted to his friend Valentine's love, Sylvia. With imagery very like that used for Helena he says of Sylvia:
'Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, The more it grows and fawneth on her still.'
