Love from Shakespeare’s Point of View The definition of love is subjective to anyone who thinks about the feeling. Some people say it is a burden, some believe it is what will lead them to the best things in life, and others believe that it is the key to unlocking the mysteries inside of them. Literature is no stranger to the theme of love for it has been prevalent since before the fifteenth century, all the way back to the beginning of the world. But if one takes a closer look at certain texts, he or she can dissect what people once believed love to be. Shakespeare became famous long ago for his various plays that dealt with the trials and tribulations of love. He pointed out the fact that love can make us blind fools, but it can also be the defining factor in our lives as humans. By comparing and contrasting two of his famous plays, we can see how he played the character’s feelings and pitted them against fate, all in the name of love. Love is something that is not a tangible possession, but it is something that everyone strives to have and keep. It is also said that love is the hardest habit to break, but the most difficult to satisfy. Shakespeare played around with the idea of love in many of his works, but he used the feeling as a major theme in two of his plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet. Both of these plays dealt with couples who professed their love for one another and then fate, or family truly, stepped in with a firm hand. The youth both had to find alternate ways to stay together, but that did not always mean a happy ending for the plays. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare opens up the storyline by introducing the various lovers and couples that come and go throughout the scenes. We are shown the wise Theseus who is to wed Hippolyta, young Hermia who must deal with an overbearing father, and fickle Demetrius. He also writes in the characters of Helena and Lysander, who both act as catalysts of sorts for the other couples. Shakespeare creates a clear love triangle from the start, showing that love is not without complications. The true quote is, “…the course of true love never did run smooth.” (Shakespeare I.I.134) This saying came from Lysander, and it can be interpreted as how loving someone can be a fight. In some cases, the bad can outweigh the good, but we stick with it because we believe that everything will work out in the end. Shakespeare also creates another love trial in Romeo & Juliet when he speaks of the two teenagers being star-crossed lovers. In this particular play, Shakespeare shapes a foreboding storyline that enables the readers to fall in love with the characters and empathize with them as the two young hearts break from so much love and death. He wrote an interesting quote into the play that stated, “One fire burns out another’s burning, one pain is lessen’d by another’s anguish.” (Romeo I.II.) To