Prompt19Discussthesimilarities/differencesHermiaandHelenaanddeterminewhichis

thebetterofthetwo.

HermiaandHelenabothwomenofAthensaresimilaranddifferentinmanyways.The
twoarefriendsyetatsomepointstheyareenemies.Thewomenarebigpartsofthestory
andtheybothhaveimportantrolesyetonewomanisbetterthantheotherforobvious
reasons.Thewomenaresimilarsocially,intheiractions,andphysicallyinsomewaysyet
theystillaredifferentinotherphysicalandemotionalways.
HermiaandHelenahavesimilarcomplexionsandintellectuality.HermiaandHelena
arebothconsideredofequalsocialranking.Theyarebothconsideredbeautifulinthe
Atheniansviewofbeauty.Botharedeterminedbutfordifferentreasons.Bothwomenarevery
similarintheiractions.InthebeginningofthestoryHermiahastheloveofbothmenbutas
wemovealongintothesecondactPuckmixesuptheflowerjuicewiththewrongpersonand
heendsupleavingbothmeninlovewithHelena.WhenbothmenlovedHermia,Helenais
jealousandangrysheactsoutatHermia.WhenthemenbothloveHelenaHermiaactsthe
samewayHelenadidandsheactsoutatHelenainreturn.HermiaactsasHelenadidwhen
DemetriuslovedHermia,Hermiaangered,thatLysanderlovesHelena,ragesatherasshe
didinAMidsummerNightsDream,Ome!youjuggler!youcankerblossom!Youthiefof
love!what,haveyoucomebynightandstolenmylovesheartfromhim?Itseemsasif
HermiawasfeelingtheragethatHelenafeltwhenthemenonlylovedHermialeavingthem
actinginthesamewaywheninthesamesortofconditions.
Thewomanmaybesimilarinafewwaysbutthatdoesnttheymeantheyarent
different.Theyaredifferentintheirphysicallooksandemotionally.Hermiaisapetiteperson,
sheisshortwhileHelenaistall.HelenaisdesperateandinsecurewhileHermiaisconfident
andhastheloveoftwomen.Hermiaisoptimistic,stubborn,andfeistywhileHelenaiswhiney
andbitter.ThroughoutthestoryHermiadoesnotcomplainofherlooksorforwhomshe
wantsdesperatelybutHelenadoesmostofthestory.Forexampleinthestorya
Midsummer
NightsDream
Helenasays,Iamasuglyasabearforbeaststhatmeetmerunawayfor
fear.Helenacomplainsofherlowselfesteemformostofthestory,theexactoppositeof
whathermiadid,forshedidnotcomplainofherlooks.Thewomanaredifferentinwhatthe
chosetododuetotheiremotions.Hermiasconfidencefilledherwithselfesteemwhileitdid
theoppositeforHelena.ConfidentHermiachosetoremainchastewhileHelenawasnot
chasteandremaineddesperateforDemetriusduetoherruinedchastityandlowselfesteem.
HermiawouldnotallowevenLysandertodisrespectherwhenhewasinlovewithHelena,
whileHelenabegsDemetriustostayandthathecouldevenhurther.Forexamplewhenshe
desperatelysaysThemoreyoubeatme,Iwillfawnonyou.Helenahasnoselfrespect
whileHermiaistheoppositeandrespectsherselfanddemandstherespectofothers.
AlthoughbothwomenarebothimportanttothestoryandarebothbeautifulAthenian
women,oneofthemisbetterthantheother.HermiaalthoughmuchlikeHelena,isthebetter
ofthetwo.SheiseverythingawomanshouldbewhileHelenaismostlywhatawoman
shouldnotbe.Hermiarespectsherself,sheisconfident,sheiskindtoHelena,andsheis
determinedforallthegoodreasons.Helenaistheexactopposite,shehasnoselfrespect,
sheisdesperate,sheisdeterminedforallthewrongreasons.Hermiawasdeterminedtonot

letsocialstereotypessaywhoshewastoobeybecauseofhergenderandshechoseto
respectherselfandherchastitywhilebeingwithwhosheloved.Helenawasdeterminedto
takebackDemetriuswhenheobviouslydidnotwanthertoevenbeinhispresence.Shewas
persistentandirritatinglydesperate.HermiawasrespectedbyLysanderforevenwhenhe
didnotloveherherefusedtolayanabusivehandonherwhileHelenawaspitiedand
Demetriusthreatenedtoharmherifshedidnotleavehimbe.ThereforeleavingHermiaas
thebetterofthetwoforobviousreasons.
HermiaandHelenaaresimilarsocially,intheirchoiceofactions,andphysicallooks
insomewaysyettheystillaredifferentinotherphysicalandemotionalways.Thewomenare
bothimportantpeopleinthestory,theyarebothofequalsocialranking,bothareconsidered
beautifulandactthesamewaywheninthesamepredicaments.Theyarealsodifferentina
fewwaysforexampletheyhavedifferentheights,HermiarespectsherselfwhileHelenadoes
not,HelenahaslowselfesteemwhileHermiaisconfident,andHermiarespectsherchastity
whileHelenadidnot.Althoughthewomenmaybesimilarinafewwaystheirdifferences
outweighsitanditleadstoHermiabeingthebetterofthetwo.