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Hermia shows her spunkiness right from the beginning. Though the force of familial and social power are brought heavily to bear upon her, she sticks to her guns. Her first words are a defense of Lysander against the accusations of her father, Egeus, and Theseus. She asks that her father look with her eyes, to try to see her viewpoint. She stands up for what she believes in even though it may mean her death. It\'s easy to side with Hermia--but what could you say in defense of her father\'s position?
Hermia is unswerving in her devotion to Lysander through all his changes and always gives him the benefit of the doubt. She loves him with an authenticity that goes beyond \"doting,\" and her pain at being betrayed by him seems equally real.
She is described as having a dark complexion and being small, but you don\'t get more physical detail than that. Her temper is as fierce as her love; when it\'s kindled by jealousy toward Helena, she turns into a real spitfire. Although, especially in the beginning, Hermia speaks the proper courtly romantic poetry with Lysander, she shows that there is something beyond propriety in her character. But when it comes to defending her virgin modesty in the woods, she\'s quick to make Lysander keep his distance.
Hermia\'s combination of passion and judgment is set off from the feelings of all the other lovers. She knows what she wants, is willing to make great sacrifices for it, will fight like a lioness in defense of it, and ultimately trusts in her power. She\'s not above love-foolishness, but she gives to the romantic comedy a sturdy foundation.
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