<P> She is the daughter of Nedar, a member of Theseus court and the Athenian aristocracy, and a friend of Hermia, with whom she is often compared . Prior to the play's beginning, she is betrothed to the nobleman Demetrius but is jilted when his affections turn to Hermia instead . Despite this, Helena's abiding love for Demetrius remains consistent throughout the play . Hermia and her lover, Lysander, confide in Helena that they plan to elope . In the hopes that she will gain back some of his respect, Helena tells Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's escape and, that night, the two follow the lovers into the forest . </P> <P> Though Demetrius is deliberately cruel towards her, Helena remains honest in her devotion to him . Her behaviour catches the attention of Oberon, who commands that Puck enchant a sleeping Demetrius so that he will fall back in love with Helena . When Puck mistakenly enchants Lysander instead, then put the potion on the real Demetrius . Both men become enamoured with her and desert Hermia in the woods . Confused by the sudden change in behaviour, Helena convinces herself that the three other lovers have banded together to ridicule her . Throughout her conquest for Demetrius' love, she becomes convinced the others are merely mocking her tried, but true efforts for love . Helena is left confused and hurt by how ungentlemanly and unfriendly her closest comrades are . In the play's climax, she and Hermia nearly come to blows while the two men set out to kill one another for Helena's affections . </P> <P> Separated by Oberon and Puck and with dawn approaching, the lovers each decide to sleep again . Oberon commands Puck to reverse the enchantment placed on Lysander, and when the lovers are discovered in the morning by Theseus, Duke of Athens, all is put to rights . Demetrius claims that a metaphorical' sickness' made him love Hermia, but in health, his love has returned to Helena . The four lovers are married in a joint ceremony with Theseus and Hippolyta and together mock the show put on by the Mechanicals in the play's final act . </P> <P> While not the protagonist of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Helena is one of its most talkative characters . Her dialogue provides key insight for the audience into humanist beliefs on the nature of love and the process of falling in love . </P>

Who does helena love in a midsummer night's dream