William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set in Ancient Athens, where four lovers end up in an enchanted forest, fighting for love that is beyond physical appearance. Physical looks are not taken into account when truly in love with someone. In addition, inner beauty is recognised while expressing deep affection for someone. However, some may consider love based on the outer looks and appearance. Despite seeing past the appearance and into the reality of love, many individuals love someone based on how they look externally. Therefore, it is somewhat true that ‘love looks not with eyes, but with the mind’. Shakespeare suggests that although there may be true love, lust is also masked up under the name of love.

Shakespeare demonstrates that physical beauty is forgotten when truly in love. Titania is woken up by the singing of Bottom, while being under a spell, and falls in love with Bottom. She informs Bottom that ‘[her] ear is much enamoured of thy note’. This reveals that although Bottom is quite literally a human with an ass’ head, Titania does not look at his physical appearance, and prefers to focus on other aspects, such as his voice. Bottom also tells Titania ‘thou art wise as thou art beautiful’. This displays that Bottom looks beyond Titania’s looks and into her intelligence. He sees Titania's inner beauty, which can show his attraction towards her is not lust, but genuine in love with her. Bottom speaks in a very straightforward way, expressing that he wanted to be real and upfront with his love. When truly in love, people tend to be truthful and upfront, proving that Bottom was truly in love with Titania. The nature of true love is seen when people see past the physical appearance.

When love is tested and things get hard, inner beauty is really seen. This happens with Hermia and Lysander. Hermia’s dad wants her to marry Demetrius, but she wants to be with Lysander. Even if she might get in trouble, like die or be sent away, Hermia stays with Lysander. This shows her love is real. Lysander says that real love is never easy, and it has problems. They even run away into the forest together! This means they like each other for more than just looks they really care about each other. Sometimes, Lysander stops loving Hermia because of magic. But this just shows that when your mind isn't clear, you can think someone is pretty when they're not. When the magic is gone, Lysander loves Hermia again. This proves that he always liked her for who she was on the inside.

The relationship between Demetrius and Helena shows that magic can change love and make it look real when it's not. At first, Demetrius loves Hermia and is mean to Helena, even though she loves him a lot. Helena even says she is like Demetrius’s puppy, meaning she will do anything for him even if he is mean. Then, Puck uses a love potion on Demetrius, and he suddenly loves Helena. He says she is pretty and is very nice to her. But this isn't real, it's just the magic changing how he sees her. This shows that you can think love is just about looks when magic is involved. Helena thinks Demetrius is making fun of her because he is being nice all of a sudden, and it doesn't feel real. Shakespeare uses this to say that love that is only about looks can change easily, and real love comes from the heart.

At the end, Demetrius keeps loving Helena even after the magic is gone. This makes you wonder if his love is real or just the magic. This shows that love that you see with your eyes can trick you, and true love is from the heart and soul.

So, Shakespeare shows many times in A Midsummer Night’s Dream that love can be changed and confused by real feelings and just being attracted to someone. Some people, like Bottom and Lysander, can love someone for who they are, not just their looks. But others, like Demetrius, show that love can be easily changed if it's not real. The magic in the play shows that love can be weird and not make sense, especially when it's just about looks. Shakespeare thinks that “love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,” but also says that some love is just a trick or wanting someone.