A Midsummer Night's Dream- what is love?

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, the concept of love is played with in many different ways. Theseus's love for Hippolyta seems more drawn by physical attraction and desire. The opening scene of the play shows his impatience for their wedding night:

THESEUS

Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour

Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in

Another moon. But, O, methinks how slow

This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires

Like to a stepdame or a dowager

Long withering out a young man's revenue.

This impatience for consummating their love proves how love can often be fueled only by physical attraction. Shakespeare continues this theme of love's superficiality with the love triangles that occur within the four lovers. First, both Lysander and Demetrius are in love Hermia, but then with the magical flower both men fall in love Helena. This makes it seem like the objects of the men's love are interchangeable. Their love for Helena was just as strong as their love for Hermia, so how could one be true and one false?

Shakespeare's third display of love's superficiality and meaninglessness occurs when Hippolyta falls in love with Nick Bottom with the head of an ass. Hippolyta falls instantly and simultaneously out of love with Oberon and in love with Bottom. The idea of someone being in love with a man with the head of donkey proves that love is arbitrary and meaningless.

Shakespeare counters all of this at the end of the play, with the marriage of the three couples and the reconciliation of Oberon and Titania. Lysander and Hermia are in love with each other again and Demetrius finally loves Helena. However, Lysander and Hermia were in love before the turmoil in the forest, but Demetrius is still under the power of the herb. The audience is led to believe that all of the couples live happily ever after, even though the love between Lysander and Hermia is "real" and the love between Demetrius and Helena was fabricated. Ultimately, Shakespeare tells us that even though love can be superficial and arbitrary, it still has the power to be true and lasting.