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A Midsummer Night's Dream & Romeo And Juliet - Comparison

        Certain parallels can be drawn between William Shakespeare's
plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "Romeo and Juliet". These
parallels concern themes and prototypical Shakespearian character
types. Both plays have a distinct pair of lovers', Hermia and
Lysander, and Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Both plays could have
also easily been tragedy or comedy with a few simple changes. A tragic
play is a play in which one or more characters is has a moral flaw
that leads to his/her downfall. A comedic play has at least one
humorous character, and a successful or happy ending. Comparing these
two plays is useful to find how Shakespeare uses similar character
types in a variety of plays, and the versatility of the themes which
he uses.
        In "Romeo and Juliet", Juliet is young, "not yet fourteen",
and she is beautiful, and Romeo's reaction after he sees her is,

        "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
        It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
        As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear
        Beauty to rich for use, for the earth too dear!"

Juliet is also prudent, "Although I joy in thee, I have no joy in this
contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden." She
feels that because they have just met, they should abstain from sexual
intercourse.  
        Hermia is also young, and prudent. When Lysander suggests that
"One turf shall serve as a pillow for both of us, One heart, one bed,
two bosoms, and one troth," Hermia replies "Nay, good Lysander. For my
sake, my dear, Lie further off yet; do not lie so near."   Although
this couple has known each other for a while (Romeo and Juliet knew
each other for one night when the above quote was spoken), Hermia also
abstains from even sleeping near Lysander even though she believes he
does not have impure intentions.
        Romeo's and Juliet's families are feuding. Because of these
feuds, their own parents will not allow...