A MidSummer Night's Dream

Act 1

William Shakespear's play A Midsummer Night's Dream takes place in Greece in the 1600's. He begins the play by introducing the conflict that sets the story in motion. Hermia's father Egeus wants her to marry a man named Demetrius but she is in love with Lysander.If she refuses to marry Demetrius her father claimed that she will be killed or sent to a nunnery. The dominance that the males have over Hermia and the fact that she has no say in this situation shows the patriarchal society this play is set in. Hermia is seen more like a position/property, rather than a human being. Hermia does resist towards her father's order, she states " So i will grow, live, so die, my lord,/Ere I will yield my virgin patent up..." (Act 1,scene1). This quote shows her opposition to her father when he told her she was going to be left alone and die a virgin if she did not marry Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander are left alone in the room and plan to run way to his aunties house so they can marry. This is a very risky task and I am only waiting to see if they get caught?! Drama. I believe this is wrong because she shouldn't have to marry someone she is not in love with. Isn't love the main ingredient to a true and happy marriage? In this play marriage is not really seen as a bond between two people that love each other. It is used in economic terms. The second scene presents the disorganized actors that set out to perform in Hermia's wedding. This scene has a very humorous tone because the actors seem to fool around most of the time.