Let's first get some insight into the background of Hermia and Lysander's relationship. Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dreamfocuses on Hermia, who is the daughter of Egeus, an Athenian man who is trying to force her to marry Demetrius. Hermia, however, is not interested in Demetrius at all, and instead wants to marry Lysander, the man she passionately loves. Unfortunately, romantic love is not held to a high standard at this time, and Egeus refers...
Let's first get some insight into the background of Hermia and Lysander's relationship. Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream focuses on Hermia, who is the daughter of Egeus, an Athenian man who is trying to force her to marry Demetrius. Hermia, however, is not interested in Demetrius at all, and instead wants to marry Lysander, the man she passionately loves. Unfortunately, romantic love is not held to a high standard at this time, and Egeus refers to an ancient Greek law which demands that a woman may be sent to her death if she refuses to marry the man selected for her by her father.
Egeus presents Hermia with the terrible choice: face death under this law or take a vow of chastity as a nun who worships Artemis. Refusing to make a decision between either of these terrible options, Hermia and Lysander agree to meet up that night and run away through the forest, planning to marry away from the prying eyes and threats of Hermia's father. Much to the two lovers' dismay, Helena (a friend of Hermia who is in love with Demetrius) tells Demetrius of their plans, and he pursues them into the woods, an act that will be met with later comical consequences...
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