Skip to main content

Where do Lysander and Hermia agree to meet that night?

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...


Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...