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Rule Breakers In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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William Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, involves characters who break the rules of their society and go against all expectations. The way in which Shakespeare introduces characters and reveals their traits makes readers want to support the rule breakers and see them succeed. In this story, the rule breakers are Hermia and Lysander, who plan to run away and escape the Athenian law so they can get married. The society in which the story takes place is heavily gender biased towards men, and the hierarchy are arrogant and unfair towards those they view as inferior. Also, Hermia and Lysander seem to be the only couple in the story who have a love that is worth fighting for.
In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the men …show more content…

“Be it so she will not here before your Grace consent to marry Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens: as she is mine I may dispose of her,” (1.1.42-43). In these lines, Egeus is requesting permission to kill his own daughter if she refuses to marry Demetrius. This threat, which is repeated by Theseus, reveals how biased the expectations of the society are. However, the expectations are not just unfair to women; Lysander is also on the receiving end of the cruelty among the characters. Even though Lysander and Hermia truly love each other, Egeus would rather have Hermia be killed than to see them married. “This man hath bewitch’d the bosom of my child,” (1.1.28). Egeus is suggesting that Lysander took advantage of Hermia’s youthful heart and stole her love through gifts and cunning, thus, causing Hermia to favor Lysander and despise himself. In reality, Egeus simply feels threatened by Lysander and the genuine hold that he has on his daughter’s heart. As for Demetrius, there are several reasons why he is not a suitable husband for Hermia. “Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena,” (1.1.98-99). This line is spoken by Lysander who brings to light Demetrius’s questionable reputation. Demetrius has a shady romantic past in which he has used women such as Helena. The fact that Demetrius is still favored by Egeus and Theseus, even …show more content…

When compared to the other couples in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia and Lysander seem to be the only ones who truly love each other. As previously stated, Theseus claims to have won the love of Hippolyta through battle, therefore, it cannot be assumed that their love matches that of Hermia and Lysander. Other couples like Oberon and Titania, and Demetrius and Helena, also pale in comparison to Hermia and Lysander. Oberon and Titania often fight and have cheated on one another, and Demetrius is only in love with Helena because of the magical flower. The love between Hermia and Lysander cannot be matched, and this is evident through Lysander’s suggestion to run away together. “There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; and to that place the sharp Athenian law cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, steal forth thy father’s house to-morrow night,” (1.1.63-64). These lines reveal Lysander’s plan to run away with Hermia, and marry her in a place where the Athenian cannot forbid their marriage. Lysander is asking for more than just a simple getaway, however, he is also asking Hermia to go against her father’s strict commands and disobey him. Hermia’s response to this request also shows how much they love one another. “In that same place thou hast appointed me, to-morrow truly will I meet with thee,” (1.1,80-81). As Hermia agrees, these

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