In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the hardship of love is the love triangle among the four young Athenians: Hermia loves Lysander, Lysander loves Hermia, Helena loves Demetrius, and Demetrius loves Hermia instead of Helena. The first major obstacle Hermia and Lysander face is Hermia’s father, Egeus, who wants her to marry Demetrius instead of Lysander (1.1.22-45). Duke Theseus is the ultimate law in Athens. Egeus says to Theseus, he has the right under Athenian Law to decide Hermia's fate. “I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may dispose of her” (1.1.41-45). Unfortunately, Theseus has to agree that he has the right under Athenian Law to decide Hermia's fate. Hermia is angry with her father because she loves Lysander, and does
