Jul 24, 2008

A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Theseus (Character Analysis)

The play opens as Theseus and his bride-to-be, Hippolyta, are discussing their upcoming marriage. Theseus comments that he ''woo'd thee [Hippolyta] with my sword, / And won thy love doing thee injuries" (I.i.16-17), referring to the fact that he conquered Hippolyta in his war with the Amazons. But now they are to be married, and their discussion is interrupted by Egeus, who comes to Theseus for help in sorting out the affairs concerning Egeus's daughter, Hermia. After hearing Egeus present his case, he points out to Hermia that she should be obedient to her father and that Demetrius "is a...