... that Shakespeare wrote this play to be performed first at the country house of a young nobleman, as part of his wedding festivities. If this is true, A Midsummer Night's Eve presents an astonishingly complex set of self-referential scenes. When Shakespeare's company performed Act V, for instance, the noble men ... . Hermia Egeus' daughter is a headstrong girl, willing to defy not only her father but also the Duke of Athens himself in the name of true love. Rather than marry a man she despises (Demetrius), Hermia elopes with her beloved Lysander, setting off into the Athenian woods, en ro...

• Word Count: 10864
• Approx Pages: 43
• Grade Level: High School

... and Demetrius depart, leaving Hermia alone with Lysander. Hermia and Lysander discuss the trials that must be faced by those who are in love: "The course of true love never did run smooth," Lysander says (I.i.134). He proposes a plan: he has an aunt, wealthy and childless, who lives seven leagues from Athens ... her, assumes that Hermia is involved in the joke that she believes the men are playing on her, and she chides Hermia furiously for treating their friendship so lightly. Lysander and Demetrius are ready to fight one another for Helena's love; as they lunge at one another, Hermia ...

• Word Count: 4960
• Approx Pages: 20
• Grade Level: High School

... as women have insecurities, men feel that if women joined together there will be no need for men, possibly excluding them or preferring the friendship and love between women to a man-woman relationship. This fear is partially based on reality, but also by projection. Since men have stronger ... the two are alone, imagination takes control of them and they are blinded as to the misfortunes that are bound to cross the course of true love. This causes them to run away. (Scott 382-385) Mark van Doren explains the language and poetry in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ... becomes a way containing...

• Word Count: 2937
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as women have insecurities, men feel that if women joined together there will be no need for men, possibly excluding them or preferring the friendship and love between women to a man-woman relationship. This fear is partially based on reality, but also by projection. Since men have stronger ... two are alone, imagination takes control of them and they are blinded as to the misfortu! nes that are bound to cross the course of true love. This causes them to run away. (Scott 382-385) Mark van Doren explains the language and poetry in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ... becomes a way containing ...

• Word Count: 2837
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School