Conflict with authority in A Midsummer Night's Dream Throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream, the theme conflict with authority is evident and is the cause of the problems that befall the characters. It is also used to set the mood of the room. The passage below spoken by Theseus at the beginning of the play clearly states this theme. Be wise, beautiful girl. For you, your father should be like God, the One who composed your beauties, yes, and One For whom you are but as a form in wax. printed him, and in his powerTo leave the figure or disfigure it - A Midsummer Night's Dream (1.1.46-51)The first example of conflict with authority in the play is the first example and sets up the conflict for the rest of the play. This example that occurs during the play is found in the opening scene of Act 1. Here we see Theseus warning Hermia not to disobey her father and telling her that Aegeus created her and can " uncreate” if he wishes. Hermia is reminded that Athenian law provides that a father has total control over his daughter's life until she is married. Even though Hermia does not want to marry Demetrius, the law says that she has no choice and must comply with her father's wishes. If Aegeus had not been the supreme authority, Hermia and Lysander would not have had to flee Athens for love. The other major example of conflict with authority is also partly responsible for the friction that occurs in the play. This example occurs in the fairy world between Oberon and Titania. Oberon, as king of the fairies, is the supreme authority of the fairy world. Therefore, by disobeying him, Titania defies his supreme authority. His disobedience causes the conflict in nature which appears ... middle of paper ...... on the atmosphere. Through Theseus' speech to Hermia, Shakespeare introduces and establishes a central theme that appears easily throughout A Midsummer Night. Dream and he also uses this theme to establish the central mood of the piece. Theseus reveals the central theme of the play in the first act, particularly in the lines examined, and we find this theme throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream. This happens in three different situations and continues throughout the play. Shakespeare also uses this theme to create the mood of the play. The passage spoken by Theseus thus becomes a central point of the play. It serves as an introduction to the central theme of the play and also as the main device Shakespeare uses to create mood. Shakespeare uses this passage as a starting point for the direction the rest of the play will take...