38 L. A. Sherman 



may not harmonize, even outwardly, with the feelings she has 

 cherished. This purpose or order of Duke Theseus is of course 

 the first or ' minor ' obstruction to the ' consummation ' which 

 motivates us to watch the play. 



The 'major' obstruction or involvement follows hard upon. 

 While Theseus sits upon the throne of state, not alone as ruler, 

 and lawgiver, but also as supreme judge, a group of subjects seeks 

 admission to the presence. Egeus, an Athenian householder, con- 

 ducts his daughter, Hermia, and her two suitors, one Demetrius, 

 chosen of her father, and Lysander, approved by her, before the 

 judgment seat. And thus Hippolyta, queen of protest against 

 the injustices of man, who lifts baby daughters from the arms 

 of helpless mothers to cast out upon the wilds, and who, when 

 any such are suffered to be nourished and brought up, forces them 

 to wed unloved husbands, — this Hippolyta, protagonist of the 

 rights of woman, first suffragette of the centuries, must even now 

 foretaste the institutional subjection of her sex in all the days 

 before her. The appeal of Egeus, invoking the power of the 

 state to coerce his daughter, is affirmed. There is no hesitancy 

 or pity in the doom : 



Hermia. But I beseech your grace that I ma}' know 



The worst that may befall me in this case, 



If I refuse to wed Demetrius. 



Theseus. Either to die the death, or to abjure 



For ever the society of men. 



We are concerned, and deeply — as deeply as Shakespeare 

 allows to happen in a comedy — both for Hippolyta's peace of 

 mind, and for her nuptials. Hermia, we are sure, will not submit, 

 and four days will bring the issue. If the sentence is carried 

 out, will not this bride revolt? The author has made the case 

 as harsh as possible. Does Theseus think to enhance, by his 

 manner of dealing with it, the merriment and revelling? He has 

 at any rate set up a paramount hindrance, a major obstruction to 

 the outcome that we desire. If this obstruction is not lifted 

 from the plot, the comedy will prove a tragedy. Theseus is 

 blind as well as heartless. But evidently (I.i. 122) he can read 

 a face: 



140 



