Question

There were some reasons why Theseus was initially against but later gave consent for the marriage of Helena with Lysander. Explain.

Answer 1

According to the ancient law of Athens, it was mandatory for a girl to marry the man that her father would choose for her. Therefore, when Egeus brought his daughter, Hermia, before Duke Theseus, Hermia was reminded of the ancient Athenian law and asked to marry the man of her father‘s choice. However, when Hermia refused to obey this law, Theseus gave her three options  one was to marry Demetrius, the man chosen by Egeus for her, the second was to become a nun and the third was to suffer a death sentence. Unwilling to choose from the three options, Hermia elopes with Lysander, the man she loves. Towards the end of the play, when Theseus sees the love between Helena and Demetrius, he decides not to make Hermia choose from the three options that he had initially given her. Instead, he allows Hermia to marry Lysander.