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A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare
Act I, Scene I
The play commences within the grand walls of Duke Theseus of Athens's palace. Theseus and Hippolyta, the esteemed Queen of the Amazons, engage in a conversation regarding their imminent nuptials scheduled to take place in a mere four days. While Theseus eagerly anticipates the festivities, Hippolyta assures him that the days will swiftly transpire. Egeus, a nobleman, enters the scene accompanied by his daughter Hermia and her two suitors, Lysander and Demetrius. Egeus is incensed by Hermia's refusal to wed Demetrius, the suitor of his choice, as her heart belongs to Lysander. The tension escalates as Egeus implores Theseus to uphold the laws of Athens that decree a daughter must marry the suitor selected by her father or face dire consequences. Theseus presents Hermia with a grim ultimatum: she must marry Demetrius, meet her demise, or live a life of austerity as a nun. Overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, Hermia and Lysander decide to abscond from Athens and unite in matrimony at Lysander's aunt's residence, where Athenian law cannot reach them.
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