n a vocal manner to Theseus:Theseus. What you say, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid.To you your father should be as a god-...Demetrius is a worthy GentlemanHermia. So is Lysander...I do entreat Your Grace to pardon me....The worst that may befall me in this caseIf I refuse to wed Demetrius.Theseus. Either to die the death or to abjureForever the society of men.Hermia. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,Ere I will yield my virgin patent up (1.1.46-80)Hermia is genteel when it comes to asserting her opinion of Athen's marriage laws. The patriarchal society which has made Hermia unable to marry Lysander only makes Hermia fight more for her right to free love. The obvious differences between Hermia and Helena do not prevent them from defying the patriarchal law's of Athens. The similarities between Helena and Hermia are only conveyed by the extreme discrepancies they possess within their personalities. Both Hermia and Helena want what is best for true love to flourish within the constraints of a patriarchal society. Both women feel it is the women's right to choice her opinion for the man she will love in marriageHelena, the shunned lover of Demetrius, is a quiet, forgiving, and wholehearted young women. Helena is assertive at opposing marriage laws, which govern love in Athens, yet in a modest and uncommon manner for 16th century Athens. Instead of verbalizing her opinion of love constraints the Athenian laws dictate, Helena's actions of female wooing provide her with the defiance a patriarchal society places on women. Helena is in love with Demetrius, however, Demetrius wants nothing to do with Hermia. Therefore, Hermia defies the role of a female in 16th century Athens and tries to romance her love, knowing Demetrius will never court her himself. Helena tries to win Demetrius's love:Demetrius: Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair?Or rather do I not in plainest truthTell you I do not nor I cannot love you the?Helena. And even for that...
