o persuade Hermia to submit to her fathers will, and though, being himself a ruler, he naturally upholds the Athenian law, yet we feel all the time that his sympathies are with the daughter rather than with the stern parent. When Demetrius expresses his determination to be true to his first love, the Duke unhesitatingly overrides the will of Egeus. A statement such as that shows that he is a man of power and loves to be in control, just like Oberon does. Both of these characters wish to have the power in their relationships with their partners. They do not like the fact that their wives also like to have power. Oberons triumphant speechs are poetic and based upon illusions, where as Theseus speaks sternly, and direct. This is apparent in his attitude throughout the play. Theseus and Oberon, both have the same roles in each of their societies. Theseus is the Duke of Athens, and has the power of the humans, whereas Oberon, the King of the Fairies, has the majesty and power in his world that Theseus has in his. The difference between the two worlds bespeaks the difference between the two characters, for Oberon is triumphant in poetry and illusion - "King of Shadows" Puck calls him, while as mere shadows Theseus disparages even the most expert purveyors if illusion (Act V, Sc. 1, 212-213). The marriage of Theseus is the framing event in the daylight world of the play. It is the first thing we hear of and the last thing that happens, but the cloth that is woven within this frame is of Oberons design. He and his assistant Puck move the shuttle of this loom madly between the straight uprights of Theseus frame. The lovers are matched as warp and woof, and Bottoms experience runs as a strong diagonal thread knitting all sturdily. All of this comes about because Oberon cant have something that he wants. Titania has a changeling whom she has excellent reasons for wishing to keep. The little boys mother was a special friend who died...
