Conflict with authority in A Midsummer Night's Dream In A Midsummer Night's Dream the theme of conflict with authority is evident and it is the cause of the problems that afflict the characters. It is also used to create the atmosphere of the show. The passage below spoken by Theseus at the opening of the work clearly states this theme. Be warned, beautiful girl. To you your father should be as a god, He Who composed your beauties, yea, and one To Whom you are but as a form in wax. him imprinted, and in his power Leave the figure or disfigure it - A Midsummer Night's Dream (1.1.46-51) The first example of conflict with authority in the play is the first example and creates the conflict for the rest of the work. This example that occurs throughout the play is in the opening scene of act 1. Here we see Theseus warning Hermia not to disobey her father and warning her that Aegeus created her and can "uncreate" her if he wishes. Hermia is reminded that Athenian law dictates that a father has total control of his daughter's life until the daughter marries. Even though Hermia does not want to marry Demetrius, the law says that she has no choice and must conform to her father's wishes. If the Aegean authority had not been the supreme authority, Hermia and Lysander would not have had to flee Athens for their love. The other important example of conflict with authority is also partly responsible for the friction that occurs in the play. This example occurs in the fairy world between Oberon and Titania. Oberon, as the fairy king, is the supreme authority in the fairy world. Therefore, by disobeying him, Titania challenges his supreme authority. His disobedience causes conflict in nature which is evident... in the middle of the paper... in the mood. Through Theseus' speech to Hermia, Shakespeare introduces and establishes a central theme that is immediately evident throughout A Midsummer Night's. Dream and also uses this theme to establish the central atmosphere of the work. Theseus reveals the play's central theme in the opening act, particularly in the lines examined, and we see this theme throughout A Midsummer Night's Dream. It occurs in three different situations and is carried forward throughout the rest of the show. Shakespeare also uses this theme to create the atmosphere of the play. In this way the passage spoken by Theseus becomes a key point of the work. It serves as an introduction to the central theme of the play and also as the main device used by Shakespeare to create atmosphere. Shakespeare uses this passage as a starting point for the direction the rest of the play will take.