Love is superficial. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream" there are multiple love triangles that change from one plot to another. Historical and gender roles are a key point in this play. A key point explains the difficult choices one may face while in love. While another key point concerns cultural norms and the perception of love. In ancient Athens males dominated their culture ultimately deciding the lives of many women and men. As mentioned above, in the world of ancient Athens, men were the dominant gender. Women were not allowed to marry without their father's consent. They didn't even have the right to choose their own lover. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Egues presents the engagement to Hermia and a man she did not love. “The primary role of a respectable woman in ancient Athens was to stay at home, keep pretty, and have children. Her life centered on the home and children. Most city wives had slaves to cook, clean, and go shopping. Once she gave birth, her father could not take her back (Women in Ancient Athens 1).” In ancient Athens, society dictated that it was disrespectful for women to disobey the commands of their father or husband. If her husband had deemed it necessary, he would have had the right to keep her locked in the house if she did not behave as a true Athenian woman should (Women in Ancient Athens 1). In this case, while Hermia consoled Theseus, Theseus told Hermia to die or reject the society of men altogether if she did not obey her father. Either die until death, or forever abjure the society of men. Therefore beautiful Hermia, question your desires, know your youth, examine your blood well, if, if you do not yield to your father's choice, you can bear the livery of a nun,... middle of paper..." Dream of A Midsummer Night" Aegean was the cultural figure law. As Aegeus states in speaking with Theseus, Consent to marry Demetrius, I ask for the ancient privileges of Athens: Since she is mine, I can dispose of her: Which will be, either to this gentleman, Or to his death, according to our lawImmediately foreseen in that case. (40-45) Aegeus was the symbolic symbol of the law in the play stating that he, as Hermia's father, possessed her until she was married to Demetrius. When Aegeus discovers the couples at last demands that the law has Lysander's head, I pray the law, the law on his head: They would have fled secretly, they would have wanted, Demetrius, thus defeat you and me: You of your wife, and I of my consent: of my consent that she be your wife. (154-158) Theseus intervenes and nullifies the law. Even though Egeus lost, the men dominated to get what they wanted.