The opening

The play opens with young Hermiaraging at her father Egeus and Theseus, the King of Athens,who have forbidden her to marry her lover Lysander.Hermia has no interest in her father's choice for her of Demetrius –but her best friend Helena definitely does.Furious at their elders, Hermia and Lysander elope under cover of darkness,with Demetrius in hot pursuit.This is further complicated by Helena’s decisionto follow them all into the woods,in the hope of winning Demetrius’ heart.