Strict hierarchy (everything having its place according to its importance in God's order) and organic harmony (everything being part of a whole and having a function to perform) were the overriding principles of the broad orthodox background to how the audience thought their universe was structured (cosmology), how they saw God and religion (theology) and how their place in the order of things was organized (sociology). The disorders and disharmonies upsetting roles and expectations in Dream stem from Hermia's initial transgression in opposing her father's choice of husband and in his dogmatic determination to enforce patriarchy and have his way. Indeed the disharmony starts further back with Hermia's involvement with Lysander. Young women in those days did not have as much freedom as they do today to independently initiate personal relationships. It is a deep father/ daughter, male/ female opposition. It also incorporates a deep conflict between nature and man's artificially imposed morality.

Egeus accuses Lysander not only of having stolen Hermia's heart but also of having ‘turn'd her obedience (which is due to me)/ To stubborn harshness (1.1.37– 80). The hoped- for happy harmony Theseus envisages in marrying his erstwhile enemy and prisoner, Hippolyta, is impossible until several reversals of orthodox hierarchy are returned to natural order. Theseus is able to make his own choice in marriage, but the progression of his situation from enmity to love is a foreshadowing of the dissensions that will disturb the lovers and amuse the audience.

From inauspicious beginnings his journey has ended in lovers meeting. The audience will probably have a sentimental interest in whether the four young people they see before them will end up in similar happiness. Though Egeus is, by law and custom, entitled to arrange his daughter's marriage and enforce its solemnization, he contravenes humanist teaching in being very heavy- handed and transgressing expected parental affection. The potential death sentence is a piece of unrealistic theatrical nonsense and excess invented to bring tension and suspense into the situation. The orthodoxy of paternal power is displayed in a bad light and in an extreme form, but the conduct of the young couples is equally counter to courteous behaviour.