Doubling--Pyramus and Thisbe vs. Lysander and Hermia; Oberon and Titania vs. Theseus and Hippolyta (often played by the same actors in stage productions). In what ways are the couples similar?

Many of the marriages in the play parallel one another, as love and its tribulations is the central theme of the performance. The marriage between Theseus and Hippolyta represents order and control, while that between Hermia and Lysander showcases a fated love that can overcome any obstacle. The relationship between Titania and Oberon is in many ways an ironic take on human marriage, as the two playfully spar with one another throughout the performance, using the humans as pawns for entertainment.