Final answer:
Theseus and Lysander mention a 'dowager' in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' to illustrate economic concerns related to marriage and social status, suggesting the societal tension between romantic aspirations and financial pragmatism.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the opening scene of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the term "dowager" is used by Theseus and Lysander in ways that align with their personal concerns and social roles. Theseus, about to be married, may discuss the dowager in context of his impending marriage and the legal and financial implications that accompany such unions. Lysander, on the other hand, uses the term to express frustration about the monetary and societal hurdles he faces in winning the love of Hermia against her father's wishes and the law of Athens.
The repetition of the term "dowager" may underscore the play's thematic concerns with property and marriage, as well as the influence of societal structures on personal relationships. These concerns reflect a consistent tension between the financial sphere, represented by arranged marriages and dowries, and the romantic sphere of love and personal choice.
The repeated mention of a "dowager" suggests how economic concerns are intertwined with issues of love and marriage in the narrative. By discussing a widow who holds her own property and wealth, both Theseus and Lysander touch on the question of who holds the power in relationships and what is valued in society—personal desires or social and financial constructs.