Representation Of Women In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Shakespeare's female characters are represented over an assortment of social classes. In this essay I will investigate how Shakespeare depicts women in A Midsummer Night's Dream. I will be analyzing particularly the characters and depiction of Hippolyta, Helena and Hermia and how they relate to the stereotypical nature of how ladies were dealt with by men, as well as how this issue is present in modern society.

Firstly, the most evident aspect with respect to Shakespeare's depiction of women in this play is that the female sex is materialized. All through the play, women are dealt with like items to be sold or exchanged. With reference to the foundation of the characters Theseus and Hippolyta, Greek mythology expresses that when Theseus, …show more content…

Egeus, Hermia's dad, has decided to wed Hermia to Demetrius, yet Hermia declines to do so. Egeus then raises this objection to Theseus, trusting Theseus can help him. In doing so, Egeus is appeared to view Hermia as an item as he overrules her wishes. Egeus says that Hermia has 'turned her obedience, which is due to me' (I.i.37) and that since 'she is mine, I may dispose of her' (I.i.42). These 2 lines show Egeus regarding Hermia as 'mere property' in light of the fact that he made her and consequently Hermia should obey her father’s …show more content…

The principal power struggle present in the play exists between Egeus/Theseus and Hermia. In Act 1 Scene 1, Hermia straightforwardly resists Egeus' wishes for her to marry Demetrius rather than Lysander. Through Egeus' eyes, Hermia is seen to have a 'stubborn harshness' (I.i.38) and she won't 'consent to marry with Demetrius' (I.i.40). She challenges Egeus despite knowing that tradition allows the father to wed his daughter off to whoever he wishes. Anyhow, she plots with Lysander and consents to his arrangement of leaving Athens to Lysander's widow aunt whose house is out of reach from the 'sharp Athenian law' (I.i.162). While fleeing may appear like a nuanced and modest form of insubordination, it is still a corroboration of Hermia's rights and opportunity as a woman to pick who she

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