“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: the Role of Women
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” refers to a play by William Shakespeare. The comedy was written between 1595 and 1596. Being set in Athens, William Shakespeare describes the role of women where women defy gender stereotypes linked to them. The characters pursue love aggressively thus indicating their feelings towards their treatment. The author, therefore, represents the female characters in various social classes. They enroll in power struggles to defy the traditional perceptions linked to them during the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare used women in the Elizabethan era to show the form of injustices done to women. This paper describes the role of women as depicted in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by reflecting on the Elizabethan era and how the theme endures in contemporary society.
The role of women in the play dates back to the Elizabethan era when women had no say in society. The setting of the play is in ancient Athens. The drama involves a set of female characters who seem unique and powerful although they are controlled by men. Hermia lacks autonomy in the employed law. Hermia is mistreated and compelled to take a step far much beyond her aspirations. Hermia is denied the opportunity and the right to marry the man of her dreams when her father compels her to marry another man. The traditions render women less significant and must admit to the stipulations of society. In case Hermia refuses to marry the chosen man, fate claims that she must face death or be abjured.
Research asserts that society is said to belong to men and hence no women can defy their decisions. Besides, women design their unique ways to defy these misconducts. Hermia consults fairy magic and later marries the man of her desire and escapes together. The Athenian law denies her the opportunity to be happy. Additionally, Helena does not only pursue but also harasses Demetrius, the former lover. Nevertheless, she lacks ways to compel the man to marry her. The study asserts that Titania, Queen of Amazon, Queen of Fairies, and Hippolyta face the wrath and ill-treatment of the husbands. They must be subjective or rather face the consequences. After conquering the Amazons, Theseus forcefully ran with Hippolyta and became his wife.
Theseus admitted that “I wood thee with my sword, And won thy love, doing thee injuries.” This indicates that these warriors would kill an individual and take their wives as their own because the Elizabethan era hardly respected the interests of women. Another instance is when Titania disregards the interests of Oberon to keep the changeling boy. Oberon intends to keep the little boy as a henchman. Titania explains the emotional connection she has with the boy and opts to keep the boy. However, Oberon humiliates Titania and uses a love potion on her to compel her to make love to another man. The act is cruel and disrespectful and shows that even men do not value their spouses.
The law does not look at the interests of women and the existing mistreatment. The Athenian law reflects Elizabethan society. Society is thwarted and uses laws that ridiculously harm the feminine gender. Whatever the circumstances, Shakespeare shows substantial depictions of compromised women's roles and battles related to sexism in the play. Shakespeare’s work greatly influenced the Elizabethan culture. In the entire history, the Elizabethan period was strict to women in all aspects of life. There existed expectations that men needed to support the family. On the other hand, women were meant to be mothers and housewives. The Elizabethan era also presented women as weak characters both mentally and physically. Research maintains that women needed men to look after them and direct their whereabouts.
The presentation of women as a weak gender was evident when Helena pleaded with Demetrius to respect her. “Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, than to be used as you use your dog”. The quote indicates that men treated women like dogs during this Elizabethan era. Another instance is that women never got the opportunities to work as lawyers, doctors, Executives officers, and other permanent occupations. The perceptions held that women were only mandated to undertake chaos such as cooking, washing, or acting as maids. Consequently, during the Elizabethan era, the role of women in theaters was played by men. Denial of these rights to women made them inferior and less creative in major aspects of life.
Critics existed on how women were perceived in the Elizabethan period. Shakespeare lived during that era and understood the patriarchal nature of the society that rendered women to be inferior and subjective to men. Women would be subject to all platforms, be it in marriages or the entire society. Nevertheless, Shakespeare acted on behalf of numerous individuals and philosophers who would criticize this form of injustice.
