In the late sixteenth century, women were victims of gender inequality. Men ruled, men dictated, and men determined what was best for the females in society. The concept of gender roles has roots dating back to the beginning of the time, and in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare addresses this issue by illustrating the effects firsthand. Society promotes the inferiority of women by limiting their roles in society.
In A Midnight Summer’s Dream, women are viewed as men’s possessions. In the first scene of the play, Egeus decides that his daughter, Hermia, will wed Demetrius. Demetrius is an honorable man, and gladly agrees with the arrangements. Hermia, however, refuses to wed Demetrius as she has fallen in love with Lysander. When Egeus confronts his daughter about her refusal to marry Demetrius, she responds, “Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his …show more content…
In this play, Orsino originally plans to marry Olivia. Unfortunately, Olivia loves Cesario and Cesario loves Orsino. While Cesario spends a majority of her time working in Orsino’s court, she gains a noble amount of respect in a quick three months. When Sebastian unexpectedly makes his appearance in the final scene of the play, the truth behind Cesario’s identity is revealed. Orsino understands that Cesario is actually a woman, Viola, and is now able to have a relationship with her. Despite her admirable work as Cesario in his court, Orsino states, “And since you called me ‘master for so long, here is my hand. You shall from this time be your master’s mistress.” (Orsino: V.I.341-343) Orsino immediately labels Viola as his mistress, which the reader can assume to be Orsino’s source of love and offspring. Viola would no longer be expected to serve on Orsino’s court, and instead focuses on serving her husband. Both the speed and little thought that Orsino puts into this decision reveals how ingrained women’s inferiority was in the social
In A Midnight Summer’s Dream, women are viewed as men’s possessions. In the first scene of the play, Egeus decides that his daughter, Hermia, will wed Demetrius. Demetrius is an honorable man, and gladly agrees with the arrangements. Hermia, however, refuses to wed Demetrius as she has fallen in love with Lysander. When Egeus confronts his daughter about her refusal to marry Demetrius, she responds, “Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his …show more content…
In this play, Orsino originally plans to marry Olivia. Unfortunately, Olivia loves Cesario and Cesario loves Orsino. While Cesario spends a majority of her time working in Orsino’s court, she gains a noble amount of respect in a quick three months. When Sebastian unexpectedly makes his appearance in the final scene of the play, the truth behind Cesario’s identity is revealed. Orsino understands that Cesario is actually a woman, Viola, and is now able to have a relationship with her. Despite her admirable work as Cesario in his court, Orsino states, “And since you called me ‘master for so long, here is my hand. You shall from this time be your master’s mistress.” (Orsino: V.I.341-343) Orsino immediately labels Viola as his mistress, which the reader can assume to be Orsino’s source of love and offspring. Viola would no longer be expected to serve on Orsino’s court, and instead focuses on serving her husband. Both the speed and little thought that Orsino puts into this decision reveals how ingrained women’s inferiority was in the social