The Prejudiced Implications of Women In Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
For many centuries, women have been oppressed and treated like second-class citizens. Although, over the years, women have gained more rights and have been recognized as equals. In the late 1500s, Shakespeare’s plays proved that this was not always the case. In, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Shakespeare portrays women as unimportant objects, impulsive and followers. This demonstrates that Shakespeare agreed with many unfair judgments towards women. Firstly, Shakespeare implies that women are insignificant objects by using Hippolyta’s current marital situation. While addressing their approaching wedding date, Theseus tells Hippolyta, “Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries” (Shakespeare I, i, 16-17). This …show more content…
After listening to Hermia complain about having Demetrius dote on her, she thinks about how, “Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so” (I, i, 228-229). This demonstrates that she is a follower because she needs validation from Demetrius to truly feel beautiful and is unable to feel that way on her own. She portrays more traits of a follower when she tells Demetrius to, “Use me but as your spaniel” (II, i, 190). At this point of the play, Helena proves that she is so desperate to follow Demetrius, she is okay with being treated poorly. At that time, Helena also says to Demetrius, “What worser place can I beg your love - and yet a place of high respect with me - than to be used as you use your dog” (II, i, 193-195). Here, Helena believes that it is an honor to be treated poorly because she is blinded by her need to follow him, displaying that all women are followers. All of these instances portray that Shakespeare clearly implied that women are all
For many centuries, women have been oppressed and treated like second-class citizens. Although, over the years, women have gained more rights and have been recognized as equals. In the late 1500s, Shakespeare’s plays proved that this was not always the case. In, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Shakespeare portrays women as unimportant objects, impulsive and followers. This demonstrates that Shakespeare agreed with many unfair judgments towards women. Firstly, Shakespeare implies that women are insignificant objects by using Hippolyta’s current marital situation. While addressing their approaching wedding date, Theseus tells Hippolyta, “Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries” (Shakespeare I, i, 16-17). This …show more content…
After listening to Hermia complain about having Demetrius dote on her, she thinks about how, “Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so” (I, i, 228-229). This demonstrates that she is a follower because she needs validation from Demetrius to truly feel beautiful and is unable to feel that way on her own. She portrays more traits of a follower when she tells Demetrius to, “Use me but as your spaniel” (II, i, 190). At this point of the play, Helena proves that she is so desperate to follow Demetrius, she is okay with being treated poorly. At that time, Helena also says to Demetrius, “What worser place can I beg your love - and yet a place of high respect with me - than to be used as you use your dog” (II, i, 193-195). Here, Helena believes that it is an honor to be treated poorly because she is blinded by her need to follow him, displaying that all women are followers. All of these instances portray that Shakespeare clearly implied that women are all