A Midsummer Night's Dream Feminist Analysis

The women in William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream are traditional women in society that act in rebellious ways. Hermia, Helena, and Titania are all disobedient and rebellious women in the play. At the time women were treated as property. The father or husband would make decisions for his wife or daughter, and the woman had no say and were to respect the choice that was made for them. However Hermia, Titania, and Helena do not follow the orders given to them. Hermia rejects the husband her father chose for her and Titania refuses to give her husband, Oberon, the changeling child. Helena loves a man who is not chosen for her and turns against her friend in hopes that Demetrius will love her. Another perspective of women at the time portrayed women as the weaker of the two sexes. Shakespeare includes this perspective, but also shows how strong and defiant women are. William Shakespeare’s view of women in his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream compares the typical social role of the time to the rebellious acts of the women.
Hermia’s father Egeus becomes …show more content…
Hermia is treated as property by her father and other men, but is defiant and rebellious. She refuses to follow her father’s will which sets her apart from other women in her society. Titania is easily manipulated by Oberon after her rebellious acts against him. Titania refuses to hand over the changeling child so Oberon uses a spell to get want her wants. Titania rebels against her husband, but gets manipulated easily showing her feminine weakness. Helena accuses her friend of mocking her because has a very low self-esteem and does not believe that anyone will love her. She shares the insecurities many women have about not being pretty enough. Helena’s insecurities started when Demetrius falls for Hermia after having sex with Helena. Helena is not a typical woman because she has sex before she is married and with someone that was not chosen for