A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Nights Dream Dissertation

By: David Clarke







Women are portrayed negatively in William Shakespeare's play ,A Midsummer Nights Dream. The substandard approach towards women is a reoccurring theme in William Shakespeare's work. Women are looked at as second class citizens, men seem to prevail over women in all aspects of the Athenian society. Women are viewed as weak, insane and even as a males personal property in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Nights Dream, Which is a very negative portrayal.







Woman are portrayed as insane with very low self esteem in the play ,A Midsummer Nights Dream. We're shown this when Helena relentlessly pursues the object of her affection , Demetrius. Even though Demetrius has told her constantly that she is vile and disgusting in his eyes. This insanity is apparent In Helena's quote "The more you beat me, I will fawn on you" (Act 2 ,Scene I, 204). Another instance of this insanity is evident when Lysander and Hermia tell Helena of their plan to leave Athens. Helena believes that by telling her love Demetrius were his love Hermia has fled, it will improve her chances of finally getting Demetrius to take a second look at her. This is clear in Helena's quote "I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight"(Act 1, Scene I, 246). Low self esteem is displayed when Lysander tells Helena how beautiful she is, but due to her lack of self esteem she cannot bring herself to believe him. This is shown in Helena's quote "Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born"(Act 2, Scene II, 123). Altogether women are displayed in a negative manner, because of their low self esteem and insane tendencies.





Woman are viewed as weak in the play ,A Midsummer Nights Dream. Helena shows us this when she states that women cannot fight for love as men do. This gives the impression that women are to weak to pursue the object of their infatuation. This is on display in the quote "We cannot fight for love"(Act 2, Scene I, 241). Hermia is also portrayed as weak in the play. Lysander leaves Hermia while she is fast asleep in the forest, when she awakes alone she becomes distressed and anxious. This is apparent when Hermia cries "Help me, Lysander, help me!"(Act 2, Scene II, 144). Finally the Queen of fairies, Titania, is portrayed as weak enough to fall under the spell of Oberon, King of the fairies. Titania falls victim to Oberon's love potion and becomes infatuated with a donkey named Bottom. This is shown when Titania meets Bottom and states "Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful"(Act 3, Scene I, 137). In Conclusion women are viewed as insubstantial in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream.

Women are viewed as the property of males in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream. Examples of this include Hermia being told by her father, Egeus, that she will marry whomever she is told to. She is told that she will marry Demetrius although her true love is Lysander. This disregard for Hermia's feelings is found in Egeus's quote "And she is mine, and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius"(Act 1, Scene I, 97-98). Hippolyta is another example of men believing that women are their possessions. Theseus is involved in a battle with Hippolyta's people, after defeating them, Theseus takes Hippolyta back to Athens with him so they can be wed. Hippolyta is in all respects Theseus's trophy wife, this is illustrated in Theseus's quote "I woo'd thee with my sword"(Act 1, Scene I, 16). Furthermore ,Helena strangely show's a desire to be treated as Demetrius' property when she claims that she is no more than his dog in the quote "I am your spaniel"(Act 2, Scene I, 203). At length the women in A Midsummer Nights Dream are viewed as objects to be rewarded to men, which is terribly negative towards women.





In conclusion William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Nights Dream shows a negative portrayal of women. The Negative treatment is apparent in every facet of the play, and plays a main role in the story line, and in the events that unfold. The negative treatment is primitive and shows a considerably biased thought process.