Theme Of Sexism In Midsummer Night's Dream

First, Hermia went through many different issues and conflicts throughout the story. Hermia was put in the situation of being forced to marry either Lysander or Demetrius. They both loved Hermia, but Hermia only loves Lysander and despises Demetrius. Egues comes to the decision of Hermia marrying Demetrius. Hermia states “If then true lovers have been ever cross'd,It stands as an edict in

Hermia has been promised to Demetrius by her father; however she is unwilling to marry him as she is in love with Lysander. We are introduced to this theme when they visit Thesus, the figure of authority in the play, who makes it clear that women are not to have their own identity, but instead are

puts her son’s comfort and life above all and swallows her pride. Furthermore, as a woman of the

Hermia, originally the Apple of all Athens’ eye, put on an impossible pedestal by both Lysander and Demetrius, seems to trade social standings with the outcast Helena. It seems that Hermia doesn’t fully appreciate the quality of her state. She complains that her father will not allow her to merry her true love Lysander, and pawns her off to the inadequate Demetrius. Never can she accept the flattery of Demetrius’ unrequited love which her best friend would do anything to sincerely receive. Instead she revels in wonderment: “The more I [Hermia] hate, the more he [Demetrius] follows me” (I.i.198). Her unhappiness is far heightened when her two followers are given the love potion, turning them against her and beckoning to Helena. The cruel swap of fates lets the two female characters feel as though in the others’ shoes. It’s Hermia’s karma for being ungrateful at the attention bestowed upon her all these years that leads her to this harsh lesson.

blinded by love. According to Egeus, father of Hermia, Hermia had to get married to

Hermia’s father told his daughter she could marry Demetrius, become a nun, or die. Hermia does not like any of those choices, so rebels against her father and decides to go and marry Lysander, her true lover. Love causes Hermia to choose Lysander, which shows how the human nature of love has controlling powers. However, in the end, Hermia’s father accepts the fact that his daughter has love for Lysander and allows them to marry, but not just because they love each other. The marriage of Hermia and Lysander results from Demetrius falling out of love with Hermia. In Hamlet, Hamlet decides to obey and remain loyal to his father, while in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia decides to go against her father’s requests because of her love for Lysander. While these Shakespearean plays produce two different outcomes between the human nature of love and loyalty, they both show how love controls the loyalty of a person to a loved one.

There is no denying that women have been great leaders in history – from Helen of Troy and Celopatra to Queen Elizabeth and

The queen of fairyland, Titania is a deceivingly strong feminist at the opening of the show. She combats her counterpart, Oberon, with such a rage that diseases run rampant, seasons dangerously alter and all of humanity suffers from their discord. As a

This demonstrates how there is money and power involved in the story. Egeus, Hermia’s father, removes all of her power. Egeus has her power and controls his daughter, Hermia. In the story, Egeus arranges her marriage with someone whom she doesn’t love, and he doesn’t let her marry who she loves, Lysander. Not only that, but also shows how money also is being used in the story.

Hermia was hurt and suffering because her Lysander left her unpredictably and so sudden. Was she not good enough, who is to blame? Hermia’s answer to these questions were Helena, her dear childhood friend. Hermia blamed her for the chaos that was brought into her life and the sudden loss of her loved one’s interest. But unfortunately, Hermia was unaware that Helena had nothing to do with this chaos. It was all love that twisted a perfect relationship of true love into a chaotic monster.

cope with the events in her life because she was so adapted to being told how to think and

In the play the reader gets the truth that Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius, and as a woman living in a patriarchal society, she must obey; at least that is what the reader is lead to believe. Hermia takes a stand for herself and becomes powerless in her love for Lysander. With no reasonable explanation, besides her love for Lysander, she defiantly denies her father’s attempt for an arranged marriage. Since their love for each other is so immense, they prepare for the underlying bad circumstances they are going to suffer from for not obeying the wishes of her father. Hermia’s love for Lysander means so much more to her than the property or social placeholder she would gain by marrying Demetrius. Hermia dedicates herself to Lysander, saying he is worthy of the ultimate consummation of her love. She must convince her father that Demetrius is disgraceful and immoral. At the end of the play, Hermia and Lysander are eloped, and unlike Katherine and Petruccio in TOS, they demonstrate their dedication for each other from the beginning, disregarding a few

She is a symbol of feminine power, during a time where a majority of power was only held by men.

Hermia is recognized as an inferior character due to her fathers commands-Egeus. Hermia endeavours to get Egeus to give permission for Lysander and herself to get married. However, he responds with a rational answer, giving her two choices: “Consent to marry with Demetrius…” “…or to her death, according to our laws…” (Shakespeare 1:1 40,44). This passage stats how Hermia is given the option to marry Demetrius or to be killed by her fathers request. Also, it describes that this act is legal and right in the laws of the Athenians as Egeus mentions. This means that women throughout the town are forced to do what their fathers say. Which proves that woman are powerless and males are given the role of superiority, this makes the society unjust. Hermia is shown as powerless towards what

Then she lay on her back, raised her legs, and said, "Make love to me and satisfy need, or else I shall wake the demon, and he will kill you." They replied, "For God's sake, mistress, don't do this to us, for at this moment we feel nothing but dismay and fear of this demon. Please, excuse us." She replied, "You must," and insisted, swearing, "By God who created the heavens, if you don't do it, I shall wake my husband the demon and ask him to kill you and throw you into the sea." As she persisted, they could no longer resist and they made love to her, first the older brother, then the younger. (1574)