A Midsummer Night's Dream Feminist Analysis

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The literary work, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was written in 1595 when women were still viewed as objects, and were overall raised to believe they were inferior to men. A secret message hidden throughout the play is the unforgiving idea of feminism. This can be portrayed by Shakespeare through the strength Hermia posses versus the despair of Helena, the symbolism of Hippolyta as day and Titania as night, and writing the play for Queen Elizabeth to humor her through the contrast of how women are supposed to act according to society standards verses how women are starting to act due to feminism. The contrast between Hermia and Helena cannot only be detected by their looks, but also by the their actions in pursuing the men they love. Hermia has dark features along with the mindset that love is worth fighting for. Women of this time period were raised to believe they were “inferior to men,” and that they were dominated by the male members of the family. This can be contradicted through the characteristics of Hermia because she did not conform to her dad when he wanted her to marry Demetrius, and when Hermia expresses her love for Lysander to her father Theseus says, “ She is merely a form in wax that has been imprinted with her father’s power.” At this time it was almost unheard of for women to claim their love for a man, and Theseus believes …show more content…
Throughout the literary work, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare introduces the unforgiving idea of feminism that can be portrayed through the strength Hermia posses versus the despair of Helena, the symbolism of Hippolyta as day and Titania as night, and the play being written for Queen Elizabeth to humor her through the contrast of how women are supposed to act according to society standards verses how women are starting to act due to
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