How Is Hippolyta Portrayed In A Midsummer Night's Dream

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream the sexes are portrayed in many different ways through many different characters. Though the sexes are portrayed in many different ways, there is one view that is repeated twice. This view is that of a dominant male figure. This view is showed through the characters of Theseus and Hippolyta and also through the characters of Hermia and Egeus. Both of these relationships are dynamic, yet they are both still based on the idea of a dominant male figure. Theseus conquers The Amazon and captures Hippolyta to be his future wife. During this story Hippolyta is put into a position where she does not have control. Theseus views her as a piece of property rather than as a human being. Shakespeare sets up this relationship to make the reader feel sympathetic towards the female character. Hippolyta is forced to do everything that Theseus tells her to do and doesn't have the

Egeus sets Hermia up for an arranged marriage with a man named Demetrius. However, Hermia is in love with a man named Lysander. Her father does not care that his daughter is in love. Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius because Egeus wants to be linked through marriage with a highly ranked family. Egues has no regard for what his daughter's heart wants. Egeus is angry with his daughter so he goes to the king for a resolution. Egeus says to the king, "as she is mine, I may dispose of her, which shall be either to this gentlemen or to her death, according to our law immediately provided in that case." (********************) Egeus uses his power to try and threaten Hermia. However, Hermia chooses to betray her father. Hermia goes against her father's wishes and chooses to be with Lysander. Eventually the king decides that Hermia and Lysnader can be together and Egeus accepts the king's decision. Shakespeare uses Hermia's character to display a strong headed women who will stand up for her