Oppression Of Women In A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Elizabethan era was not an uprising point for women in history. The women were expected to fit into a roll, a roll of women who were obedient and never wayward. The Elizabethan era was a time where Shakespeare wrote his plays, because of that era, Shakespeare’s play’s would tend to emulate characters of the type of woman at that time. Women were not allowed extra schooling and they had to be completely dependent on a male, whether it being her father or her husband. It is no shock that Shakespeare’s depiction of women was the way they were. Women will be analyzed in the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream through two journal articles, one by Michael Steppat, and one by Herbetneanes. The main focus of the journal articles are on Hermia, Helena

Once analyzed, the reader can get more in depth perspective on how women treated each other, instead of how women and men treated each other. This kind of insight is important when analyzing words and actions of women with women during Shakespeare’s era. Steppat dives into the examination of the relationship in the play and how it effects the play as a whole. It is known in the play that Hermia and Helena have been friends since they were young. Since Helena is in love with Demetrius, and Demetrius and Lysander are in love with Hermia, Helena becomes jealous of Hermia.” Good speed fair Helena! whither away? Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves you fair: O happy fair! (1.1.180-82).” Helena’s jealousy continues when she comes up with the thought that Demetrius does not love her only because of Hermia The more I love, the more [Demetrius] hateth me. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine! (1.1.199-201).” This jealousy becomes a problem for Hermia and Helena’s friendship, trust and respect is becoming lost for their friendship. This is showing that men are coming in between the two of them. Helena is now holding onto anger against Hermia and she wants to destroy her happiness just to get Demetrius’s attention and affection, at the same time Hermia did not hold onto any hostility toward Demetrius and Helena. “ Due to this fact, she is eager to destroy Hermia’s happiness and desperately tries to win Demetrius’ attention back, as she would do everything in order to get the tiniest bit of attention from him: “[…] and for this intelligence / If I have thanks, it is a dear expense”(Steppat 4). Helena practically ruins her friendship with Hermia just to be with Demetrius, in contrast Hermia sees Helena as a loyal