This paper will examine the four female characters of William Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream which is one of the early comedies of the playwright. Here we encounter four main female characters who come from three different backgrounds. While Hippolyta is about to be married to Theseus, one can say that she represents the leadership in the mortal world. Titania is another leading character who is the queen of the fairy land. Hermia and Helena represent young women who are trying to find the right partner for themselves.
As in many Shakespeare’s comedies, the married couples are confronted with a certain problem that seems to endanger their marriage, while the unmarried people make choices that are not accepted or a confusing love constellation exists, for instance the “love chain” that can be found in this play, where Helena loves Demetrius who loves Hermia who loves Lysander. The play can be divided into three parts: at the beginning we face a world of Athens, where life is organized by law; the middle part of the play takes place in the magical wood where the fairies control the irrational events and cause a lot of discord, and finally a return to the ‘normal’ world occurs where all the mismatched couples can resolve their troubles and a triple wedding takes place which is the ultimate happy end for a comedy of Shakespeare’s times. All four female characters will be analyzed in all three stages of the play: before the magic intervention of the fairy king, during the confusion caused by him and after the initial conditions are restored. Hippolyta remains the only character who is not manipulated by the love potion.
The female characters will be analyzed according to their behavior, their image of themselves and the relationship to the men. Each character will be introduced and analyzed in a separate chapter. The goal is to find parallels and contrasts between these characters which will be presented in the conclusion of this paper.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Analysis of Hippolyta
3 Analysis of Hermia
4 Analysis of Helena
5 Analysis of Titania
6 Conclusion
7 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the representation of four primary female characters in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," exploring their individual agency, behavior, and relationships with male counterparts throughout the play's three structural stages.
- Analysis of female characters (Hippolyta, Hermia, Helena, and Titania) across different social backgrounds.
- Examination of the impact of patriarchal structures and societal laws on female autonomy.
- Investigation into the influence of magic and irrationality on interpersonal dynamics.
- Comparison of female self-perception and their evolving relationships with male figures.
- Critique of the play's "happy ending" regarding the potential loss of female voice and independence after marriage.
Excerpt from the Book
Analysis of Hermia
Hermia, Egeus’ daughter, appears already in the first act being accompanied by her father and her two suitors Demetrius and Lysander. Here we face the actual conflict of the play which is based on the father’s rule and on the Athens’ law. Egeus wants his daughter to marry Demetrius whom he believes to be a better choice of husband. Hermia’s love for Lysander is stubbornly ignored by the father who accuses Lysander of following deeds: This man hath bewitch’d the bosom of my child. Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, And interchang’d love-tokens with my child; Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, With faining voice, verses of feigning love, […] With cunning hast thou filch’d my daughter’s heart; Turn’d her obedience, which is due to me, To stubborn harshness. (I.i.27-38)
Hermia refuses to marry the man she does not love. She does not yield to her father’s decision although he believes that “[a]s she is [his], [he] may dispose of her” however he pleases. (I.i. 42) This shows clearly that Hermia is treated by her father as an object and that his fatherhood gives him the right to consider her as his possession. Even Theseus tells her: “To you your father should be as god; […] / To whom you are but as a form of wax,” (I.i. 48-49) Nevertheless, Hermia is a strong-willed character who wants to live her life the way she believes it would be best of her interest. She prefers Lysander and is not afraid nor intimidated to say it. She wishes that her father tries to show some understanding (“I would my father look’d but with my eyes.” (I.i. 56)), but Theseus advises her to follow her father’s advice despite of her own needs and wishes.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, introducing the four female protagonists and the structural division of the play into three stages of analysis.
2 Analysis of Hippolyta: The chapter explores Hippolyta's transition from a warrior queen to the wife of Theseus, focusing on her resilience and her unique role as an unmanipulated observer.
3 Analysis of Hermia: This section details Hermia's conflict with patriarchal law and her struggle to maintain her agency and her choice of partner against societal expectations.
4 Analysis of Helena: The chapter examines Helena's struggles with self-esteem, her unrequited love for Demetrius, and her complicated relationship with her friend Hermia.
5 Analysis of Titania: This chapter analyzes Titania's discord with Oberon, her protective nature regarding the changeling boy, and her ultimate submission to her husband's manipulation.
6 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, questioning the nature of the "happy ending" for the female characters in the context of their loss of autonomy post-marriage.
7 Bibliography: This section lists the primary and secondary literary sources referenced throughout the analysis.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, female characters, gender roles, patriarchy, Hippolyta, Hermia, Helena, Titania, agency, marriage, love, comedy, societal law, manipulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of the four main female characters in William Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" to understand their behavior, autonomy, and status within the play.
Which characters are analyzed in this research?
The research focuses on Hippolyta, Hermia, Helena, and Titania, examining their backgrounds and individual trajectories throughout the play.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to determine the extent of these characters' agency and to analyze the parallels and contrasts in their relationships with men, specifically questioning if their final marriages represent true happiness or a loss of identity.
What methodology does the author use?
The author uses a character-based literary analysis, evaluating the women's behavior across three stages: before, during, and after the magical intervention by the fairy king.
What central themes are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers themes of patriarchal control, the "irrational" nature of love, female solidarity versus self-doubt, and the consequences of disobedience to societal norms.
What are the characterizing keywords for this study?
Key terms include gender roles, patriarchy, agency, Shakespearean comedy, and character autonomy.
Why is Hippolyta considered a unique case among the female characters?
Hippolyta is highlighted as the only female character who is not manipulated by the love potion, maintaining a level of critical observation and strong-mindedness until the end.
What does the author conclude about the "happy ending" of the play?
The author concludes that while the play technically ends with marriages, the resolution remains bitter and questionable, as the women appear to accept passive or subordinate roles to maintain peace.
- Quote paper
- MA Dusica Marinkovic-Penney (Author), 2005, Analysis of Female Characters in William Shakespeare's Comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116134
