Shakespeare's portrayal of gender inequality in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare's drama A Midsummer Night's Dream is a text that illustrates inequality. The degree of control that males have over women is undeniable given how little attention they receive in a variety of social contexts. Even though such incidents might be upsetting, it is crucial to keep in mind the time the creator of the script was writing it. During the Greek era in the 16th century, Shakespeare composed the book. Women and slaves in the society of the period and place of the play shared an equal status. While using powerful and distinct characters from both sexes, the author details how gender and social class determine the autonomy that an individual has. In this way, he succeeds in representing women who, despite having no say in the community, have no control of their own bodies.
The control and authority of the ruling class
There is a defined level of control and authority demonstrated by the ruling class. For instance, Theseus who is the king exercises total control of his subjects. At the beginning of the play, the audience meets with Egeus' daughter, Hermia who refuses to marry the man that her father chooses. Instead, she opts to settle with Lysander with whom she is in love. It is in this context that the reader encounters a gender stereotype that emerges between a dutiful daughter and her father. The king, for instance, accuses Lysander of having turned her daughter against him when he says, "Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me" (1.1.38). The control and power that men have reduced their female counterparts to properties. Evidently, the king instead of being a kind and a loving father to his daughter concerns more with power. All he cares for is to portray his hyper-masculinity. Rather than wishing the best and making merry of his daughter's happiness, he demands total obedience. He treats her as property, and she must do everything he demands. It is for this reason that Egeus considers the options of getting rid of her when he says, "As she is mine, I may dispose of her" (1.1.43). Men in the patriarchal society work together to undermine the women's power of choice. Theseus, for example, strongly reasons with Egeus's idea. He tells Hermia that her father should be like a god to her who can figure or disfigure her life.
Women as prizes to be won
Shakespeare also presents the woman as a prize to be won in war. Such is evident in Hippolyta and Theseus' case. In the Amazon society where Hippolyta comes from, women are more powerful than men. They raise their daughters to become warriors and undermine the boy child by mistreating them and humiliating them to do house chores. However, Theseus defeats the community in war and plans to marry queen Hippolyta. He says, "Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, And won thy love, doing thee injuries" (1.1.17-18). The statement implies that he has used his strength and might to secure himself a bride. Without considerations or second thoughts, he takes the queen by force and expects her to submit to his proposal without resistance. As the hero of the day, he unquestionably deserves the woman, and no one can oppose his choice. In the passage, Shakespeare tries to restore the inverted western society by nurturing the patriarchal social norm. Theseus's victory brings back glory to men and puts women in their rightful place as per the social standard.
Oberon and Titania's power struggle
Another pair that raises significant gender issues is that of Oberon and Titania. Both of them are powerful creatures. There is a power struggle that emerges between the duos where King Oberon manages to get back at the queen. He uses his power to make a fool of the tradesman Bottom by transforming him into a man with a donkey head. Subsequently, Oberon casts a spell over Titania that causes her to fall in love with the tradesman. Although the two powerful beings are always in constant rivalry, the king cannot give an equal chance for the lady to defend herself. Shakespeare tries to reason with a contemporary society where women are not supposed to compete with men. It is for this reason that the king uses dubious means to win over the queen as he manages to humiliate her before the subjects and, in return, takes control.
Male domination in society
Male domination has been the norm in society. Since ancient times in history, men have had control of women from their birth to their death. Shakespeare's text is a piece that conforms to the societal ideology that women have neither physical prowess nor political power. It is for this purpose that all men struggle to take control of every aspect of society. Queens are reduced to wives who should submit and serve under the command of the men. Moreover, women cannot make independent decisions without the influence of men, as seen in the play. All interaction of these couples ends up in traditional marriages where women exist as subordinates to their husbands.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night's Dream. 1605.
