A Midsummer Nights Dream
3rd January 2003 Comment on Shakespeare’s presentation Of the Female Characters in “A Midsummer Nights Dream” During A Midsummer Nights Dream, Shakespeare covers a number of issues, including the presentation of the female character. Through the use of a number of different writing techniques and character personalities, Shakespeare tries to portray a certain perception of the women involved. I am going to start by looking at the appearance of the female character. Throughout the play Hermia is regarded as being a very petit, beautiful woman. This is represented a number of times in act 1 scene 1 where she is described as a “fair maid” by Theseus (line 46), and “beauteous” by Lysander (line 104). These quotes show that she was not only seen as a beautiful woman by the readers or viewers, but also by her fellow friends within the play. Another example of the other characters thoughts about Hermia’s appeareance is “Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?” (line 128-129), meaning that Lysander is wondering what is wrong with Hermia, as her pale cheeks are masking her true beauty that he knows she has. The extent of Hermia’s beauty is reinforced by “None but your beauty; would that fault were mine” (line 201), said by Helena, again in a submission of Hermia’s good looks, she suggests that her own looks could never be compared to those of Hermia. This line means a lot more coming from another woman as female are generally more critical of the fellow sex’s looks, compared to the more liberal viewing from the males in the play. With all these points being made in the very first scene of the play, it shows that Shakespeare wanted to make it clear form the beginning, possibly having in mind that Hermia’s beauty may play a pivotal role further on in the play. Helena is seen in a very different light to Hermia. Helena is very self-conscious in the way she looks. She’s often compares herself to Hermia “Made me compare with Hermia’s sphery eyne” (act 2 scene 2, line 109), her showing her lack of self esteem suggesting her looks are nothing compared to Hermia’s sphery eyne (star-like eyes). She also shows that even when she is not compared with people with the looks of Hermia, she still see herself “as ugly as a bear” (act 2 scene 2, line 94), Representing the fact that she sees herself as being generally ugly even when she isn’t in the presence of greater beauty. Helena thinks that her looks are so bad that when she is present around other people they wish they didn’t have to look at her. “no marvel though Demetrius, do, as a monster, fly my presence thus.” (act 2 scene 2, line 96 and 97), this quote is saying that it is no surprise that Demetrius (“no marvel though” meaning it is not surprising) will not be attracted to her and flees every time she is near, because of her looks. Before this in act 2 scene 1, Demetrius is very damning of Helena’s appearance and suggests that her insecurities later on could be correct by saying “For I am sick when I do look at you” (line 212), meaning he cannot stand having to see her ugly appearance. Hippolyta has a very different appearance to both Hermia and Helena. She is not stunningly beautiful like Hermia, nor is she unimaginably ugly as Helena thinks of herself. Hippolyta is the queen of the amazons, so her dress attire is for that time period a lot higher class and generally deemed as being posh. She would wear things such as a long dress, normally with a hat and upper class shoes, the sort of attire expected to be worn by someone of a high class. Although she wears theses nice cloths, she doesn’t come across as being very comfortable with them, possibly not suited her personal preference as she comes from a background, which was much poorer that she has come to be. I am now going to move on to describe the female characters attitudes towards love, starting with Hermia. Hermia has a very traditional view upon love. To begin with she is to be wed to Demetrius on instruction of her father Egeus, however she is really in love with Lysander. This is frowned upon by her father and he tries to forbid her from seeing or marrying Lysander.