Feminism A Midsummer Night's Dream

midsummer eve edward robert hughes c. 1908

male dominance 1 thematic element found in midsummer night s dream. in midsummer night s dream, lysander , hermia escape woods night not fall under laws of theseus or egeus. upon arrival in athens, couples married. marriage seen ultimate social achievement women while men can go on many other great things , gain social recognition. in imperial votaress, louis montrose draws attention male , female gender roles , norms present in comedy in connection elizabethan culture. in reference triple wedding, says, festive conclusion in midsummer night s dream depends upon success of process feminine pride , power manifested in amazon warriors, possessive mothers, unruly wives, , wilful daughters brought under control of lords , husbands. says consummation of marriage how power on woman changes hands father husband. connection between flowers , sexuality drawn. juice employed oberon can seen symbolising menstrual blood sexual blood shed virgins. while blood result of menstruation representative of woman s power, blood result of first sexual encounter represents man s power on women.

there points in play, however, when there absence of patriarchal control. in book power on display, leonard tennenhouse says problem in midsummer night s dream problem of authority gone archaic . athenian law requiring daughter die if not father s outdated. tennenhouse contrasts patriarchal rule of theseus in athens of oberon in carnivalistic faerie world. disorder in land of fairies opposes world of athens. states during times of carnival , festival, male power broken down. example, happens 4 lovers in woods bottom s dream represents chaos contrasts theseus political order. however, theseus not punish lovers disobedience. according tennenhouse, forgiving lovers, has made distinction between law of patriarch (egeus) , of monarch (theseus), creating 2 different voices of authority. distinction can compared time of elizabeth i, in monarchs seen having 2 bodies: body natural , body politic. elizabeth s succession represented both voice of patriarch voice of monarch: (1) father s stated crown should pass , (2) fact daughter of king.