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The dynamics of man s dominance over women are examined in a variety of ways in A Midsummer Night s Dream. Frequent allusions to rape provide strong evidence in support of this theme. Lions, bulls, donkeys, and other animals symbolic of masculinity and virility surface as examples of male power. The moon becomes symbolic for women and all-female societies such as the Amazons, nuns, and Helena and Hermia and in its symbol provides a contrast with the dominance of man. The play s final act, however, demonstrates the ultimate male domination, as the females are completely absent from the scene making it clear who has conquered whom. But a few small contradictions seem to exist in the survivors of the play within the play.
The final speech by Puck offers the audience the opportunity to refuse reality and pretend that the play was simply a dream of no consequence. References to rape exist in almost every interaction between men and women. Theseus quickly demonstrates his means of conquering Hippolyta, saying I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries (act 1: scene 1, lines 18 - 19). This statement foreshadows the pattern of male domination that is present throughout the play.
It is a fairly reasonable to conclude that the sword that invoked injuries on Hippolyta could be interpreted as a suggestion of rape. Rape surfaces again when Oberon speaks of a flower that is stained purple with love s wound (2: 1, 167). It is ironic that he extracts a love potion from a flower that is stained with the rape of a virgin. Demetrius also threatens Helena with rape, telling her that she shouldn t trust the rich worth of her virginity (2: 1, 215) with him. Yet rape does not seem to discourage the women in their relationships with men. In fact, it can almost be concluded that love is actually formed through rape and male domination supported by Theseus conquering Hippolyta and Oberon using a potion that came (indirectly) from rape to ultimately conquer Titania...
More subtle instances of male dominance lie in the masculine animals that are referenced. When Oberon is speaking about giving Titania the love potion, he says that she will fall in love with the next thing she looks at be it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, on meddling monkey, or on busy ape (2: 1, 180). It is significant that all of the animals chosen (seemingly off the top of Oberon s head) are either known for their sexual domination or simple masculinity. Yet the one animal that stands as a key symbol of virility and potency the donkey becomes the object of Titania s love even though Oberon neglected it in his list. But the general image of animals as dominant is perhaps a foresight into Oberon s own domination over Titania later in the play.
Although the men eventually triumph over them, women-only societies play an important role. They are introduced on the opening page as we learn that Theseus will marry the queen of the Amazons Hippolyta. Hippolyta becomes the first link between women and the moon (1: 1, 9). When Theseus is speaking of Hermia going into a nunnery, he says she will be chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon (1: 1, 73).
From this it can be concluded that Theseus is against all-women societies and quite possibly believes that a woman s life without man is cold and fruitless. Helena speaks of the sisters vows (3: 2, 199) shared between herself and Hermia, and then angrily questions whether Hermia will join with men in scorning your poor friend (3: 2, 216). So again an all women society is broken up by man which leads Hermia to say Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it (3: 2, 218). Although she attempts to speak for all females, Hermia does not stand behind her reprimand she also allows herself to be conquered in the end. The most notable male triumph resides not in the elimination of female societies, but in the ultimate visible extinction of females in the play s final act.
The women nearly disappear, leaving the men standing alone triumphant victors throughout the last act of the play. As the women fade from view, the men congregate to watch the players. This provides a forum for the men to bask in their power and masculinity interrupting the play and speaking their thoughts whenever they wish. One thought spoken by Theseus stands as particularly notable. He says, Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead (5: 1, 345) directly after both lovers have died. It is interesting that the two lovers perish, yet the symbols for masculinity (the lion) and feminism (the moon) are the sole survivors.
Perhaps Shakespeare was telling us that, in a way, male domination can never be complete. Speculation on this is unending, but we are certainly left with a sense of importance over the fact that Moonshine and Lion will continue to live. In the play s final lines, the audience is provided with a means to disregard everything they ve seen and pass it off as but a dream (5: 1, 423). This escape route allows us to keep our eyes closed to what we ve seen and remain secure in our prior beliefs, whatever they may be. It also provides interesting insight into the play it tells us that the play is only what we make of it a sort of reflection of ourselves and what we want to see.
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Research essay sample on Male Domination Love Potion
