Dangerous Womanhood

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that Margo Hendricks' argument that "A Midsummer Night's Dream" primarily touches on the issues of race, is inadequate if we consider the importance of the images of strong female characters such as Hippolyta and Titania and of the meaning of their ultimate defeat at the hands of patriarchal rulers Thesius and Oberon, respectively. The threat to patriarchal society that a mysterious community of women presents, identifies women as "other" in terms of gender, rather than race. The paper shows that Athens thus becomes a place where patriarchy is preserved, whereas the woods present the middle ground where connection between women is made but not fulfilled. India, however, remains a point of absolute freedom for women to create Amazon-like communities in which to thrive, with a constant need to defend their world from the devastating influence of male conquerors.

From the Paper:

"Since the exotic world of Indian-Fairy women's connection is not subject to western European society's regulations, it is fully realized in a form of a changeling child. Contrasting this fantastic world of personal freedom of choice is the world of Athens; a patriarchal society upholding constrains on women's choices from which Helena and Hermia have to escape to form a semblance of a connection they long for. As Lysander states how he "...did meet thee (Hermia) once with Helena/To do observance to a morn of May" (1.1.168-170), the reader is introduced to the meaning that the forest outside of Athens had for the two girls, as Mayday is historically a time when young people unite with the person they love."

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