Hermia In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Hermia is one of many important lead roles in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and is the center of a “love square” between herself, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena. Hermia is selfish and will sacrifice her family, morals, and reputation in her seemingly all-consuming love for Lysander. Her extreme loyalty to her lover is displayed when they run away to the magic forest to be married, and although they do in the end, Hermia sacrifices much of her emotional health in her submissive following of Lysander. Hermia’s devotion and trust of Lysander is displayed when her point of view differs from the reader. This is because the reader knows that Lysander has left Hermia for Helena, but Hermia still believes he loves her. Hermia is imperceptive when she…show more content…
Shakespeare uses Hermia’s character to exemplify a woman's expected relationship towards men during that time period. Women were meant to obey the rules of men and never hold positions of power in society. This idea is displayed in the quote “Society restricted women from possessing any political or personal autonomy and power.” (Introduction to early Modern England pg 11). Shakespeare also highlights this expectation in the relationship between Hermia and her father. In fact, when Hermia wants to marry for love, Egeus informs her that she must obey him and marry Demetrius or choose between becoming and nun and being killed. (I.i.69-75). By connecting his play to society and expectations in Modern England Shakespeare also incorporates gender roles of women throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare demonstrates the gender roles of woman in his character Hermia. This is because he uses her to both display the roles of woman and how Hermia simultaneously opposes and displays the expectations at the time. Hermia neglects the notion that women should obey the men in their lives because she refuses to follow the wishes of her father, Egeus. As mentioned previously Egeus wishes for Hermia to marry Demetrius, but seeing as Hermia does not love him, she refuses to marry him. Ironically, Shakespeare also uses Hermia’s character to display the ways in
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