Poodle1922: Feminist Criticism: Play Vs. Film

Feminist Criticism: Play vs. Film

After reading Shakespeare’s play "The Midsummer Night's Dream" and viewing the film Shakespeare-Told by Ed Fraiman, I noticed the change in the different roles produced in the play and the film. The play was written in England during the Elizabethan Era, where most men had power over women throughout the society. The film was produced in the modern world today in the year 2005. Both versions of the play focused on the difference in love relationships and friendships between men and women. A feminist study of how male and female roles are defined in both the film and the play will determine how the modern world is still in the mindset of superiority and submissive , just as the 16^th century was.

Hermia, the obstinate child of Egeus, was a very strong and independent individual when it came to love in both the film and the play. She represented the character with superiority of all the women in the film. She knew what she wanted and she fought hard to confine her love for Lysander.Hermia and Lysander relationship represents true love. “Hermia is expected to be dutiful to her father, by respecting and obeying him. His over-protective parental love demands Hermia a different man, but Hermia and Lysander's determination brings the two through, again supporting true love as strong”("bookrags.com").In the play, Hermia parents was upset with her for choosing Lysander to marry and running away. In the film, her father was the only person who was upset and eager to find his daughter. “Elizabethan society was patriarchal, meaning that men were considered to be the leaders and women their inferiors. Women were regarded as "the weaker sex", not just in terms of physical strength, but emotionally too. It was believed that women always needed someone to look after them. If they were married, their husband was expected to look after them” .The mother, Hippolyta, wasn't upset over the situation , instead she was upset with Egeus for going out searching for Hermia. Hippolyta knew Hermia chose the right man to marry, but blames Egeus for Hermia's disappearance. For he has caused so much pressure on her to marry Demetrius instead of Lysander. This entire scenario represents how women today in the modern world are still submissive and withstand to men on all levels of respect.

The desperate and indigent Helena in the play switches characters with Demetrius in the film to a independent women who overcame her insecurities about love. Helena begs to be with Demetrius in the play: “I am your spaniel; and Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, Unworthy as I am to follow you” (Shakespeare, 193). But no matter how much she explains her love for Demetrius, he still denies her heart. The love between Demetrius and Helena is forced love in the play. In the film, Helena doesn't care for Demetrius as much, but instead she focused on destroying the love Hermia and Lysander had. Also she denied Demetrius love this time instead of Demetrius denying her love for him. Helena waited for Demetrius to confess his love for her. As a women in the 16^th century, Helena should not be chasing Demetrius down because they are suppose to be inferior to men. Today, in modern day the film shows that love will happen if its meant to be.

In conclusion, although it appears to be a difference, but a slight resemblance with the Elizabethan Era because of the roles of men and women. Women still have the ability to be inferior to men, and men being superiority to women. Shakespeare shows mutual love between both genders. The power of love being demonstrated can be seen as something men or women can conquer through being submissive to one another.