... only be chaste –to exist as a walking emblem of chastity'"[1].


The preservation of a woman's virginity is a recurring theme in Shakespeare's plays; in A Midsummer Night's Dream, we see Helena make known her love for Demetrius, which of itself is a measure executed almost exclusively by men. Whilst she is proclaiming her love, albeit in an unfashionable manner, Demetrius' terse response ... amount of authority and conviction. 
 Despite writing in an era in which this was not highly appreciated, Shakespeare makes attempts at recognising the diversity in matriarch. His portrayal...

• Word Count: 2000
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate