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Midsummer Night's Dream

 

            The role of women and the supernatural are obvious themes present in the Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. These themes are used currently as well; however during the Elizabethan Era they had very different understandings. The role of women was used in a more negative context and the supernatural was more commonly believed than it is today. .
             Compared to men, women were treated as a lower society of persons during the Elizabethan time. They were expected to cook, clean, care for the children, while look beautiful if in a upper class family and be hard working if in a lower class family. Women were not ranked how men were. They were characterized based on their sexual background or their marital status. The father was the head of the household; so whatever he said was the law of the house. The wives could not disagreed or question a decision her husband made unless she did it with humility and meekness. If the father sticks with what he has already said, his wife must accept this and forget about it. The wife is the rock of the family. She must make sure her family is always stabile, emotionally and morally. .
             In the family daughters must be well mannered, good-looking, and pure. Also, she must marry a man that will benefit the social position of her entire family. The daughters cannot even think about marriage unless her parents, mostly her father has approved. .
             Man is considered to be the top ruler in the family, as well as outside the family. The Elizabethans had many reasons why the man, particularly the husband was the top authority. One reason was that God appointed him to this position when man and woman were created. .
             Women were expected to do and say what their husbands wished of them, whether it went against their beliefs and feelings or not. As long as she doesn't go against God's will, she can go against herself as often as needed to. .
             Another theme is the supernatural, particularly the idea of bad weather.


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