Virginity In A Midsummer Night's Dream By William Shakespeare

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Among the many Shakespearean plays, we see multiple recurring themes but one that is made eminent in both A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest is the concept that a woman’s virginity equals power. In both, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, Shakespeare gives women control and power, which creates an irony between a woman’s standing in his plays versus a woman’s actual position during the Elizabethan era. With Miranda from The Tempest and Helena from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare manifests his personal opinion on the importance of a woman’s virginity and virtue. Both female characters are compelling and dominant and their absolute purity is the key to their empowerment, for it affects the other characters around them. During…show more content…
“Though most lying slave, Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee, Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate The honor of my child.”(1.2.344-48) Prospero protects Miranda’s virginity as if it where treasure for her virginity determines her worth when arranged to marriage and therefor secures Prospero’s power. Miranda, being the only female in the play, is the only possible source of reproduction. Without Miranda, Prospero’s bloodline would end, as he would have no one to inherit his throne to. Miranda's virginity also serves as a beacon of hope for the entire island for it represents goodness and purity which contrast from the darkness and the curse that sycorax has placed on the island "O, was she so? I must,Once in a month recount what thou hast been, Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax,,For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible,To enter human hearing, from Argier,Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did ,They would not take her life. Is not this true?" (1.2.261-67) . Miranda’s purity is the center of power for it determines her father’s future and the island’s as…show more content…
Helena only seeks love from Demetrius and though Demetrius is constantly neglecting Helena and shows only cruelty towards her, Helena remains honest in her devotion to him."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.What worser place can I beg in your love—And yet a place of high respect with me—Than to be used as you use your dog?" (2.1.187-195) .While in the magic Forrest, Helena feels as if she's being mocked after Lysander and Demetrius have both fallen in love with her because of the enchantment placed by Puck through Oberon's orders. When Demetrius wakes and is suddenly feels in love with Helena and he says, O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?,Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show,Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!,That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow,Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow,When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss ,This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!"(3.2.159-146) In declaring his love for Helena, Demetrius emphasizes her "whiteness." He labels her "princess of pure white." This shows that Demetrius is primarily drawn to her virginity rather then anything else. Helena considers his instant attraction a form of
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