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Twelfth Night And Midsummer Night's Dream

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Twelfth Night And Midsummer Night's Dream
It is evident in the plays Twelfth Night and Midsummer Night’s Dream that Viola and Hermia have less control over their own lives because they are female. First, women cannot work certain jobs, even if they are qualified. Specifically, Viola is unable to work for Duke Orsino until she alters her appearance. After being shipwrecked, Viola talks to the captain and learns of Orsino and his love for Olivia. Then Viola decides to serve the duke and asks the captain to comply: Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve [Orsino]:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him. (Twelfth Night 1.2.102-105)
Viola’s gender does not change any of her skills or knowledge, yet she cannot work …show more content…
Because Hermia refuses, Egeus wants to invoke an ancient law so he can kill Hermia for not marrying the man of his choice. She cannot even choose the man she wishes to marry without receiving a death threat from her father. She argues with Duke Theseus that the man she loves is just as capable as her father’s choice. Yet Theseus asserts that Egeus’ choice is more worthy because he is her father. This proves that women were merely treated as objects rather than human beings, because her father acts as if she is disposable when she does not obey, and shows the lack of respect for women as she tries to fight back but her words mean nothing because her father should decide everything for her. Fathers get to choose their daughters’ husbands, and the daughters are expected to agree, even if she has never met him. This dehumanizes Hermia and many other daughters as women have to be submissive and follow orders because their feelings do not matter. Evidently, female characters in Shakespeare’s plays are unable to get many jobs and have to follow their father’s every order. Viola and Hermia show this prejudice when the former can only get a job if she disguises herself as a male, and Hermia’s father threatens to kill her if she does not obey his
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