Essay+Writing

Expository Essay Outline- S. Ana Sutherland

~ Write out topic: The role of women. ~ Thesis statement: The role of women is an important theme explored in A Midsummer Night's Dream. ~ Paragraph 2: Point 1: What is the role of women in Shakespearean/ancient Greek times? The role of women back then was to be a concubine for their husbands/fathers, always under submission and never with any choice. They had to stay inside, do 'ladylike' things while the nicer husbands used threats and insults to demean them while many of the more 'manly' ones would beat, and sometimes kill, their wives/sisters/daughters. Evidence/Quotes: "To you, your father should be as a god, one that composed your beauties, yea and one, to whom you are but as a form in wax, by him imprinted, and within his power, to leave the figure, or disfigure it." “As she is mine, I may dispose of her…” ~ she has no choice in what she does or who she marries ~ there is a looming threat of death or life as a priestess if she does not comply ~ Paragraph 3: Point 2: The mind of men- want to conquer, not to be loved. Evidence/Quotes: ~ Demetrius does not care that Hermia is not in love with him, he just wants to conquer her and have her as his wife. ~ Eugeus in reality is most likely not as upset with Lysander, but wants to assure himself that he has control over Hermia- therefore trying to make her do something she does not want to do as a game. “As she is mine, I may dispose of her…” ~ Theseus won Hippolyta as a token from war: he would have married her, whether she loved him or not. He feels like his victory over her proves his strength, and fulfills his massive ego. ~ Paragraph 4: Point 3: Strength of women in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Evidence/Quotes: Surpassing the evil and control of the men in this play are four very strong women- all with different bonds, relationships and strengths. ~ Titania and her bond with the changeling boy and his dead mother- "In the spiced Indian air by night, full often hath she gossiped by my side". Her bond with the mother overcame her bond with her husband. ~ Helena and Hermia- bond that did not surpass that of their love for Lysander and Demetrius respectively. ~ Hippolyta- an Amazon warrior, very strong before Theseus came along. ~Conclusion (restate the thesis): the importance of the role of women in the play.