Film vs. Original Written Work

Gerald Courtney

Eh.102

Film vs. Original Written Work

I first read Shakespeare’s written drama a midsummer night’s dream with a vague image of what the story had told, but after reading it a second time it was more clear that from a feminist analysis that most women did not have very much say to whom they wanted to merry. Ed Fraiman’s modern day film that re tells the story of a midsummer night’s dream gave a more visual and in depth look at the roles of women and their relationships. Both written play and film focus on relationships and the love that the male and female characters had for one another. From a feminist analysis female and male roles are defined in the written play and the film.

In the play Hermia is forced to marry Demetrious, but Hermia loves Lysander while Helena is still in love with Demetrious. Hermia in both the film and the written drama represents a strong independent woman who will not be forced to do something that she does not want to do. Hermia bound and determined to not be forced to do want she feels is not right in her heart ran away with Lysander the one she truly loved. Hermia knew what she wanted and what she had to do in order for her to be with her one true love. In the time that Shakespeare wrote this story, woman were to submit to their husbands or their fathers every order but in this story Hermia’s disobedience to her father’s demands made Egeus (the father)look like a bad father figure who did not rise his daughter to submit to a man’s authority. In the drama Hermia’s parents were both upset that she had run away with another man but in the film only the father was upset with Hermia. In both film and written drama the wife was angry with the husband for forcing Hermia to marry Demetrious; she blames him for her rebelling against her father’s word for running away. For some reason in the film the parents’ names and story line were altered from the original written drama. The film has small changes to it that do not match up to the exact story line of the original written work. In The time that Elizabeth was queen there was a common mindset that men were born to lead the house hold and that women were born to take care of the house and the children. It was believed to men were more intelligent and that women would need to marry in order for someone to look after them.

Helena’s part in the drama struck me as desperate and abused, in both the film and written drama Helena was engaged to Demetrious before he was to marry Hermia.  Helena was so insecure to ask for Demetrious’s love that she instead followed him.  Helena was still in love with Demetrious, she followed him even though Demetrious had abused her verbally and physically. 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.
(II.i.203-207). this situation leaves little for Helena to be a admiral women for feminist. In the play Helena is the example of a woman who is mocked for her sad and desperate attachment towards Demetrious were in the story she all of a sudden forgives Demetrious for his mistreatment towards her. In the film Helena is no longer insecure she is angry and aware of what a brut Demetrious has been towards her. In the film Demetrious is the one who comes to Helena and apologizes and asks form her love to him.

The fairy queen Titania is one of the most strongest and mischievous characters in both the film and written drama. She hold so much power that she has her own army under her command; why should she submit to Oberon’s constant demand for the Indian child. She inflicts her own sleep and in this venerability is entrusted to the protection of one inept guard who is overtaken by Oberon with menial effort on the god’s part. After being put under the love potions spell she falls in love with a donkey man. When Oberon get the child he lifts the spell of the queen. It’s ironic that this play was written and displayed publically in the Elizabeth era; a time in English history when a woman controlled and ruled the throne.

Both film and written drama are similar in more ways that they are different. Titania the character almost fits the role that Queen Elizabeth represented in England. Compared to today the roles of women have come a long way compared to the rule of Elizabeth. Both the roles of men and women are expressed in Shakespeare play a midsummer night’s dream. The film shows that the roles have changed to a more equal and free life than what it was during the Elizabeth era.                       

           

Work cited

“Gender and power in Elizabethan culture”, “www.jstro.org , web. 14 June 2012

“The Feminist Subtext of Shakespeare’s Leading Ladies”. Emily Squyer, web. 14 June 2012

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyHCZo0VvQI