Discuss the Shakespearean portrayal of women in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

It is very interesting that this is one of Shakespeare's
plays where the presentation of women is not too flattering, compared to other
Shakespearean heroines such as Portia or Rosalind, who clearly have a valid and vibrant
existence of their own dependent of men and are praised by feminists for the kind of
powerful female role model they present. In this play, women are presented in a more
traditional and conventional fashion, highlighting their dependence upon men. There is
no one strong female figure that stands out from the rest, and women are presented as
rather being in the shadow of men. Even Titania and Hippolyta, who are often played by
the same character, and at the beginning of the play seem to defy the patriarchal power
of their husbands, by the end of the play are conventional female figures, loving and
submissive wives.

Helena and Hermia are definitely no
better, both of them presented as almost being slaves to the love they have for the
objects of their affection. Nowhere more strongly is this shown than in Helena's
misguided love for Demetrius as expressed in Act II scene 1 when Helena describes
herself and her unfailing devotion to Demetrius in the following
way:

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...

This is a very
unflattering presentation of the lengths that women will go to to abase themselves in
their relationships with the men they love. Although this is a very extreme example, it
points towards the way in which men in this play have absolute power and control, and
women are just mere shadows that walk in their wake.