Fathers in Shakespeare: Less Mature Than Their Daughters

As mentioned in the prompt, we discussed the parallel of the openings of King Lear and Midsummer: both fathers cutting off their daughters and not using their power as a father and king for the greater good. Apparently, Shakespeare really loves to use a problem father with a great amount of power as a way to move the plot forward, because another line could be drawn between Egeus and Cymbeline (as well as Innogen and Helena).

I suppose the greatest difference between the problem of marriage in Cymbeline and the problem of marriage in Midsummer is that Innogen has already married the man she loves, whereas Helena simply refuses to marry the man that her father desires her to. Both girls face incredibly severe consequences as a result of their action, Innogen facing the banishment of her husband and Helena facing threats of death with the only other options being giving in and marrying or becoming a nun for the rest of her life.

            “As she is mine, I may dispose of her:

            Which shall be either to this gentleman

            Or to her death, according to our law

            Immediately provided in that case.” (1.1.46-49)

Both girls pose a valid argument against their father, but both are incredibly stubborn and refuse to hear any side of the conflict that doesn’t support their own. The plots of the plays are quite different, but in the end, both parents recognize their faults, although Cymbeline’s recognition is slightly more convoluted, as he nearly kills his daughter in the process.

            “So through Lud’s-Town march,

            And in the temple of great Jupiter

            Our peace we’ll ratify; seal it with feasts.

            Set on there! Never was a war did cease

            Ere bloody hands were wash’d with such a peace.” (5.5.470-474)

Through acts on acts of convoluted yet hilarious twists and turns, Helena and Innogen both end up happily. Their fathers, although stubborn, see the errors of their ways and realize that what is best for them, and often for most others, is the happiness of their daughters before the happiness of themselves.

--posted on behalf of Skylar