The Tempest by William Shakespeare illustrates a story based on male dominancy. It was written in a time period where women were oppressed to the males, having little to no control over their life. An example of this both in the play and in ancient time is female having no control of their chastity, as women were obligated to stay a virgin until marriage.

A part of the play I would like to rewrite is when Ferdinand asks Miranda if she’s a virgin..

Ferdinand: Are you a virgin? Did you love another before me?
I would only marry a girl who is a virgin and never loved before me. 

Miranda: Are you a virgin? Did you love another before me?

Ferdinand: I did, but it doesn’t matter. It’s all in the
past.

Miranda: So why do you care if I’m a virgin or loved someone
else before you? Since it’s all in the past?

Ferdinand: It’s different. I don’t know if I can be with you
knowing someone else had you before I did.

Miranda: Who I did or didn’t give my heart and body to shouldn’t
concern you now. Since it’s all in the past. You want me to be okay with knowing
you had sex before me and loved another girl before me, but you can’t be okay with
it?

Ferdinand: It’s not the same. You know I love you; I just want
to be your first. 

I chose this scene and wrote it regarding our modern society, specifically towards my generation of kids. I’ve seen so many relationships where males wanted ownership of a girl’s body/virginity. In today’s generation, there are still males that are very possessive of their girlfriends, wives, and sisters. For example, a father taking his daughter to the gynecologist to make sure she’s a virgin. The constant need for men to feel superior and have power hasn’t changed. Also, the double standards that women are still being faced today. Men will always try to dominant the females, and we cannot let them! We have to have control and power to reject the men with obsessive characteristics.

• The Tempest
• Obsessive- Compulsive Personality
• Characteristics of Unhealthy Relationships