This
paper argues that Margo Hendricks' argument that "A Midsummer Night's Dream" primarily touches on the issues of race,
is inadequate if we consider the importance of the images of strong female characters such as Hippolyta and Titania and of the meaning of their ultimate defeat at the hands of
patriarchal rulers Thesius and Oberon, respectively. The threat to patriarchal society that a mysterious community of
women presents, identifies women as "other" in terms of gender, rather than race. The paper shows that Athens thus becomes a place where patriarchy is preserved, whereas the woods present the middle ground where connection between women is made but not fulfilled. India, however, remains a point of absolute freedom for women to create Amazon-like communities in which to thrive, with a constant need to defend their world from the devastating influence of male conquerors.