William Shakespeare is a renowned poet, playwright, and actor. Many believe that he was the most zealous writer in the English language and also the most important playwright in history. Shakespeare wrote his plays for a diverse audience, he handled complex and universal themes such as patriarchy and gender roles while emphasizing people's quest for power, equality, happiness and identity. women. Shakespeare tackled issues that everyone could relate to, which is why his stylistic techniques appeal to a wide audience. Shakespeare wrote for an “audience encompassing almost the entire social spectrum of his day – from the monarch to working-class citizens who could occasionally afford just a penny to see the play” (Anderson 28). In his plays A Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear, Shakespeare elucidates the obstacles to human life and relationships brought about by the manifestation of the masculine quest to maintain power and domination over the feminine gender. Shakespeare questions patriarchy and gender roles through his interrogation of power struggle and gender ambiguity, which is evident in his use of a multi-faceted plot and complex characterization. During the Elizabethan era, male dominance and masculinity ruled society. Women were expected to conform and accept male power, without expressing displeasure with such authority. Failure to do so would often result in severe punishment for the female. For men, their family existence was one of authority and control, they were expected to provide for their family and make all decisions regarding the interests of their wives and children. Women relied solely on the support of their husbands, while single women relied on their families for support. browse the females. This can be compared to Theseus' seizure of Hippolyta. Even though women of Shakespeare's time did not have the opportunity to have their voices heard, Shakespeare gave them a voice through the production of his plays. In A Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear, Shakespeare highlights the ways in which male superiority hinders women's lives. It also questions and mocks accepted patterns of prescribed feminine and masculine behavior. “While female characters such as Regan and Goneril adopt masculine characteristics and King Lear adopts feminine characteristics, Shakespeare demonstrates that men and women are always seeking balance between their gender roles, and that this balance can sometimes be corrupted by power. » (Ink).