Hermia 'Little But Fierce' Enamel Pin

Part of our Shakespeare's Heroines collection, this enamel pin takes inspiration from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in which Helena describes Hermia - 'And though she be but little, she is fierce.'

It's worth noting that Helena intended this to be an insult to Hermia and Hermia's reaction is not a positive one - "Little’ again? Nothing but ‘low’ and ‘little’!– / Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? / Let me come to her.” Despite Hermia's rejection of this remark, we do see examples of her boldness and defiance throughout the play with her refusing to obey the patriarchal expectations of her father and other male figures. In a modern context, 'little but fierce' is almost certainly seen as a compliment!