Comparing Women In Hamlet And A Streetcar Named Desire

Despite everyone being human, society has forced gender roles on individuals. Gender and power dynamics frequently arise in literature as a common topic. This makes it possible to shed light on sexism and how prevalent it is despite appearing in many different forms of context. Literature is commonly used by different writers to investigate gender and how it is influenced by different elements, eventually demonstrating the effects of gender on individuals and future generations, whether those effects are positive or negative. Both authors Shakespeare in Hamlet and Williams in A Streetcar Named Desire illustrate how society shapes women's roles and expectations, while also portraying women who defy traditional stereotypes.

While both texts

In Hamlet, Shakespeare relies on male figures like Laertes to emphasize how men often serve as means to control and direct women. This is evident when Laertes warns Ophelia by saying, “And keep you in the rear of your affection out of the shot and danger of desire.” (1.3.34-35) Women are expected to be obedient to men, and this expectation grants men an advantage in dictating how women should lead their lives. In the case of Ophelia, Laertes serves as a means to control and constrain her, ensuring she adheres to traditional gender norms of purity and virtue. In contrast, Williams challenges traditional gender roles as discussed before, through female figures like Blanche. This is portrayed when things between Mitch and Blanche come to an end and Mitch says, “Your not clean enough to bring home to my mother.” (Williams 121) This highlights the existence of a stigma that expects women to embody purity and cleanliness. Williams effectively employs Blanche as a character who defies this norm, as she consistently acts upon her desires—a trait uncommonly associated with women. Blanche adamantly rejects the traditional role of a submissive and dependent woman. She fearlessly articulates her demands and desires, displaying assertiveness and self-sufficiency. Blanche's boldness and refusal to conform to the stereotype of a meek woman can be interpreted as a direct challenge to gender norms. Gender norms maintain a continuous cycle, enforcing rigid notions of masculinity and femininity. Through a feminist lens, it becomes apparent that challenging these conventional stereotypes plays a crucial role in dismantling the notion of inequality. Shakespeare, for instance, employs the character of Ophelia to depict society's reaction to women conforming to