Comparing Women In Hamlet And Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespearean literature routinely involves commentary or criticisms on the social circumstances of Elizabethan society, often concerning the relationship between men and women. The plots of Shakespeare’s works frequently establish situations of male dominance wherein the female characters must learn to navigate. This power imbalance proves itself to be dangerous and destructive through the multitude of problems that arise within unequal relationships between male and female characters. However, when this power imbalance is struck down and a sense of equality is established, many of these problems cease to exist. This idea is especially stressed in the plays Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic play following the romantic relationships of various characters, while Hamlet is a tragedy centered around Prince Hamlet and his efforts to avenge wrongs committed

Ophelia seeks advice from her father, Polonius, concerning her relationship with Hamlet. “My lord, he hath importuned me with love in honorable fashion...and hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven” (1.3.110-114). To which Polonius responds that Hamlet’s vows are “Springes to catch woodcocks,” and tells Ophelia to “Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Set your entreatments at a higher rate than a command to parley” (1.3.115-123). Ophelia, convinced by her father’s claim that she has mistaken Hamlet’s love, assumes that her father knows all that is best for her and replies simply, “I shall obey, my lord” (1.3.136). This conversation is imperative in establishing the power imbalance between men and women in Hamlet, specifically emphasizing Ophelia’s place of inferiority to the male figures in her life. It is this lack of disobedience to the male dominance of Ophelia’s that leads to her