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Examples Of Misogyny In Hamlet

432 Words2 Pages

Jordan Cox
AP English 12, Period 8
Mrs. Schwartz
November 2, 2017
Misogyny in Hamlet During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, English society had very few places for women. At the time, many women were seen as sexual objects, due to the immense levels of prostitution that plagued many of England’s cities, as well as mentally inferior, due to lack of formal education provided for women. In his play Hamlet, William Shakespeare explores the theme of misogyny heavily, to provide a form of social commentary, through the character of Prince Hamlet. Ultimately, Shakespeare uses language and speech to accentuate the severity of Hamlet’s misogynistic views and beliefs, allowing him to created a play that accentuate the times he lived in. Because he feels …show more content…

In particular, he displays a strong preoccupation with female sexual desire, as he perceives it to be the root of ethical corruption. When Hamlet shouts at Gertrude, “Frailty, thy name is woman!”(1.2.150), he expresses his distaste for her sexual habits, for he believes that is why she married the new king, Claudius. Hamlet not only extends his misogyny and hatred towards his mother, he also applies it to the innocent and confused Ophelia.. Through the uses of his language and speech, Hamlet often implies that he solely views Ophelia as a sexual object and a deceitful and treacherous whore. After encountering Ophelia in the palace of Elsinore, Hamlet tells her to, “ Get to a nunnery…get thee to a nunnery…to a nunnery go

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