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Feminist Lens Essay On Hamlet

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The classic writing of Hamlet has been analyzed through different lenses and approaches and it has allowed us to analyze the different narratives of the story. There are different lenses that enhance our knowledge about the context displayed in the story. One critical lens that provides a particularly illuminating perspective on this play is the feminist lens. The feminist approach would allow us to understand the narrative through the mindset of the women and how they were treated in the story. The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude were dismissed in the story as they were considered as “frailty” which means that women are weak and interdependent. This lens examines how gender roles and power dynamics are portrayed and challenged in the text, and how they relate to broader cultural and historical contexts. Thesis: “The loud and dominating voices of the male character overshadow the existence of the female characters in the story and they are considered to be weak creatures who are dependent on men” …show more content…

If we analyze the character of Ophelia, comes out as a classic example of a female character who is subjugated and marginalized by the men around her (Moore, 2019). The text displayed that Ophelia had to obey the expectations and demands of her father, Polonius, and her lover, Hamlet, and ultimately pays a heavy price for their actions. The quote exposes that Ophelia was oppressed “Get thee to a nunnery" - Hamlet (Act III, Scene 1) as Hamlet charges Ophelia and oppresses her to be a

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A quote from Megan Wray states, “Patriarchy has infiltrated our society so deeply that if women don’t follow a strict set of ‘proper’ behaviours, they’re immediately deemed wicked. That’s default-evil until proven good” (Wray, 2021). This quote relates to Shakespeare’s misogynistic depiction of women as evil if they are not subservient to their husbands, quiet, and naive. Consequently, when analyzing Hamlet written by Shakespeare from a feminist perspective it is evident that women are portrayed as wicked, impulsive, and superficial. These sexist stereotypes are greatly depicted in Act 1 Scene 5 of the play.

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Many people overlook the relationship between revenge and gender stereotypes. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, explores a society in which women are objectified and the need for truth and revenge is highlighted throughout the play. In this play, women are looked at as inferior to men, and men need to make the final decision in all matters whereas women are supposed to oblige. Revenge gets handled very differently for both genders, and the relationship between revenge and gender can be seen through different characters’ quests to gain vengeance. By using women to further their goals, it can be seen that the men in Hamlet degrade women and are constantly using women for their own vengeful benefit.

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In the play, Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, Polonius, Hamlet, and Laertes are the people Ophelia loved the most. During the play Hamlet, Ophelia was overlooked, ignored, and taken advantage of by the men she cared the most about. They all used her and disregarded her feelings about the situations that affected her. Not only was Ophelia taken advantage of but she was objectified throughout the whole play. Even though they didn't respect Ophelia, she still did what she was told.

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Misogyny, by definition, is the dislike towards women for a particular motive. In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Shakespeare elucidates his misogynistic tendencies through the characters in the play—particularly Hamlet. The role of women in Hamlet is little short of misogynistic as Hamlet consistently displays throughout the play evidence of misogynistic behavior through his views of women being cruel, adulterous, and frail. Fundamentally, there are merely two female characters in Hamlet; Ophelia and Gertrude. Though Ophelia does not intend on wounding Hamlet emotionally, she does so for being submissive to her father which conforms to the misogynistic attitude of women being powerless and pathetic as Ophelia is under control by

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In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, he exemplifies the mistreatment, as well as, the oppression of women, through various characters that rely on their dependence on men as a means of survival. Throughout the novel, Ophelia and Gertrude are portrayed as weak and dependent, due to their inability to even think or function without the assistance of a man. Similarly, in act one, scene four of Hamlet, Polonius learns of Ophelia’s interactions with Lord Hamlet. For Polonius, this is not exciting news, “ I would not, in plain terms, in this time forth have you so slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to’t, I charge you.

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Every modern society since the beginning of time has painted the female as frail and individuals at the mercy of men, unable to reap the same freedoms and aspirations as their male counterparts. The English Renaissance is no different as women were not allowed to play themselves on stage, and more often than not were seen as weak characters in their portrayal. In Shakespeare's “Hamlet”, all the female protagonists all have flaws that eventually leads to them meeting their deaths. The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude are two different women trapped in the same predicament, partly being due to the inefficacy of being taken seriously, and are therefore perceived as feeble women; looking at the persona of Ophelia, she tends to follow the direction

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This provokes him to say that god gives women one face, but they use make up to paint on another one. This quote suggest that Hamlet sees woman as naive and gullible creatures, as he sees Ophelia as nothing but an object that is owned by her father, as she is helping him with all of his dirty work. Hamlet believes that woman cannot be trusted as they have are deceiving. He also sees Ophelia as a grown women who is unable to make her own decisions. Hamlet is utterly disgusted by how feeble Ophelia is as she was following her father's scheme.

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In order to understand the gender inequalities in Hamlet, it is important to first understand the feminist movement and the significance of the advocation for gender equality. Prior to current feminism, there are three other “waves” of feminism. Each wave refers to a specific time period and generally focuses on a specific type of issue. (Rampton) First-Wave Feminism officially spans from 1910 to 1950 and its primary focus was legal inequalities between men and women. (Freedman)

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Hamlet and his father have a complex relationship that is comparable and distinctive to Ophelia’s relationship with her father. Both fathers, Polonius and the king, lecture their children similar to each other. One would say their relationships are identical however, gender roles play a part in how the children react to their parents. Women in the late 1500s were submissive to their parents and were not allowed to defend themselves. This corresponds with how Ophelia obeys her father even though she opposes him.

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Throughout Hamlet, the thoughts, intentions, and actions of all of the characters can be explained through predisposed gender roles in the play. Hamlet is a tragedy in which the main character, Hamlet, attempts to seek vengeance for his father’s murder, while the relationships with him and around him begin to strain. In the play, gender plays a huge role in assuming the capability and worth of people. Women are most commonly depicted as being weak, powerless, and confused, while men are commonly shown as being strong, analytical, and intuitive. Hamlet features Ophelia and Gertrude as the only two female roles, and even then they show little independence from the males.

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Hamlet: a Feminist Perspective Hamlet by William Shakespeare is considered to be the apogee of canonical texts. Hamlet who is seen to be the hero, seeks revenge of his uncle for killing his beloved father and marrying his mother. In the finale, all characters find an unfortunate end and leave the kingdom of Denmark to prince Fortinbras who coincidentally passes through to invade Poland. The play Hamlet has received great stricture from feminist critics due to the actions and behaviors of many of the characters in the play. Feminism is “the advocacy of woman 's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men” (Dictionary.com).

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Hamlet’s dislike of women is shown through his behavior and language toward his mother, Ophelia, and women in general. In the play it is very obvious that he is heartless towards the opposite sex by the actions that he takes and the words that he speaks. During the time that this play was written women were viewed as insignificant human beings. Hamlet found himself having feelings for a woman and he does not know how to portray these feelings because he holds his mother responsible for his inability to love Ophelia.

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He did not innately hate all women, but slowly as he reserved rejection after rejection he snapped. Hamlet’s relationships differed between Gertrude and Ophelia, but both had the same goal of Hamlet having someone to love and care about him. With the goal of compassion being accomplished, he spiralled in a growing hatred of the female population. Hamlet’s misogyny is not the result sexual repression , but rather his environment and the interactions with women. Ernest Jones argues that Hamlet’s misogyny stems from the sexual repression of Gertrude and Ophelia.

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For numerous years in the past, women always play a smaller role in society politically, economically, and socially than men do. This was a norm for everyone living during that time period; everything that people do was reflect by it, including the literature written. In William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, the roles of women are just as society would have displayed them during that time. The leading women, Gertrude and Ophelia, are seen as less valuable than men and insignificant because of their dependence on male authorities, obedience, and are easily manipulated by others throughout the play.

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