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Hamlet And Ophelia's Relationship Essay

390 Words2 Pages

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. At the same time, men had additional freedom and were allowed to speak their mind freely compared to women. Similar to how Hamlet and his father speak with one another. Hamlet has the courage to be sarcastic and to bluntly disobey his …show more content…

Yet, how Ophelia and Hamlet reacts to their father’s speeches differentiate. He discusses Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet, he is verbally abusive and talks down to her. In the play, Polonius utters, “Tender yourself more dearly, or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, running it thus) you’ll tender me a fool” (Shakespeare 252). Polonius uses the word tender to show that he wants Ophelia to offer more respect to herself. He cuts himself off to show that he uses the word tender a great deal, but to make the word, tender, have more value. Then he mentions, you’ll tender me a fool, to tell Ophelia that she will allow him to become a moron within his community. Polonius does not want her to ruin his reputation. He continuously makes her feel inadequate, simple minded and guilty for being affectionate towards Hamlet. Even if Ophelia wanted to speak up against her father, she was forbidden to do so. Due to gender roles, after Polonius gave his “advice”, she simply obeys due to the fact that she was not allowed to speak up even though her father insults her. Women did not stand up for themselves at this time and it causes Ophelia to accept anything her father instructs her to

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When having a conversation with Ophelia, Polonius says, “I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth/ Have you so slander any moment leisure/ As to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet./ Look to’t, I chanrge you. Come your ways.” (I.III.138-141). This quote shows how Polonius is manipulating Ophelia into not ever talking to Hamlet ever again.

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It is far too often that women, in even the most modern of literature, are portrayed as nothing more than snivelling cowards, used merely to motivate the inevitably male heroes. Certainly, this is still the case in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is inarguably a product of its time; sexism runs rampant, as Ophelia, the female lead, is told by Hamlet himself to “Get thee to a nunnery” (3.1.121), with not a batted eye nor consideration of why this would be wrong. In this day and age, such blatant disrespect for women would be greatly frowned upon by a modern and discerning audience, no doubt filled with cultured women who would take offence. Bonham-Carter’s Ophelia is far from the frail and tragically beautiful flower that she is often interpreted as; “ she's like a rag doll losing its stuffings” (Hinson).

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