When is it ever rational to treat women in a disrespectful manner? In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, we witness the mistreatment and dehumanization of both female characters Gertrude and Ophelia. In the play, Gertrude plays is the Queen of Denmark, the widow of the late King Hamlet and Hamlet's mother, Ophelia, on the other hand, is the daughter of Polonius and the sister of Laertes. The treatment of women in Hamlet is concerning where the leading female characters are comparable to pawns who are often swayed and manipulated by the men they relish, with little opportunity to speak for themselves. Most specifically, Hamlet views women as feeble, dainty and untrustworthy where he treats Ophelia, his lover ( and once potential wife) unfair and with cruelty.
In The Novel Hamlet, How Much Would You Agree With The Idea That Ophelia Is A Victim Of The Patriarchy? Ophelia is only present in the play Hamlet to be a plot device. She is his love interest, a possible source of his madness, and her becoming a young woman a burden to her father. Her existence is a reflection of the way women were treated in the 1600’s – they exist as objects, easy to intimidate and their emotions simple.
This quotation illuminates Gertrude’s act of incest which can be classified as an aspect of adultery. Hamlet’s views of marriage are potentially destroyed because of Gertrude’s remarriage and women in general as he states to Ophelia: “Of if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them” (3.1.138-140). Although Gertrude is to blame for Hamlet’s negative outlook on marriage, his misogynistic attitude comes to light as he classifies all women (including Ophelia) as cheaters and liars. Moreover, Hamlet confronts Gertrude for her incestuous and adulterous crimes and speaks: “Nay, but to live / In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed, / Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love” (3.4.91-94).
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
One of Shakespeare's most well known scripts is Hamlet. In this script, there has been more than a few times, that Shakespeare has mentioned some iffy comments against the other sex. “Women are the breeders of sinners.” Shakespeare's view that all women are "breeders of sinners" not only reveals a sexist attitude but also suggest that Hamlet finds himself to be just as harsh as the corrupt world around him. Shakespeare hates women.
Men over Women Dominance over Ophelia and Gertrude is prevalent throughout the play, which then goes on to prove that Ophelia and Gertrude are expected to sit and let the men over power them. This explains the gender roles of the play and of that time, which further explains how men were able to dictate over womens actions. In the play, Hamlet’s father has been killed by Claudius, his brother, who then goes on to take the thrown and Gertrude as his wife. Hamlet is furious by these actions and then takes it upon himself to try and kill Claudius, all the while he is dealing with his madness and love for Ophelia.
He resents his mother because she did not hesitate to remarry immediately following the passing of King Hamlet; in Hamlet’s eyes, she cannot live independently because she is a fragile, powerless woman as all women are. Hamlet says, after complaining about Gertrude’s hasty remarriage, “frailty, thy name is woman” (1.2 150). His judgment of his mother’s character led to his generalization of all women being frail and helpless. Hamlet extends this judgment to his evaluation of Ophelia’s character. He believes that because she is female, she must be deceitful and adulterous.
In Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, Hamlet treats women awful. His mother, Gertrude, convinces Hamlet that women are untrustworthy because she betrayed King Hamlet by marrying Claudius so soon after his death. Hamlets acts extremely rude towards Ophelia. Hamlet has issues with both Gertrude and Ophelia; thus, he does not treat them kindly. Hamlet disapproves of his mother’s marriage to Claudius.
Feminism has gained a new definition a new understanding of female roles since the Elizabethan Era. Hamlet, a play written by William Shakespeare, is about a young prince, Hamlet, being visited by his father’s apparition urging him to avenge his death by murdering Prince Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. All the while, Hamlet is enraged by his mother’s hasty marriage to Claudius and is showering his supposed love, Ophelia, with gifts and words of affection. Queen Gertrude and Ophelia are blindly obedient to male authority due to the influence of the social standards that require women to be submissive to men. Queen Gertrude and Ophelia’s actions and outcomes as characters are affected by male influence, the social norms of this time, and the females’ consequences of following these norms.
Hamlet once again fails to understand that Ophelia much like himself is only trying to stay loyal to her father, much like what he is doing himself. In addition, Hamlet blames woman for giving birth to such evil and deceiving men like Claudius and himself. When he was talking to Ophelia he told her "Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better
Hamlet: The Tragedy of Female Oppression Feminism has erupted over the past century. The theme of patriarchy has ruled over women for centuries. With the uprising of the critique of patriarchy, more feminists have analyzed Shakespeare’s literary works as in favor of the male gender roles. In Act 1 scene 3, the station of Polonius and Laertes reveals their patriarchal position over Ophelia by constructing advices that molds their expectations of her and degrading her in ways that exemplify the oppression of women during the 1600’s.
This is encapsulated in Hamlet exclaims, “frailty, thy name is woman!” about his mother’s hasty marriage to her deceased husband’s brother (Shakespeare 1.2.150). In this quote, Hamlet is dismissing all women as weak-willed like he believes Gertrude to be, which affects his interactions with Ophelia also. Hamlet is cruel to her because of this anger he has towards women in general, so when pretending to be mad, he goes “full force in the misogynist rage” when telling her he used to love her, but now she should go to a nunnery (Traub 192). Ophelia can be seen as weak in this scene because she protests little against Hamlet and only hopes that his insanity will end.
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).
Frailty, thy name is woman! (1.2.148) Hamlet thinks that all women trap men with their plotted tricks. Situations between Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude are far from an appropriate way to treat women. Hamlet has a pressing sexual desire for his mother Gertrude and that is what drives his hatred for women. Hamlet probably feels like he can not trust anyone because his own mother let him down.
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.
