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Shakespeare hamlet character analysis
Shakespeare hamlet character analysis
Shakespeare hamlet character analysis
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He reminds her of the responsibility she has as someone of his status’ daughter, “my daughter and your honour”, and also reminds her of the reputation Hamlet has. Oddly, Hamlet too is looked down upon for his apparent sexual freedom, a practise usually reserved for women. In Act 1 Scene 2 Claudius calls Hamlets entirely justified grieving for his recently deceased father “unmanly”, proclaiming that it will lead to “a heart unfortified” and “a mind impatient”. These comparisons reinforce the idea of ingrained sexism in Shakespeare’s society.
Hamlet’s views on women is adulterous which pertains to the misogynistic tendencies in the play; thus, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, sparks up his misogynistic approaches. Hamlet is repulsed with Gertrude since she was quick to re-wed immediately following Old Hamlet’s death and cries: “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (1.2.156-157). Hamlet is shocked that his mother remarries to Claudius, Old Hamlet’s brother, before letting the tears on her cheek to dry.
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.
Shakespeare encourages the audience to question this male ideal requiring unadulterated masculinity by making Gertrude and Claudius disagree on the merit of Hamlet’s femininity. Gertrude positively describes him, calling him ‘As patient as the female dove,’ while Claudius ‘despises his ‘unmanly grief’’ (Howard, 2007, 18). Hamlet’s femininity is hated by Claudius, a lying murderer, and not by Gertrude, one of the play’s most sympathetic characters (even the ghost of King Hamlet requests that Hamlet have mercy on her: ‘O, step between her and her fighting soul’). The audience is left to wonder if they agree with antagonist Claudius’s traditional views, or the more likeable Gertrude.
They disrespect her as if she is less of a person than they are” (Rani). Even Hamlet chooses to abuse his relationship with Ophelia in Act 3, scene i when he tells her to “go thy ways to a nunnery.” Hamlet is upset that he cannot have Ophelia and so he decides that if is not able to, then nobody is. Ophelia is treated poorly by the men who are supposed to love her and respect her the most. Hamlet speaks highly offensive words to his love without even batting an eyelid.
Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, she married” (1.2.145-156). Gertrude only cares about her own desires, not her son’s. Therefore, Hamlet’s anger over his mother’s betrayal makes him not trust women. Hamlet loses
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare uses character and rhetoric to display how ones hatred and anger are impulsively taken out upon woman, from this the reader learns how misogyny is difficult to acknowledge, but rather easy to practice. To begin with, Shakespeare uses rhetoric to illustrate how Hamlet is a misogynist. Throughout the play Hamlet refers to his mother as an incestuous, cold hearted, whore, whose actions are only defined by her sexual desires. This was displayed during his soliloquy when he
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.
Given the invisible roles in society, seditious women stand shrill in distinction to their obedient sisters. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is the personification of femininity. She obeys with the system that shields her and flourishes within its walls. In opposition, Gertrude stands in a hitting difference to Ophelia.
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.
