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Hamlet: Patriarchy, Biological Essentialism, And Ownership

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There was No R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Gertrude: Patriarchy, Biological Essentialism, and Ownership in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Hamlet is a play consisting of three sons who seek revenge for their father’s murders, but there are multiple deeper themes Shakespeare explores. He never makes clear though, if Gertrude was part of the mastermind's plan to kill her husband, late King Hamlet, or left in the dark, which in turn makes her character especially interesting. During the original Renaissance performances of Hamlet, women did not have power in society. Instead, they needed to get married and stay out of government affairs, according to Priyanka Lamichhane’s thesis. For example, “...if a wealthy widow chose to live alone, she was often seen as …show more content…

In marrying her husband’s brother, Gertrude eliminated the chance of losing her son Hamlet, because she was still part of the same family. William Shakespeare, in Hamlet constructs a patriarchy invested in biological essentialism, and ownership. As a result, none of the conspirators would have trusted Gertrude with the knowledge of Old King Hamlet's murder.

There is a patriarchy of Denmark throughout the whole play to make clear that Gertrude did not have a leadership role in the kingdom or the main murder. In her report, Lamichhane noted, “Women were expected to perform the duties of a housewife; they had no political rights...This was the case for the majority of women no matter her class...” (ii-iii) One notable example of this is that the Queen was first to die in the final scene. In a toast to Hamlet’s initial success during the sword fight, in Act 5, scene 2, Queen Gertrude decides to drink from the poisoned glass of wine. …show more content…

Because of the patriarchy, biological essentialism, and women being owned by their men, there was no way that Claudius told Gertrude about the plan to murder old King Hamlet. Her family and friends viewed her as too weak both physically and emotionally, dependent on male characters, and inferior in the male society. Women had a very tough life at this time. Men were able to explore their interests and indulge in the innovative ideas of the Renaissance, but women only supported their husbands and sons on these journeys. There was even a new movement called humanism, focused on free thought of humans, but the movement was not extended to women, albeit they are humans too. If men allowed their daughters, wives, and mothers to be more independent, form their own lives, and share ideas, a more equal modern world could have developed

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Queen Gertrude is the Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, the widow of Old Hamlet and the wife of Claudius, brother of her dead husband. Gertrude is ignorant and a woman who means no harm but because of her actions it contributes greatly to the terrible events that occur throughout the play. In this play there’s many conflicts, one of the first conflicts was when Gertrude married King Claudius two months after Old Hamlet’s death. Gertrude is ignorant because she’s not aware of anything happening. For example she’s not aware that King Hamlet’s murder was by his own brother Claudius, even though they were some hints out there to show that it was King Claudius who killed Old Hamlet.

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Analytical Essay, Hamlet Lance Hoffman There were various lenses of reference available throughout the play, Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The feminist lens is one lens I will focus on. It was easy to detect that the text had some anti-feminist sentiment. Yet, there were other points in the play that were surprisingly feminist for the period. Ophelia played the anti-feminist stereotype of the time when Hamlet was written, while Gertrude performed the feminist part.

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Throughout the play, Gertrude’s honour is constantly attacked and damaged. Following the death of her beloved husband, a hasty marriage to her former brother-in-law, Claudius, commences. “Although the memories of my dear brother Hamlet’s death are fresh…with sadness and delight do I marry my former sister-in-law” (Shakespeare, pg.10). Gertrude’s integrity and honour is brought into question as she weds the unknown murderer of her deceased husband. A basis of respect for the deceased is an important statue in the court of Denmark.

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Annotated Bibliography Thesis: Gertrude was involved in the murder of Hamlet’s father, and was planning his death with Claudius. Heilbrun, Carolyn. “The Character of Hamlet’s Mother.” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 2, 1957, pp. 201–06.

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Despite the Elizabethan era being a time of progress in comparison to previous decades, women were still thought to be less than men in almost every aspect of life. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there are two main women characters Gertrude and Ophelia. Both fall victim to the patriarchal society of the time. In “Discovering Feminism through Gertrude and Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet” the two women Gertrude and Ophelia were disrespected

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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.

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Hamlet believes that Gertrude's quick marriage to his uncle was a sign of her weakness because it shows she could not stand to be alone, “A little month, or ere those shoes were old With which she followed my poor father's body Like Niobe, all tears- why she, even she O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer! , married with my uncle” (1.2.151-157). Here, Hamlet is clearly angry that his mother's emotions were so weak, wondering how she could quickly marry her husband's brother after burying her husband. It goes without saying Gertrude clearly can't be by herself and constantly needs a man in her life to fulfill that emptiness inside her.

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Hamlet speaks to himself about Gertrude: “By what it fed on, and yet, within a month - let me not think on’t. Frailty, thy name is woman! … O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer! - married my uncle, my father’s brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules.

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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.

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Shakespearean Misogyny In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the two women in the play, Gertrude and Ophelia, are repeatedly manipulated and exploited by the men in their lives. They submit to male authority and oppressive societal customs because they have no other options. Gertrude and Ophelia are placed in this situation because of a male-dominated society that blames women for sexual immorality and corruption. Hamlet’s views about women are consistent with the commonly-held views of his peers.

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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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Contextually, Gertrude is Hamlet's mother and the wife of Claudius, brother of her late husband. His stage presence is reduced because it appears that in nine out of twenty scenes and its appearance is often had to his royal status. In addition, Gertrude is a woman represented as being inert, does undertaking any real action during the play. Indeed, it does not come to the aid of his son Hamlet all throughout history and finds deleted before men dominate the work. Gertrude is a dependent character of men, especially Claudius.

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In act one Gertrude marries her dead husband 's brother Claudius, Hamlet is not very happy that his mother did this. Hamlet feels very betrayed by his own mother because she remarried so quickly. He feels as if this is an unforgivable

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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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