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Hearing Opheli Gender And Tragic Discourse

1145 Words5 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is portrayed as an obedient and innocent young woman. Many critics believe that these attributes represent the full extent of Ophelia’s being and that she is simply an object that moves the plot along, giving the male characters more depth. Although Ophelia may appear weak and passive at first glance, when examined at a deeper level, her character expresses strength and defiance as she overcomes the stress imposed upon her by her male superiors. In her article “Hearing Ophelia: Gender and Tragic Discourse in Hamlet,” Sandra Fischer analyzes Ophelia’s silence in the play, describing her inability to express her opinions against the loud male characters. While Fischer recognizes Ophelia’s battle, she fails to see her power as she voices her opinions and stands up against the male patriarchy. Because she is a woman, Ophelia struggles to vocalize her thoughts in a male-dominated society. However, her insanity allows her …show more content…

Her absorption of this pain and inability to express her feelings in a male supremacist society ultimately drives her mad. Fischer explains, Ophelia's utterances are never allowed free, natural flow; her truncated responses, her uncertain assertions, her conflicting loyalties irrevocably tied to a self-image that tries to accommodate her closest males' expectations - all are determined by external pressures. (3) As a woman living in the Middle Ages, Ophelia is expected to be obedient, acting mannerly and sophisticated to appeal to her male patriarchs. She accepts unauthorized advice from her father and brother, promising to keep their “good lessons” close to “her heart” (Shakespeare 1.3. 45-46). Ophelia also puts up with inappropriate berating from Hamlet who constantly sexualizes and shames her. Because Ophelia is expected to act mannerly and polite, she is never allowed the opportunity to speak freely about her beliefs and

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