How Does Gertrude Present Ophelia's Attitude Towards Women In Hamlet

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In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, we constantly see Hamlet’s negative view of women and harsh treatment towards them. Hamlet’s relationship with his mother, Queen Gertrude, is rocky after she marries her dead husband’s killer and brother, causing tension between her and Hamlet. Hamlet’s view of women is changed at this point in time because of his mother’s actions. This affects the way he treats Ophelia, the woman that he is in love with and that also reciprocates his love towards her. While he wants to continue his relationship with her, he knows it is not best and is afraid of the outcome. He puts his own wants and needs above his mother’s and Ophelia’s because he does not trust them and he wants to be selfish. Hamlet’s relationship with his mother gives us insight into why he treats women the way he does. He constantly is disappointed and upset with her because she married Claudius instead of remaining devoted to her dead …show more content…

Ophelia has captured Hamlet’s love and is also in love with him herself. Hamlet constantly mistreats and deceives her, took her innocence, and eventually leaves her even though he promised that he would marry her. Ophelia is constantly a victim of Hamlet and his treatment of going back and forth between his strong love for her and harsh words towards her; he is constantly using her as a tool to get what he wants. In Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 113 – 117, Hamlet states to Ophelia: “Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness. This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.” It is clear in these lines that Hamlet deceived Ophelia into thinking that their relationship would progress. While he may love her, he decides to be selfish and end his relationship with her so he can further his plot of revenge against

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