In Hamlet, women are portrayed to be submissive and nurturing, causing them to be labeled either a ‘good girl’ or a ‘bad girl.’ These stereotypes have negative effects on all, even men.
Women are meant to be submissive, emotional, and maternal, if they do not have these traits they are portrayed as abnormal and a ‘bad girl.’Ophelia and Gertrude--the only female characters--were subject to stereotypes and gender roles. Ophelia, for example, was a soft, fragile girl who is submissive and follows the patriarchal standards. Because of this she is labeled a ‘good girl.’ “Good girls’ typically tend to want to be saved by a man and are placed on a pedestal-- if she is a good girl that is all she can be, there is no room for her to do anything she
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She makes decisions based on her desire for love and affection. Gertrude uses men in order to get what she wants. Her attractive aura is formed by her sexuality. Even when Claudius is tending to important tasks, he cannot wait to get back to bed with Gertrude. Dependent on the men in her life, Gertrude had to be submissive and compliant. This was Hamlet's major problem with his mother. In Act 1 scene 2, Hamlet expresses his exasperation and need to communicate his distress, “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.”
The ghost conjectures the cause of Gertrudes sudden marriage is her palpable lust. “So lust, though to a radiant angel linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed And prey on garbage. (1.5.55–57)” The ‘garbage’ in his quote is referring to Claudius. Claudius defines Gertrudes reputation and relationships. Hamlet’s words, rather provocative, alter our perception of Gertrude. He cajoles the audience into making us believe that she is pretentious, self-absorbed, and lustful, even though she says nothing within the play to confirm