The Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Hamlet

In the late middle ages, women were considered frail and weak-minded by the men. Their thoughts and opinions were ignored and oppressed by society. This was portrayed in many stories and plays at the time. A wonderful example are the two women in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Gertrude and Ophelia are portrayed with the flaws of mindless obedience, dependence on men, and naivety, used and manipulated by men.
Gertrude is the queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother. She is a beautiful, yet powerless woman under the control of her newfound husband, Claudius. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is extremely disgusted by Gertrude’s hasty remarriage after King Hamlet’s death. “Frailty thy name is woman!/ A little month, or ere those shoes were old/ with

She finds his melancholic behavior exasperating, and is unable to understand why he will not rejoice with the rest of the court at her marriage. She seems a kindly, slowwitted, rather self-indulgent woman, in no way the emotional or intellectual equal of her son.” (Pitt 58)
In this quote, Angela Pitt explains Gertrude’s naivety and complete trust in Claudius is a weakness that blinds her from the truth. Even when Hamlet has told her Claudius is a murderer, she proceeds to stand up against Hamlet, stating his behavior is inappropriate. Immediately after witnessing her son killing Polonius, she reports to Claudius the event showing her trust and dependence on Claudius. Gertrude’s lack of free will and obligation to act as a supportive, obedient partner to her husband eventually leads to her final and first act of

Gertrude was a selfish mother to Hamlet, giving all her attention and trust to Claudius. However, in Act V Scene II, Gertrude disobeys Claudius and drinks the poisoned wine intended for Hamlet. Claudius orders her, “Gertrude, do not drink.” (Shakespeare V.II. 294). In response, Gertrude says, “I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me.” (V.II. 295). Gertrude’s decision to disobey and finally break out of the hold Claudius had on her leads to her death. “But before she dies she does not waste time on vituperation; she warns Hamlet that the drink is poisoned to prevent his drinking it. They are her last words.” (Heilbrun). Heilbrun explains Gertrude’s first act of free will was for the benefit of Hamlet. In the end, she died unselfishly for Hamlet. Ophelia’s demise was quite different because she did not break out of her obedience. Her obedience and dependence on her father eventually brought her demise. After hearing the news of Polonius’ death, Ophelia goes insane. “Ophelia’s insanity is triggered by the crushing of her love for Hamlet and then intensified by the loss of her father to Hamlet’s madness. She cannot absorb the conflict implicit in loving both her father and his murderer.” (Boyce 22-27). Boyce explains Ophelia’s inability to accept her father’s death and the fact that Hamlet was his murderer. Ophelia struggles with the internal conflict of her love and dependency on her dead father and her love for