A Case of Stolen Identity

According to men, women fall into three generic and degrading categories. Seen only as temptresses, possessions, or submissive wives, women in Elizabethan times were often characterized as being dumb sexual objects. Over the years, women have attempted to overcome these harsh stereotypes with idealisms like feminism that empower women, not degrade them. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude, the only women present in the play, fall into these three literally man-made categories. Yet, in many aspects Hamlet shows the hidden feelings that women have towards their treatment. Characters, such as Ophelia often go against the societal norm and display the obscured side of early feminism in women. For the longest time, women could not create their own thoughts; they were often advised and accompanied by their male relatives, as in the play. As a consequence, Ophelia is unable to make her own choices throughout the play, except at the extremity to end her own life. Ophelia depends so entirely upon this relationship to male characters that beyond it she cannot think nor act for herself--in effect, she does not have an identity. Identity is a central part of society, but since Ophelia is characterized by a patriarchal society, she has a lack of identity and meaning. In Ophelia’s first conversation with her father about her relations with Hamlet, Ophleia comes across as weak and ignorant. During the conversation Ophelia is unable to conjure up her own thoughts, “I do not know, my lord, what I should think,” (1.2.104) however, rather than protect Ophelia’s interests, Polonius protects his own by misadvising her to forget about Hamlet. Ophelia’s lack of identity and self-value causes her to be used as a pawn for the male characters’ bidding. Polonius, being the sneaky, conniving rat that he is, continually uses Ophelia and her feelings for Hamlet to control his rise to