Feminism In Hamlet's Hamlet

One way that feminism is shown is through how the characters think that the men in the book act like women. Since the beginning of the book the author subtlety hint that the way Hamlet acts loses his respect because of the way he acts. Such as when the king states” ‘Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, to give these mourning duties to your father.... but to persever in obstinate condolement is a course of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief. It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, a heart unfortified, a mind impatient, an understanding simple and unschooled” (1.2.90-92; 96-101). For this reason just because he shows his emotions he gets called a girl. Meanwhile hamlet soon starts making horrible comments about how he acts.

This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing, like a very drab, A stallion!” (2.2.611-616). He describes showing his emotions as being like a woman. Henceforward Laertes soon starts to say that crying is a womanly thing. Laertes tells his sister “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears. But yet it is our trick; nature her custom holds, let shame say what it will. When these are gone, the woman will be out.—Adieu, my lord. I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze, But that this folly drowns it.” (4.7.211-217). Laertes thinks that by crying and showing his true emotions he thinks that he is a woman for doing it. The way men believe that anything that involves emotions is womanly is really them not fully understanding that everyone has feelings and need to act on