Portrayal of Women in Shakespeare's Hamlet
analytical Essay
1229 words
Portrayal of Women in Shakespeare's Hamlet
Shakespeare was possibly the first writer to portray women as strong, crafty, and intelligent. However, he has still received criticism from feminists about his representation of women. Some have even accused him of misogyny. There are only two female characters in the play Hamlet - Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and Ophelia, daughter of Polonius. Any debate based upon gender roles must therefore focus upon these two characters.
Shakespeare portrays Gertrude as a woman of power and intelligence - she was Queen for a considerable amount of time - we can safely assume at least 30 years - and she is asked advice on matters by King Claudius - "Do you think 'tis this?" (II.2.152). Gertrude is a woman who married her own brother-in-law; perhaps to remain in her position of power. It is often debated whether or not Gertrude was involved in the killing of King Hamlet - either way, Gertrude seems to have complied fully in her marriage to Claudius - she doesn't seem at all offended by Claudius' presence - perhaps reason to suspect that she was unaware of Claudius' role in Hamlet's death, if she was uninvolved.
The ghost tells Hamlet not to judge his mother, or to seek revenge upon her, telling him "leave her to heaven" (I.5.86). This pours doubt upon Gertrude's 'guilt'. Further, her seeming innocence, when confronted by Hamlet as she exclaims "As kill a king!" (III.4.31) would indicate her lack of guilt in or even knowledge of, the murder of old Hamlet. Hamlet himself is certainly convinced, as he tries to 'win her over', later on in the scene: "Throw away the worser part of it, and live the purer with the other half." (III.4.158-159).
Gertrude's apparent innocence would highligh...
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...rch 1897), 70-76. Rpt. in Women Reading Shakespeare 1660-1900. Ed. Ann Thompson and Sasha Roberts. New York: Manchester University Press, 1997.
Pennington, Michael. "Ophelia: Madness Her Only Safe Haven." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of "Hamlet": A User's Guide. New York: Limelight Editions, 1996.
Pitt, Angela. "Women in Shakespeare's Tragedies." Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint of Shakespeare's Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.
Sardone, Frances J.: Gertrude: Queen of Denmark, Available: http:www.netaccess.on.ca/~frances/gertrude.htm
Shakespeare, William: Hamlet. Published by Penguin 1996.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html
In this essay, the author
- Opines that shakespeare was the first writer to portray women as strong, crafty, and intelligent. however, he has received criticism from feminists about his representation of women.
- Analyzes how shakespeare portrays gertrude as a woman of power and intelligence. she married her brother-in-law, claudius, to remain in her power.
- Analyzes how the ghost tells hamlet not to judge his mother, or to seek revenge on her, and pours doubt upon gertrude's 'guilt'
- Analyzes how hamlet's attitude towards his mother changes throughout the play. he uses no daggers when he speaks to her, and calls her mother and good lady.
- Analyzes how ophelia's madness shows a weakness that gertrude did not have. shakespeare is guilty of pointing out that people react to grief in different ways.
- Analyzes how hamlet's feelings of love for ophelia can be interpreted in ways other than the misogynistic. he was angry at her for obeying her father and shunning his advances and gifts.
- Analyzes how hamlet is sexually provocative with ophelia in a few scenes, but it could be an indication that he wanted her to know where his affections lay.
- Opines that hamlet's criticism is about his generalisations of women. he is disillusioned with women because of his mother marrying his uncle.
- Analyzes how hamlet implies that all women's love is brief. this would have been a criticism of ophelia’s rejection of him.
- Analyzes how hamlet laughs off horatio's concern of the forthcoming fencing match, saying "it is such a kind of gaingiving as would perhaps trouble
- Opines that shakespeare was not a misogynist. the main focus of evil and corruption in the play is on claudius.
- Opines that it could be argued that shakespeare was a misanthropist.
- Explains pennington, michael, "ophelia: madness her only safe haven" and "hamlet": a user's guide.
- Explains that pitt, angela, "women in shakespeare's tragedies" and sardone, frances j.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the rights of women are often suppressed and seen as less important than those of men. in shakespeare's hamlet, the female characters are subservient to the male characters.
- Analyzes how ophelia's limited power in making her own decisions is a substantial issue that women are continually forced to deal with.
- Analyzes how polonius suppresses ophelia's ability to act at her own discretion, while hamlet and gertrude discuss her incestuous decision to stay married to claudius.
- Analyzes how the female characters, ophelia and gertrude, agree with the thoughts of the male characters or, obeying their commands throughout the play.
- Analyzes how gertrude leaves readers with ambiguities about her true intentions and thoughts involving certain situations in the play.
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- Analyzes how hamlet needs ophelia to keep the audience interested in giving him a chance to get over his madness and follow his heart.
- Analyzes the similarities between hamlet and ophelia in shakespeare's tragedy.
- Cites pennington, michael, and pitt, angela. "women in shakespeare's tragedies."
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's hamlet shows strong prejudice against women especially with the characters of ophelia and gertrude.
- Analyzes how the feminist premise is that women are equal to men in intelligence but not in others such as aggression and strength.
- Analyzes how the queen's participation in the murder of ophelia is suggested strongly throughout the text. feminists view gertrude’s marriage to claudius not one of a sexual appetite but rather, the need to secure her many roles.
- Analyzes how feminist critics argue that gertrude's involvement in the deaths of characters in hamlet is not really at issue at all.
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- Cites jorgensen, paul a., lehmann, courtney, and starks. the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark.
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- Analyzes how hamlet's confrontation with his mother, gertrude, explains her sexuality to the audience in a negative manner.
- Analyzes how laertes is worried about ophelia's romance with hamlet, because he fears the motives which encourage her pursuit of her.
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- Describes the works cited by miller, cork, and vest, rob.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how polonius suggests that ophelia be placed in the presence of hamlet while her father and the king observe the hero’s conduct.
- Analyzes how samuel taylor coleridge's lectures and notes on shakspere and other english poets elaborated on an important part of this contrived encounter between the protagonist and ophelia.
- Analyzes gooch's review of the shapes of revenge: victimization, vengeance, and vindictiveness in shakespeare.
- Analyzes how rebecca west in "a court and world infected by the disease of corruption" viciously attacks the virginity of ophelia.
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- Analyzes how hamlet prefers the company of ophelia to that of his mother, gertrude, in the dumbshow, prologue and play.
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3349 wordsRead More - Custom Shakespeare's Hamlet Essay: Hamlet and Gertrudeanalytical essayShakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the audience notes a decidedly good relationship between gertrude and those about her in the drama.
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- Analyzes how hamlet, after running polonius through with his rapier, is so emotional that he falsely accuses gertrude of killing his father, alarming the queen, who blurts out, "as kill a king!"
- Analyzes how gertrude reports to claudius only hamlet’s killing of polonius – reportedly due to his madness — thus keeping her word to her son.
- Analyzes how osric invites hamlet to a rapier contest with laertes. gertrude drinks from the cup poisoned by the king and kills him.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's sinful woman, gertrude, is not selected for vengeance by the protagonist. her love for hamlet, grief, and dismay are those of one whose soul has become alienated from god by sin.
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1925 wordsRead More - Madness and Insanity in Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayShakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.
In this essay, the author
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In this essay, the author
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- Explains shakespeare's hamlet: an introduction to literature: fiction, poetry, and drama, by sylvan barnet, william burto and william e. cain. noble, d.f.
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- Argues that french feminist theorists suggest that ophelia's madness suggests the inability of male language to really represent femininity.
- Analyzes how feminist critics account for ophelia's madness and death suggest that she represents the female side of hamlet which must be rejected and killed.
- Analyzes how feminist critics might explore the characters of ophelia and gertrude and how the play expresses ideas about femininity that were common in shakespeare's lifetime.
- Analyzes how showalter explores the issue of how closely ophelia's madness is connected to her femininity.
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