Shakespeare's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet Essay

Hamlet In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist's treatment of women shows his own grief, highlights the women's differences, and significantly affects the lives of those women. The play at first allows one to see the detrimental effects of his father’s death on Hamlet. However, as the play progresses, Hamlet’s misogyny also progresses, making the lives of his mother and the woman he loves miserable. Hamlet’s sadistic treatment of Gertrude and Ophelia eventually leads to both of their deaths, which in turn leads to Hamlet’s own death. The play shows the internal and external struggles of all the characters, which allows one to see both the reasons and the results of gradual insanity.

The way a man treats his mother is the way he treats all women. This is certainly true for Hamlet, who has deeply-rooted contempt for his mother, Gertrude. This contempt is obvious in the way he treats both Gertrude and the woman he loves, Ophelia. Hamlet feels betrayed and disgusted by his mother’s hasty remarriage, which causes him to see all women in the same light. He takes out his feelings of conscious anger, as well as subconscious love, on Ophelia by treating her with disrespect and disdain. Due to

Because Hamlet was so hurt by his mother’s remarriage, he sought refuge in the comforts of treating all women with the same contempt. This treatment uncovered the deep personality traits of both Gertrude and Ophelia, showing that they are submissive and emotionally damaged, respectively. Gertrude's consumption of poison and Ophelia's suicide are both exemplary of the significant consequences of Hamlet's harsh treatment. Hamlet’s misogyny killed more than just his will to live, it killed Gertrude and Ophelia's wills to