The Role Of Women In Hamlet
analytical Essay
1328 words
The rights of women are often greatly suppressed and seen as less important than the rights of men throughout all aspects of life. Since the beginning of human evolution, females have had to fight for equal treatment and have been discussed in several types of media and writing. It is not uncommon for female characters to be portrayed as being inferior to the male characters, especially throughout a variety of literature. Throughout the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, it is indisputable that the female characters are often subservient to the male characters. Furthermore, the two female characters Gertrude and Ophelia are given limited power in their ability to make their own decisions, they often agree and obey to the thoughts and commands …show more content…
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.
Ophelia’s favorite line throughout the play appears to be “ I shall obey, my lord” (1.4.136), even when she does not agree with what she is being told to do or say. Her actions throughout the play are often greatly shaped by the thoughts and wishes of the men in her life such as Hamlet, Polonius and Laertes. During the second act of the play, Ophelia expresses her concern for Hamlet’s growing madness and decides to speak to Polonius about the situation. When Polonius questions if she has had contact with him, she explains that she has not and that “ as he did command/ [she] did repel his letters and denied/ His access to [her]” (2.2.109-111). It is undeniably evident that Ophelia is forced by Polonius to keep away from Hamlet, even though she enjoys spending time with him and explains that, “ [Hamlet], of late made many tenders/ of His affection to [her]” (1.3.100-101). This situation is an unquestionable display of Ophelia’s limited power to make her own decisions. Subsequently, in act 2.2, Polonius and Claudius decide to use Ophelia to provoke Hamlet. Polonius once again limits her ability to make her own decisions as he decides that he will “ loose [his] daughter to [Hamlet]” (2.2.162), and does ask Ophelia if she is willing to complete the task, but rather tells her she is going to. By …show more content…
The first evident occurrence of ambiguity in the play is whether or not Gertrude knows that Claudius murdered Hamlet Sr. During her discussion with Hamlet, there is no clear evidence to prove that she did or did not know. Gertrude appears to be very heartbroken by the information being relayed to her by Hamlet as she explains that “[the] words like daggers enter in [her] ears” (3.4.98), and “turn’st [her] eyes into [her] very soul” (3.4.91). Gertrude 's reaction to the news leaves undeniable room for questions as she could be feeling this guilt because she does know what Claudius did, or because she has been blinded by Claudius’ charm and married him after all he had done to his own family. The answer is left completely to the reader 's interpretation. In continuance, when Gertrude confides in Claudius about what she had spoken to Hamlet about, it is unclear if she truly believes he is as “mad as the sea and wind when both contend” (4.1.7), or if she is simply obeying her sons wishes. She does not have any soliloquies or side comments that could help the readers to interpret her inner thoughts. Therefore, it is absolutely an ambiguous situation as there is no evidence to thoroughly support either of the possible thoughts she could have. Finally, readers are left with questions and curiosities in regards to Gertrude 's true reason
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- Misogynist Quotes In Hamletanalytical essaySame Flesh and Bone Ever since Eve was fashioned from Adam’s rib, men have viewed women as objects that they use and abuse like an extension themselves. This idea exists because over time men have become to see themselves as superior beings. This idea has been reinforced by years of culture and tradition; it can be found in the media, the workplace and has even made its way into literature through the mind of William Shakespeare. In his play Hamlet, he explores themes of sexuality and how men view women.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that men have viewed women as objects that they use and abuse like an extension themselves since eve was fashioned from adam's rib. this idea has been reinforced by years of culture and tradition.
- Analyzes how hamlet is a misogynist because of the way he expresses his insecurities in his masculinity.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows his misogynistic ways by treating ophelia like property and because he does not care for her.
- Analyzes how hamlet doesn't care for ophelia because he uses her to get attention. he does not relieve that his constant abuses have caused her suicidal thoughts.
- Analyzes how hamlet uses gertrude as a pawn to get revenge and does not try to prevent her death.
- Analyzes how hamlet deciphered claudius' early plot to poison him, and he was educated enough to know not to accept gifts from his enemy.
- Analyzes how hamlet's lack of confidence in his masculinity and his use of ophelia and gertrude deduces that he has a strong hatred toward women.
1545 wordsRead More - Societies' Views Towards Women in Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayHamlet, by William Shakespeare is a well known play, that not only tells a tragedy about revenge and philosophical thinking, but it indirectly emphasizes societies’ views toward women. Shakespeare does a fantastic job at depicting the expected behavior and roles of women through his female characters; Ophelia and Gertrude. Gertrude and Ophelia are portrayed as weak and dependent, a common belief of society toward many women of the time. Hamlet was written and published during the late middle ages (14th -15th century). A time when women were necessary, simply due to their child bearing abilities. They were to be seen as their husband's property, and if they were unfortunate enough to lose their husbands, they would most likely follow command from the next man-most likely their son. The views of this era are clearly shown through the actions and behavior of women in this play. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet captures the stigma, that still exists today: women are weak and dependent upon their male counterparts.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the middle ages was a rough time for women, and the conditions in which they had to live were partly to blame for their fate.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's hamlet depicts the expected behavior and roles of women through his female characters, ophelia and gertrude.
- Analyzes how ophelia's behavior supports the idea that women are dependent and need guidance even in the most personal of subjects.
- Analyzes how hamlet is guilty of disrespecting ophelia. he disregards her gifts and rants about the fallacy of his love for her.
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses laertes, ophelia's older brother, to be the strong character who is genuinely phased by the death of his father, but manages to move forward in the hopes of avenging
- Analyzes how gertrude is the second major female character that depicts weak behavior. she is not only hamlet's mother, but also the wife of king claudius.
- Analyzes how hamlet portrays the frail and weak nature of women during the late middle ages.
- Explains shakespeare's hamlet: an introduction to literature: fiction, poetry, and drama, by sylvan barnet, william burto and william e. cain. noble, d.f.
1373 wordsRead More - Roles Of Women In Hamlet Essayanalytical essayEven though women’s rights has evolved drastically, today and throughout history, women still largely adhere to men’s demands. Men, who withhold most of the power in relationships, tend to expanded their own power at the cost of these women, displaying that anybody in a position of power can become uncontrolled. A similar scenario of imbalanced power appears throughout Hamlet, Shakespeare portrays women as pawns in a mostly male world, due to their desire for acceptance from men, women are led to their downfall, showing that in seeking a man’s approval, they often fall victim to men’s greed and manipulation.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet portrays women as pawns in a mostly male world due to their desire for acceptance from men.
- Analyzes how gertrude's use of the word "obey" establishes her inferiority in her relationship with claudius, in a master-to-servant relationship.
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses the word "obey" to show the obvious willingness of women to submit and settle behind the male characters.
- Analyzes how gertrude and ophelia seek the approval of men in their lives and it is their desire for this acceptance that leads to their fall.
- Analyzes how gertrude makes women look decidable because she is not directly aware of his intentions, and her submissive nature lets claudius conduct his plans.
- Analyzes how ophelia goes after the approval of hamlet and her father and when she loses them, she falls into madness.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's portrayal of clearly discriminatory gender roles in hamlet reflects the attitudes of actual societies in which women could almost expect their own deterioration as men became powerful.
1496 wordsRead More - Ophelia Character Analysisanalytical essayShakespeare’s Hamlet is set in the late middle ages, in Denmark. A time in history when women were not respected and thought of as the inferior sex. There are two women characters in Hamlet; Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest. Magda Romanska the writer of “Ontology and Eroticism: Two Bodies Of Ophelia”, argues that Ophelia represents the typical idea of women in the nineteenth century. I agree with this, but argue that it is not the only aspect of Ophelia’s character. Ophelia becomes the bearer of Hamlet’s hatred toward the world, and is also the character of lowest status because she is an average women. Ophelia surrenders herself to the cruelty of those around her, and sacrifices her sanctity to please and conform
In this essay, the author
- Opines that virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it.
- Analyzes how ophelia is pushed into sanity by hamlet, her brother and father, and polonius and laertes control everything that she does.
- Analyzes how ophelia is the only source of color in shakespeare's play. she gives flowers to people in the castle, which have a deeper meaning.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's hamlet is set in the late middle ages, in denmark, where women were not respected and thought of as inferior sex.
- Argues that ophelia's madness was a way to get people to realize that hamlet is riddled with incestous, cruel, and treasonous behaviors.
1373 wordsRead More - Essay On Femininity In Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayWith particular reference to Hamlet, feminist critics might explore the characters of Ophelia and Gertrude and how they challenge—or fail to challenge — the domination of male characters. Feminist critics would also be interested in exploring how the play expresses ideas about femininity that were common in Shakespeare's lifetime and how complicit Shakespeare is in Hamlet's personal misogyny. … Elaine Showalter's essay "Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism" explores the difficulties, even embarrassments, that feminist critics have had in approaching Ophelia. The problem is that Ophelia has tended to be overshadowed by Hamlet, even by feminist critics, who then feel the need to liberate Ophelia from obscurity. However, even liberated Ophelia is problematic for she suggests some potentially troubling connections between femininity, female sexuality, and madness.
In this essay, the author
- 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.
463 wordsRead More - Destroyed by Sexualityanalytical essayIn William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, women are oversexualized, and are given no role other than to be the item of a man’s desire. The promiscuity of the only two women in the play, Gertrude and Ophelia, detracts from their power and integrity, and allows Hamlet a certain amount of control over them. Gertrude’s sexual lifestyle is often mentioned by her son, Hamlet, and Hamlet uses his knowledge of Gertrude’s sexuality as a means to criticize her. Ophelia’s sexuality initially appears to be controlled by Laertes and Polonius, and Hamlet takes advantage of the naive image that she is required to keep. However, in her later madness, Ophelia taints this image by revealing that her innocence is feigned. By exposing the sexual natures of both Gertrude and Ophelia, Hamlet strips these women of any influence they may have had, and damages their once-honourable names.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the promiscuity of gertrude and ophelia detracts from their power and integrity, and allows hamlet a certain amount of control over them.
- Analyzes how hamlet possesses an uncomfortable obsession with his mother's sexuality. in his first soliloquy, he refers to the relationship between gertrude and claudius.
- 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.
- Analyzes how laertes refers to ophelia's virginity as a "treasure," as was the common view in shakespeare’s time.
- Analyzes how hamlet uses sexually suggestive language in order to take advantage of the purity that ophelia is expected to display.
- Analyzes how ophelia becomes mad following her father's death, and it is in this madness that she admits to losing her virginity.
- Analyzes how hamlet deprives gertrude and ophelia of their authority, and destroys their formerly respected reputations.
- Describes the works cited by miller, cork, and vest, rob.
990 wordsRead More - Hamlet from a Feminist Perspectiveanalytical essayShakespeare’s Hamlet, shows strong prejudice against woman especially with such characters of Ophelia and Gertrude. Shakespeare created an interesting character with Gertrude; he created a character that sits in the middle of all the conflict and appears to not partake in much of it. However Gertrude does seem intent in defusing it at every possible chance she receives. Gertrude is a central figure in the play. She appears a great deal but doesn’t say much – implying mystery and creating an interesting uncertainty in the audience. Hamlet spends a lot of time dwelling on her marriage to Claudius and Shakespeare leaves many questions unanswered with Gertrude such as did she have an affair with Claudius behind old hamlets back? Why does she drink the poisoned wine that is intended for her son? Does she know it is poisoned? Gertrude is the mother of Hamlet and although they do not have a typical mother son relationship she does love him. Queen Gertrude is often interpreted by many as an adulterate, incestuous woman. Catherine Belsey states that typical interpretations of Hamlet maintain: ‘Gertrude a slut; and Shakespeare a patriarchal bard’ (Belsey,1997:34). Gertrude’s actions throughout the play could be read to show her to be a very passive character, far from a strong independent woman. This is shown with her obedience to Claudius, three times during the play, Gertrude is told to leave and each times she complies without hesitation. In Act 1, scene 2 Claudius says to Gertrude, ‘Madam, come’ (122). Then again, Act 3, scene 1, Claudius says to her, ‘Sweet Gertrude, leave us .’ (28), she complies with ; ‘I shall obey you’ (37). And finally, in Act 4, scene 1, Claudius say, ‘O Gertrude, come away!’ (28). This obedience that Gertrude ...
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.
- Cites ekici, sara, heilbrun, carolyn g., othello, and hamlet: feminist criticism.
- Cites ouditt, sharon, pearson, patricia, and yoshiko uéno in hamlet and japan.
1151 wordsRead More - Misogyny In Hamlet Essayanalytical essayHamlet is one of the most controversial characters from all of the Shakespeare’s play. His character is strong and complicated, but his jealousy is what conduces him to hate women. He sees them as weak, frail, and untrustworthy. He treats Ophelia, the women he loves, unfair and with cruelty. Similarly, he blames his mother for marrying her dead husband’s brother, who is now the King of Denmark. Hamlet’s treatment for women stems from his mother’s impulsive marriage to his uncle who he hates and Ophelia choosing her father’s advice over him.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet is one of the most controversial characters from shakespeare's play. his jealousy leads him to hate women. he treats ophelia, the women he loves, unfairly and with cruelty.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows anger and disrespect towards the women in his life. ophelia's believing her father’s words breaks hamlets heart, being the reason for his treatment towards not just her but his mother.
- Analyzes how ophelia was part of a trap set by her father polonius and the king to find out the source of hamlet's madness.
- Analyzes how hamlet's disdain towards gertrude is the cause of hamlets misogyny.
- Analyzes how hamlet's misogyny isn't engrained in his culture but what his mother has ensnared within him.
- Analyzes how hamlet's cruel, cold treatment of gertrude and ophelia is no evidence that misogyny in his culture is what makes him treat them this way.
1133 wordsRead More - Female Role In Opheliaanalytical essayPolonius immediately calls to question Ophelia’s ability to reason with his opening remark, “I must tell you / You do not understand yourself so clearly.” (1.3.104-105). This statement along with his suggestion to, “Think yourself a baby” (1.3.114) in regards to how she feels about Hamlet show his commanding nature and instant mistrust of how Ophelia could possibly behave in the best way. Ophelia, to her credit, responds with a curt, “I shall obey, my lord” (1.3.145), which shows her maturity and respect by avoiding conflict through a calm demeanor. However, given how she responded to Laertes, this response also comes across as snide and mocking showing her independence through a resilient, almost defiant, statement. Ophelia, for the second time, faces immediate threats to her power over herself and deals with both calmly and intelligently by not provoking a reaction while still showing abject
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how ophelia, in william shakespeare's hamlet, represents a self-confident and aware female character who recognizes the multitude of male figures attempting to control her life.
- Analyzes how laertes' view on women and ophelia specifically is made evident as soon as the reader is introduced to the pair.
- Analyzes how ophelia's response to laertes shows her maturity and respect by avoiding conflict through a calm demeanor.
- Analyzes how hamlet's relationship with ophelia is a curious one, with his insults, sexual innuendos and admitted desire laced with irony and hypocrisy.
- Analyzes how ophelia's life is filled with men attempting to control her life and her only respite comes in her death.
1067 wordsRead More - How Hamlet Presents Its Female Charactersopinion essayHow Hamlet Presents Its Female Characters Hamlet is said to be one of the most discussed works of literature in the world. Shakespeare has generally presented strong women in his plays; for example Lady Macbeth, Portia and Rosaline. This may have been influenced by his personal life, as his wife Ann Hathaway, was eight years his senior. However the women in Hamlet have weaknesses, both Gertrude and Ophelia show compassion and neither are ruthless in their attitudes and actions, however ruthlessness is not always a strength in women. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most complicated characters, but ironically he sees no complexity in the people around him especially the female characters of this play.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that love with him instead of his uncle is a summary.
- Opines that good night, but go not to my uncle’s bed.
- Analyzes how hamlet warns her not to put faith in his love for her.
- Opines that only one who truly loved her and the two men fight in her grave.
- Narrates how he says, "o, throw away the worse part of it, and live the purer with the other half. good night, but go not to my uncle’s bed."
- Analyzes how hamlet is acting in this scene as he is trying to appear insane. he doesn't act like if
1264 wordsRead More