Shakespeare’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.
EBSCOHost. University at Albany Library, Albany. 11 November 2002. Gale Group. “Women’s Reproductive Rights in Columbia-A Shadow Report.” Contemporary Women’s Issues (December 1998).
Ophelia, the implied lover of Prince Hamlet, and Queen Gertrude, his mother, do not appear significant, but their actions and characters allow for other events to unfold. Gertrude and Ophelia are manipulated and belittled. In their weak will, they end up betraying Hamlet. Observing their manipulation by other people, Hamlet is able to justify and go through with his actions. Despite Ophelia’s weak will, the male characters respond dramatically to her actions, proving that women indeed have a large impact in Hamlet.
Shakespeare uses the characterization of Kate to demonstrate how she defies traditional gender roles by being the only person to speak in iambic pentameter. This demonstrates her intelligence unlike many women. In addition, Kate doesn 't enjoy receiving orders from others. When her father leaves with Bianca and tells Kate she may stay, she gets angry. "Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
Certainly she is fond of Hamlet. Not only is she prepared to listen to him when he storms at her, proof that he is sufficiently close to her to have a right to make comments on her personal life, but she is unfailingly concerned about him. (46-47) Gunnar Bokland in “Hamlet” describes Gertrude’s moral descent during the course of Shakespeare’s Hamlet: With Queen Gertrude and finally also Laertes deeply involved in a situation of increasing ugliness, it becomes clear that, although Claudius and those who associate with him are not the incarnations of evil that Hamlet sees in them, they are corrupt enough from any balanced point of view, a condition that is also intimated by the “heavy-headed revel” that distinguishes life at the Danish court. (123) Gertrude’s “contamination” does indeed affect the hero. Courtney Lehmann and Lisa S. Starks in "Making Mother Matter: Repression... ... middle of paper ... ... Lehmann, Courtney and Lisa S. Starks.
Fischer, Sandra K. "Hearing Ophelia: Gender and Tragic Discourse in Hamlet." Renaissance and Reformation/Renaissance et Réforme 26.1 (2009): 1-10. 5 Feb. 2014. Hunt, Cameron. “Jephthah’s Daughter’s Daughter: Ophelia.” Anq 22.4 (2009): 13-16.
Can You Imagine?" Feminism and Religion. N.p., 25 Mar. 2013. Web.
Hamlet declares that he loved Ophelia once. He warns her that she should not have believed him, because virtue is not something that can be replaced and they are now tainted. He informs her that he never loved her. Perhaps the harshest line with a reference to Ophelia's state of virginity is when Hamlet announces, "Get thee to a nunnery -- why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?" (3.1.119-20).
Claudius manipulated her and his traits are not of any quality. Gertrude and Ophelia are easily impressionable, and were easily used to others’ advantages, proving their presence invaluable. It is demonstrated that both Gertrude and Ophelia deserve their fate throughout the play. The women deserve their fate because of their inability to be independent and their ability to be easily influenced. It is important to have independence in all of one’s life, and to be capable of making one’s own choices; Otherwise, many terrible events may occur.