Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy Hamlet has resonated with audiences over time, through the universal exploration of humanity. This exploration is represented through the portrayal of relationships, which reveal a person’s true nature. Hamlet holds such a relationship with Claudius and his country Elsinore. He also shares an omnipotent relationship with the concept of the afterlife, alongside women. This is explored in Zeffirelli's film adaptation ‘Hamlet’ (1990). Consequently, the exploration of these relationships are a means through which Hamlet remains enamoured to all audiences as they are able to connect with to the pertinence of the play’s values and attributes in all contexts, thus being critical to the play as a whole.
The play Hamlet
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This is demonstrated through Hamlet’s relationship with the two known women in his life, Gertrude and Ophelia. The presence of only two named female characters creates a statement about the role of women within Hamlet, and their oppressive role in Elizabethan society at whole. Ophelia’s burgeoning relationship with Hamlet perpetuates the theme of patriarchy. “Get thee to a nunnery” adopts a double entendre ambiguously referencing both sexual abstinence and sexual perversity, symbolising Hamlet’s antithesis of platonic love and vacillations of ‘deprived love’, and highlights Hamlet’s misogynistic perception of women. From a feminist reading, Juliet Dustinbere states that “Ophelia had no chance to develop independent conscience of her, so stifled is she by the authority of the male world”, emphasising the dominance Hamlet has over Ophelia, thus reflecting the suppression of women in the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare conveys Hamlet’s cathartic antiphon to Gertrude’s disloyalty through the utilisation of the metaphoric sibilance “incestuous sheets”, emphasising the sexual sin that pervades human principles. He holds this assumption to all women with his scathing remark “Frailty, thy name is woman”, proving the prevalence of male hegemony. In response to Claudius, “little more than kin, and less than kind”, serves as an antithesis that highlights the “uncle-father” and “aunt-mothers’” incestuous affair, signifying their disregard for a true marital relationship. The death of both women indicates a social commentary, as Shakespeare explores the role of women in Hamlet, reflecting on the impression of women in Elizabethan times. By addressing the relationships Hamlet shares with women, Shakespeare is able to invoke theoretical revisionism due to the play’s textual integrity in regards to the subject of
An understanding of William Shakespeare’s philosophies reinforces the meaning of the human condition found in the play Hamlet. The revenge tragedy is an example in the exploration of good versus evil, deceit, madness, inter-turmoil, and utter existence. Shakespeare, fascinated by the human mind and human nature, clearly and completely illustrates the meaning of “self.” Hamlet is a drama that examines one’s personal identity. From the beginning of the story atop the castle when the guards enter the platform to the conclusion of the performance as Hamlet lies, dying in Horatio’s arms every characters’ psychological type is
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude are both passive women that are considered vulnerable and spineless by the men in their lives. The two women lived their lives in the shadows of the male characters while their thoughts and opinions are oppressed by a patriarchal society. Ophelia embodies the flaw of obedience, but deeper than that, the flaw of dependence. Ophelia is completely dependent on her father, Polonius, and proves this when she agrees to stay away from Hamlet and his false feelings. Ophelia’s actions show that she will do anything to appease her father, even doing things that she doesn’t necessarily want to do. “Get thee to a nunnery!” (Act III, scene i) Hamlet mocks Ophelia using this quote and commands her to go to a covenant rather than give birth to more sinners. In this scene Hamlet goes on to mock women and society in general for buying into the whole idea of marriage and true love. Hamlet insults Ophelia's father and argues that married men are fools and marriage should not exist. Hamlet accuses Ophelia and all of womankind for being deceitful and unfaithful. Hamlet says this quote to Ophelia repeatedly during this scene, adding emphasis to the foolish idealistic nature of marriage.
William Shakespeare, the author of many famous pieces of writing has proven to have a way of getting his point across without making any point at all. In two of his most famous works, Macbeth and Hamlet, Shakespeare takes a closer look at the roles of females when having to do with authority in their royal courts. He dramatizes real occurrences within his life at the time and brings them to light using his writing. In many plays he greatly emphasizes the feminist lens by telling of the female's great anxiety that eventually leads to an unstable court. This chaos causes the females to desperately cling to the people around them for acceptance until social and political power is regained. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Queen Gertrude’s experiences with Claudius and Hamlet illustrate a contrast between her longing for acceptance and her desire for an authoritative role in the royal court of Denmark.
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. 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 ...
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.
Hamlet 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.
The character Orlando is not the only male in Shakespeare has fall victim to adjective pairing. Another such male character happens to be Hamlet, from the play Hamlet. Hamlet is of the age of a college student given when he is first introduced we learn he has to leave college to avenge the killing of his father. The father’s ghost beckons Hamlet to take revenge on his uncle for killing him and condemning him to purgatory. Hamlet’s quest of revenge ultimately consumes him, as well as his mother and eventually leads to his own death. Many of the characters in the play view Hamlet as threatening. They neither know his intentions nor his motives for his action, and so like many other men in Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet is left to fall under the
Hamlet has the disillusion that women are frail after his mother’s rushed remarriage as shown by “Frailty, thy name is woman!” He also believes women do not have the power to reason. (“O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason.”) Ophelia has the power to change his view but her unexplained rejection of him only adds to Hamlet’s disillusion. The ghost’s revelation that Gertrude dishonored Hamlet’s father but also their marriage by the adultery with Claudius is contemplated by Hamlet until he goes into Ophelia’s room to look upon her. As Hamlet searches Ophelia’s face for some sign that might restore his faith in her, he instead believes her face shows guilt and thinks she is another false Gertrude.
“Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, and fall a-cursing, like a very drab, A scullion!” These words, spoken by the main character Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, highlight the role of the two females character in the play. Gertrude, mother of Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet’s object of love, the only two female characters in the play, help to expose the mistreatment, manipulation, and discrimination women faced within the tragedy, and possibly society during the time the play was written.
Compared to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Almereyda’s adaptation creates a new reading and highlights various elements more directly through a change in the characterization of Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. The movie advances her position as a woman, making her a commanding and prominent figure throughout. This new reading of Gertrude from the movie reflects the changes in societal views regarding women, due to varying time periods, progressing the position of Gertrude as a woman, and exploiting ideas of incest, misogyny, and
Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is a complex and ambiguous public exploration of key human experiences surrounding the aspects of revenge, betrayal and corruption. The Elizabethan play is focused centrally on the ghost’s reoccurring appearance as a symbol of death and disruption to the chain of being in the state of Denmark. The imagery of death and uncertainty has a direct impact on Hamlet’s state of mind as he struggles to search for the truth on his quest for revenge as he switches between his two incompatible values of his Christian codes of honour and humanist beliefs which come into direct conflict. The deterioration of the diseased state is aligned with his detached relationship with all women as a result of Gertrude’s betrayal to King Hamlet which makes Hamlet question his very existence and the need to restore the natural order of kings. Hamlet has endured the test of time as it still identifies with a modern audience through the dramatized issues concerning every human’s critical self and is a representation of their own experience of the bewildering human condition, as Hamlet struggles to pursuit justice as a result of an unwise desire for revenge.
In Hamlet, gender plays a huge role in the assumed capability of people. Queen Gertrude had to remarry instead of rule the kingdom by herself. If she wouldn’t have gotten remarried, it would have been likely that her kingdom would have been usurped by a chauvinist male ruler; who felt that women couldn’t rule a kingdom.
Most of the worlds cultures follow a patriarchal society and this dates back to the beginning of time. In Hamlet the patriarchal society is clearly depicted by the characters throughout the play. Hamlet is portrayed as an indecisive character when it comes to making a serious decision, for example when he contemplates on killing Claudius. This shows the masculinity and femininity aspect of his character, which offends the ideals in a patriarchal society. Claudius, Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia and Gertrude follow the usual gender roles in a patriarchal society, as for Hamlet, his characteristics come from both gender roles.
In Shakespeare’s dramatic works there is no room for the heroic or the strong woman, and therefore many of his plays can be perceived as being antifeminist. Often he portrays women as weak, mad, sexual, and as even witches. Hamlet is no exception. The only women in the play, Ophelia and Queen Gertrude, are given confined and limited roles. These roles are from a male-dominated viewpoint and only add focus to the male characters instead of incorporating the insight and the impact of the women as well.
William Shakespeare incorporates many themes and ideas into his play, Hamlet. Of the multiple important ideas, one potentially overlooked is the role of women. Only two of the characters in the play are female. Their lines are scarce, but hold huge importance in relation to the progression and plot of the play. 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.