Treatment of women in hamlet. Hamlet Treatment Of Women Analysis 2022-11-26
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In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the treatment of women is a significant theme that is explored throughout the story. The play presents the idea that women are inferior to men and are not capable of making their own decisions or asserting their own agency. This is evident in the way that the male characters in the play speak to and about the female characters, as well as in the actions that they take towards them.
One of the main female characters in the play, Ophelia, is treated very poorly by the male characters around her. Her father, Polonius, and her brother, Laertes, both exert a great deal of control over her and attempt to dictate her actions and decisions. They tell her whom she can and cannot see, and they try to prevent her from being with Hamlet, whom they believe is not a suitable match for her. Ophelia is also treated poorly by Hamlet, who alternately professes his love for her and then insults and belittles her.
Another female character in the play, Gertrude, the queen and Hamlet's mother, is also treated poorly by the men around her. Her husband, Claudius, murders her previous husband, King Hamlet, and then marries her in order to become king himself. Gertrude is not given any agency in this process and is essentially a pawn in Claudius' plan to gain power. In addition, Hamlet treats her poorly, speaking to her in a derogatory and disrespectful manner and accusing her of being complicit in his father's murder.
Overall, the treatment of women in "Hamlet" is characterized by a lack of respect and agency. The male characters in the play view women as inferior and try to control and manipulate them, rather than treating them as equals. This theme is a reflection of the societal norms of the time in which the play was written, but it is still a disturbing and problematic aspect of the story.
Hamlet´s Treatment of Ophelia and Gertrude Essay
Therefore, they were replaced by men disguised as women. Throughout the entire confrontation, Claudius does not even consider consoling Gertrude or asking if she is alright. Gertrude is one of the two women in Hamlet. The woman was seen as the weaker sex either physically or emotionally which meant that it was entirely dependent on her husband if married and members of his family if single. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? Both …show more content… Since Gertrude caused the death of King Hamlet, she is unable to be granted to heaven. Polonius did the same thing to the queen.
Rather than defending Hamlet's position, Gertrude tells him to "not forever with thy vailed lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Specifically, Gertrude and Ophelia are displayed as instruments of deceit, fragile-minded women with a dependence on men, and the cause for their own source of maltreatment and degradation. Gertrude and Ophelia are subject to paternalistic condescension, sexual objectification, and abuse. She chose to marry Claudius because that would make everything easier. Her marriage to Claudius gave the throne a more stable base of power which would make the people of Denmark feel more secure especially when facing a possible invasion by Fortinbras Lenz. The male character who subjected her to maltreatment was none other than her second husband, King Claudius. Similarly, Ophelia constantly allows the men in her life control the decisions she should be making herself.
Hamlet makes Ophelia believe that she is Gertrude's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet There are two women in this play. Within my studies, I had interpreted the tragedy of Hamlet as universal and a critical discussion of women within Elizabethan England, a misogynistic time where man were deemed strong and independent in comparison to women who were deemed to be weak and dependent. Woman are considered physically and morally weak. Last Name 1 Student Professor Course Date The Treatment of Women in Hamlet The play Hamlet was directed by William Shakespeare in the year 1599. In modern day society, women have become more independent and generally have more freedom in regards to social expectations.
Though there are only two traditionally female characters in Hamlet— Ophelia and Gertrude—the play itself speaks volumes about the uniquely painful, difficult struggles and unfair fates women have suffered throughout history. Insanity In Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet 1792 Words 8 Pages It is far too often that women, in even the most modern of literature, are portrayed as nothing more than snivelling cowards, used merely to motivate the inevitably male heroes. Women have been depicted as the race that has ruined innocents and corruption in religion. Feminism is also the organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. Although men felt they were smarter than women in the earlier days, the play describes how women are expected of too much in their roles, which could cause a woman to emotionally snap, but leads to women banding together to prove that women can be. They were seen as creatures who were more inclined to sin, to seduce men, and overall needed to be looked after.
As a result, a feminist literary critic would argue that the equal characterization of genders is simply nonexistent due to the fact that representation is stereotypical. The Role Of Insanity In Hamlet 645 Words 3 Pages By verbally harassing Ophelia and estranging himself from her, Hamlet provides the apparent image of losing his prior care without a great amount of consideration. Ophelia was not only a victim of oppression in the play. Such comment can be analyzed from two different perspectives. The attitude toward women in Shakespeare's writing is one of the most discussed topics in his works. Many women did not enjoy the same privileges as males throughout the Elizabethan period.
These words like daggers enter in my ears. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the women in the play are portrayed as extremely weak, passive, and submissive, illustrating the power dynamics between men and women. Cordelia of King Lear stays true to herself by not grovelling to her father to gain land and power, instead she tells him that she loves him as much as being his daughter says she should and he banishes her. Gertrude is not the only woman in Hamlet with a strong sense of dependency on men. This, however, made her a little like Ophelia who depended upon the men in her life. Hamlet, the most famous play in the English language, was popularized by the best known poet, William Shakespeare. Though they may seem non-knowing of all the corruption around them, women are still responsible for the corruption throughout the play.
O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! Therefore, Hamlet, unfolds a nuanced view of the subtle patriarchy, within the plot, that ultimately demonstrates the complexity of human nature and the need one feels to fulfill and deviate from an assigned role. Since he is expected to behave politely at all times due to his station, Hamlet does not feel as though he can express the hurt he feels to anyone, and instead keeps it bottled up inside. Hamlet himself rails against each of them separately, for very different reasons, in misogynistic rants which accuse women of being sly seductresses, pretenders, and lustful schemers. More often than not, literature shows women in a negative light. He is only able to release this anger when he is approached by another woman,… Gender Role in Hamlet As in many biblical stories, history has proven time and time again that it is women who have always corrupted humanity. This denial is in itself ridicule, as it presupposed that Ophelia was lying about the gifts.
Both Ophelia and Gertrude were in extreme high position s in the country. He had the capacity to manipulate her, and he did. Here Hamlet lies to Ophelia about his affections towards her claiming they were not real and he should not have believed her. In reading Hamlet, it can be concluded that the main character Hamlet has formed an overall stereotype on what he perceives all women to be. When speaking to Hamlet, curious to know if he has gone mad, Hamlet yells "Mother, you have my father much offended," III,iv,11. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008.
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In addition, the play portrays how men and women may stick together in same sex roles in certain situations. As much as Hamlet seems to be depressed about his father's death in some way or another his madness always seems to come back to Gertrude. Gertrude whose husband passed away recently in the beginning of the novel, she quickly married her brother-in-law. In the play it is very obvious that he is heartless towards the opposite sex by the actions that he takes and the words that he speaks. These two women have no choice… Feminism in Hamlet Loyalty or betrayal, nobody can definitely point out what the truth is; but something that seems like the truth may not always be correct. Thus, being one of the leading causes to their tragic death. He then attempts to form a relationship with Ophelia, whose weak naive nature demolished any prospect of love.
