Abuse Of Power In Hamlet Essay

827 Words2 Pages

Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a timeless work of literature that explores human nature, society's hierarchy, and the quest for power. The two main female protagonists in this story, Ophelia and Gertrude, navigate a society dominated by patriarchy and cultural expectations. Examining these individuals illustrates the many ways in which they navigate and are bound by their society's patriarchal systems. The extent to which Ophelia and Gertrude are powerful or powerless is a contentious issue, reflecting the larger contradictions between independence and subjection that women suffered during Shakespeare's period. The daughter of Polonius and Hamlet's love interest, Ophelia, is a prominent symbol of powerlessness in this play. She is initially portrayed …show more content…

Her marriage to Claudius shortly after her son Hamlet's death was a central conflict in the play. Gertrude's decision to remarry can be looked at as a strategic move to secure her own position within the court. This displays the power and influence she wields in certain aspects, being able to make a decision that impacts the royal lineage and state of Denmark. Claudius also needed to marry Gertrude to legitimize his claim to the throne, furthermore displaying her significance in the royal hierarchy. However, the power she holds does not stop her from being subjected to patriarchal standards and mistreatment. Her new husband, Claudious, heavily controlled and mediated her life, and she was often found acting in a manner to please his interests and needs, exemplifying that she still holds a dependence on male power for her security. In Act 4 Scene 1, after Hamlet kills Polonius, Gertrude immediately reports this incident to Claudius "Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend which is the mightier. In his lawless fit, behind the arras hearing something stir, whips out his rapier, cries 'A rat, a rat! and in this brainish apprehension kills the unseen good old

Open Document