Essay On Disrespect In Hamlet

In William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, the main character has just recently lost his father and suspects, after a visitation from his father’s ghost, that he was murdered. In Act 3 of the play, also known as the climax, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is pent up with anger regarding the suspicious nature of his father’s passing. As an outlet to release his anger he is not respectful to the women whom he interacts with. Two main characters receive of this disrespect and they are Ophelia and Queen Gertrude. They alone bear the brunt of Hamlet’s anger by receiving derogatory comments and snarky remarks. One example of this is when Hamlet is talking to Ophelia before the plays begins. He says, “Lady, shall I lie in your lap?” (III.ii.119). The double

meaning on the word lie, to actually lay ones head in the others lap and to have sex, lead Ophelia to believe that Hamlet is suggest that they should have sex. This disrespectful way of talking to lady who is of noble birth was unheard of in the Elizabethan Era and was considered to be quite crude.

Hamlet however, continues his rude remarks by say what lies between maids laps is “nothing” (III.ii.128). In this case the word nothing does not mean what is usually does and instead has a double meaning for a vagina. With his vulgar language and his profane comments Hamlet takes out his anger on someone with less power than he has, praying in the weak in order to make himself feel better. Another character who weathers Hamlet’s coarse commentary is his mother, Gertrude, whom he disrespects the most using her as a punching bag in order to vent out his own anger. After the play has taken place and the king leaves in the middle of it, clearly troubled by Hamlet’s scene resembling his father’s death, Gertrude calls her son to come to her bedchamber. There, Hamlet says to his mother in response to her questioning him, “Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue” (III.iiii.15). Gertrude is the only character in the play to call Hamlet out on his nasty remarks because she is one of the only characters who Hamlet’s has a personal relationship with. Even his schoolboy friends whom he has known for years he

distrusts. It is because of this personal tie that Gertrude is able to say to Hamlet “Have you forgot me?” (III.iiii.18). The Queen is reminding Hamlet that she is his mother, to whom he owes respect. She also attempts to show him that he is being rude and that may pass with everyone else but not her. In the end however, Hamlet uses his force to subdue his mother, forcing her to listen to his harsh words. Hamlet projects all his insecurities onto others and preys on them in order to make himself feel better. It is his anger and fear of himself that are the cause of his insecurities, causing him to abuse the women in his life.