Examples Of Ophelia's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet

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Hamlet’s Treatment of Women “ Abuse is a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current partner” (“What Is Relationship Abuse?”). Throughout the play Hamlet deceives and manipulates Ophelia and Gertrude. Hamlet’s insanity and changing attitude ultimately resulted in the deaths of everyone in his life, especially the women. Hamlet’s treatment of women was greatly influenced by the time period and the way women were perceived. Women had to be pure and innocent for a man to love her, and their feelings were unimportant.
He took me by the wrist and held me hard.
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face …show more content…

Long stayed he so. (2. 1. 85-89)
Ophelia expresses her fear of Hamlet and that he was acting unusual, Polonius and Claudius ignore Ophelia’s fright and try to decipher the cause of Hamlet’s madness. Men did not care about women’s feelings or thoughts, Hamlet grew up being exposed to women being ignored and used. Hamlet’s treatment of women was not only a cause of his madness, but also how he was raised.
During the beginning of the play, Ophelia and Hamlet seem to have a sweet and flirtatious relationship. Although it would seem Hamlet’s true intentions were loving to Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes warn her of making herself to available and that her reputation could be tarnished.
Have of your audience been most free and …show more content…

Ophelia’s emotions were devastated and she went mad. Ophelia began wearing flowers in her hair and dressing distraughtly. Ophelia sang songs with explicit terms about sexuality, destroying her pureness. Ophelia’s madness led to her beautifully tragic death. Many questioned her death as a suicide or accidental, Ophelia’s death was a suicide due to the torment Hamlet put her through. “And pathetic as Ophelia's madness is, it is also, we feel, the kindest stroke that now could fall on her. It is evident, I think, that this was the effect Shakespeare intended to produce. In her madness Ophelia continues sweet and lovable” (Bradley). Ophelia’s madness was seen as a relief from the torment she endured from Hamlet. Even in death she was seen as a weak and beautiful soul. Hamlet’s feelings to Ophelia became confusing when he learned of her death. He swore that he loved Ophelia more than anyone else in her life, but he was the one who caused her misery. Hamlet and Laertes fought over who loved her more in her grave and this was seen as a strange reaction since they disrespected her grave. Hamlet’s inconsistency for Ophelia continued after her death, and she died never knowing Hamlet’s true feelings for

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