Hamlet And Ophelia

Introduction

“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.

Throughout the entire novel Ophelia is controlled, dominated, and manipulated by men. This is reflected through her actions and her speech. Having no female alliances or friends, Ophelia has no one to confide in or to relate to. Ophelia is expected to be submissive and obedient by other characters, especially the main character, her love interest, Hamlet. Her first sign of submission can be seen when she is talking with her father, Polonius, in Act I Scene 3. After confessing that Hamlet “hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me,” Polonius quickly tells her to never speak to Hamlet again,”As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to't, I charge you.” Ophelia quickly obliges,”I shall obey, my lord.” This shows us that Ophelia is too weak to stand up to or challenge any male authority. Another example of Ophelia’s submissiveness can be seen in Act I Scene 3 when she is speaking with her brother Laertes. After Ophelia has confessed that Hamlet has shown affection to her, Laertes responds with an excuse as to why Hamlet will not actually pursue her as a wife or lover. Laertes claims that Hamlet is predestined from birth to marry someone of a nobler class. “For he himself is subject...

... middle of paper ...

...drinking a poisoned goblet of wine, unaware and oblivious to the fact that it was poisoned. Yet another example of Gertrude’s weakness can be seen in Act 4 scene 3. After Hamlet murders Polonius, he tells his mother to, “Not this, by no means, that I bid you do—Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed” meaning to not allow Claudius to have his way with her in bed again. Shortly after Hamlet leaves, Gertrude quickly reveals to Claudius that Hamlet has murdered Polonius. She was more willing to reveal secret information to her husband of only two months, than to keep the information hidden upon request of her son of thirty years Hamlet.

Both female characters in Hamlet are depicted as weak, dependent, and powerless. They are controlled by the male characters in the play, and never stand up to any authority regardless of the effects this has on themselves.