Hamlet's Attitude Towards Ophelia

819 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Interpretation of ophelia in hamlet

Hamlet is known for his madness and his indecisiveness. Another aspect of his character is how he treats other characters in peculiar ways, specifically the women in the play. Gertrude and Ophelia are the only female characters in the play, and their characters are formed by their interactions with Hamlet.

Gertrude and Hamlet have a relationship that leans toward sexual tension and Hamlet seems to be disappointed in his mother. Hamlet’s father and king has died before the play, and now Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, is now king and has married Gertrude. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude’s quick marriage to Claudius, he feels that Gertrude should have mourned longer. The quick marriage of Claudius and Gertrude seems suspicious, especially since Hamlet was next in line for the crown. . He says of Gertrude and her hasty marriage: “‘Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely.that it should come thus,But two months dead—nay, not so much, not two!…Let me not think on’t. Frailty, thy name is woman!” (1.2.135-138, 146).

Even though Ophelia
He projects his feelings of Gertrude to the only other female character in the play, Ophelia. His mother’s sexuality has confused him so greatly, and cast him into great disdain towards Ophelia. When Hamlet says, go to nunnery quote, maybe he is really speaking to his mother. He is sickened by her relationship with his uncle, and wishes her to stay clean, to only be his father’s lover. At the same time, there is tension between Hamlet and Gertrude. There is more sexual tension in the play with Gertrude and Hamlet, than he has with Ophelia. Why would Hamlet seem to have more sexual attraction to his own mother before his romantic partner? Hamlet is in such a tumultuous situation, he cannot control all his emotions. The tension between Hamlet and his mother must have shifted to sexual

Show More
Related

  • Misogyny In Hamlet Essay

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlets ridiculed feelings for women was because of his mother’s disappointing action. Hamlets mothers’ marriage with Claudius not so long after his father’s death did not show her devotion to her husband’s memory in the way a loving wife should. ”O god a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer” (l.2.150) degrading Gertrude, as he believes an animal would find the loss of its mate more upsetting than the queen did when she lost her husband. In his mind women are frail and weak this is why he says that women is just another name for weakness. “Frailty, thy name is woman” (l.2.148) generalizing that all women are frail and incapable to withstand temptation. His bitterness has lead him to believe that all women are dishonest and untrustworthy because his mother easily moved on from the husband she so thought to have loved and worse married his brother a month after his death. Hamlet starts to torment his mother by telling her that she is sleeping with her husband’s killer. “But you live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption and making love over that nasty sty” (3.4.100) trying to make her realize the wrong that she has done, being easy to fall in love with another man because she required comfort. To Hamlet his mother is weak, surrendering to lust, changing Hamlets view and sparking his hate for women, seeing how they are not loyal. “When the compulsive ardour gives

    Read More

  • Ophelia's Tragic Flaw Of Hamlet

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    The life of Hamlet is without a doubt very interesting, he suffers from unfortunate events in his time that are often major blows to his ego. His father dies while he’s away at college, Hamlet is next in line to be king until his “uncle-father” steals it from him; but it is to be known his “uncle-father” would not have stolen it if his “aunt-mother” hadn’t allowed it. It’s very apparent from the beginning of the play that he is very well obsessed with his mother and her doings. He harasses, humiliates, and abuses her because she has done such an unforgivable act by marrying Claudius. His thoughts and feelings towards his mother are very strong and well known, he even describes the odd pair as “little more than kin and less than kind.” That’s not all with Hamlet; his mother remarrying is just the tip of the iceberg so deeply rooted in the ocean of his emotions. His relationship with Ophelia is twisted, Hamlet goes through episodes of

    Read More

  • Janet Adelman's Hamlet

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...Gertrude, as does the incestuous Claudius; thus, Hamlet places his identity with his mother.  Ultimately, Hamlet seeks not to avenge the death of his father, but to save his mother from her own destructive sexuality, and by extension his own self-destruction.  Of course, Adelman prescribes an existential reason to Hamlet's need to rescue his mother; Hamlet needs to "recover the fantasized presence of the asexual mother of childhood" (277).  Hamlet needs to separate his mother from all sexuality in order to reap the stability of her selfhood for his own.  After refusing to sleep with Claudius, Gertrude restores herself in her son's eyes to the status of "an internal good mother" (279).  Hamlet, now, by "trusting her, can begin to trust in himself and in his own capacity for  action; he can rebuild the masculine identity spoiled by her contamination" (279).

    Read More

  • Ways in Which Hamlet's Behavior Was Influenced by Other Characters in Shakespeare's Work

    1380 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many ways that Hamlet and his mother express their feelings for each other. In the beginning, they show tenderness and overwhelming love towards each other. It is Gertrude’s actions that bring out the anger in Hamlet. He cannot understand how his mother could be so disrespectful by remarrying so quickly. Although he honors his mother, he cannot do this upon learning of her engagement.

    Read More

  • Essay On Femininity In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    463 Words  | 1 Pages

    With particular reference to Hamlet, feminist critics might explore the characters of Ophelia and Gertrude and how they challenge—or fail to challenge — the domination of male characters. Feminist critics would also be interested in exploring how the play expresses ideas about femininity that were common in Shakespeare's lifetime and how complicit Shakespeare is in Hamlet's personal misogyny. … Elaine Showalter's essay "Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism" explores the difficulties, even embarrassments, that feminist critics have had in approaching Ophelia. The problem is that Ophelia has tended to be overshadowed by Hamlet, even by feminist critics, who then feel the need to liberate Ophelia from obscurity. However, even liberated Ophelia is problematic for she suggests some potentially troubling connections between femininity, female sexuality, and madness.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet takes control of the conversation from the very beginning of the scene although it is Gertrude who was meant to be rebuking him and doing much of the talking. Hamlet succeeds in shaming her until the point when she begs him to stop. Hamlet having the upper hand in the conversation, asks his mother to change her ways, which she agrees to and asks for his advice, showing that she has submitted herself to her son. Hamlet does not really show much respect for his mother while reproving her and forcing her to sit down but he does love her. Some critics believe that his love shows sexual connotation and that is a reason why he gets so upset at her remarriage. There is a point in this scene when Gertrude thinks her life is in danger of Hamlet and gets frightened, which shows us that she considers him to be mad and harmful. After this scene she becomes aware that Hamlet isn't mad and starts trusting him as opposed to Claudius. This is exactly how Shakespeare has presented women throughout the play: they are easy to convince, very meek and become submissive to the men (as we can see Ophelia and her response to her father and brother). They are depicted as weak and inferior in comparison to the male figures, who control their lives. After the closet scene Gertrude keeps faith to her son and lies to her husband Claudius for Hamlet saying he killed Polonius in his madness:

    Read More

  • Hamlet And Gertrude's Relationship Essay

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet’s relationship with his mother Gertrude is one of mostly rage, hatred, and possibly jealousy that could have been from loving her in a romantic sense. Hamlet finds out that Gertrude marries his father’s brother soon after his father’s death and goes in a fury. He yells at her and he calls her an incestuous beast. Whether or not this is from hatred for Claudius, Gertrude, or even out of jealousy are all cases that can be very well argued. The fluctuating emotions that Hamlet shows throughout is what makes the play so easy to relate to as a human and also what makes the possibility of there being multiple interpretations on how he really feels. Gertrude is also a strange character in that it seems as

    Read More

  • Examples Of Indecisiveness In Hamlet

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oddly, it appears that Gertrude possess more significance to Hamlet than one first anticipates. Her swift call to matrimony leads Hamlet into a spiraling quarry of depression and grieving. This mirrors the Oedipus complex. Gertrude sexually commits herself to Claudius causing Hamlet to feel a sense of jealousy and disappointment. In retaliation, he expresses his repressed desire of love through his unruly comments. He even goes as far as to say that the love is incestuous. Furthermore, in Act 3 scene 4, Hamlet confronts his mother directly in a closet. Addressing concern over her sexual actions, he exclaims “In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed, / Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love / Over the nasty sty” (III.iv.104-106). Not only does this quote show that Hamlet disapproves his mother’s marriage, but also that he believes Claudius is a wicked criminal. Aligning with the Oedipus complex, Hamlet strangely obsesses over his mother’s love life while viewing his uncle in

    Read More

  • Role of Women in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare incorporates many themes and ideas into his play, Hamlet. Of the multiple important ideas, one potentially overlooked is the role of women. Only two of the characters in the play are female. Their lines are scarce, but hold huge importance in relation to the progression and plot of the play. Ophelia, the implied lover of Prince Hamlet, and Queen Gertrude, his mother, do not appear significant, but their actions and characters allow for other events to unfold. Gertrude and Ophelia are manipulated and belittled. In their weak will, they end up betraying Hamlet. Observing their manipulation by other people, Hamlet is able to justify and go through with his actions.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ophelia In Hamlet

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is one of the best of Shakespeare’s plays. The ability to compose speeches and

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Role of Women in Hamlet

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another significant female character is Ophelia, Hamlet's love. Hamlet's quest for revenge interferes with his relationship with Ophelia. There is much evidence to show that Hamlet loved her a great deal, but his pretense of madness drove her to her death. Ophelia drowned not knowing what was happening to her. This can be deduced by the fact that she flowed down the river singing and happy when in truth she was heartbroken. Ophelia was very much afraid when she saw Hamlet "with his doublet all unbraced; No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ancle" (Act #. Scene #. Line #). She described him as being "loosed out of hell" (Act #. Scene #. Line #). In addition to that he scared her when he left the room with his eyes still fixed on her. She is especially hurt when Hamlet tells her that he no longer loves her and that he is opposed to marriage. He advises her to go to a nunnery and avoid marriage if she can.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Gertrude And Ophelia

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gertrude and Ophelia both love Hamlet, yet they love him in different ways. Gertrude, his mother, loves Hamlet in a motherly way, placing his honor under her current husband Claudius, which is Hamlet’s uncle, and also the brother of Gertrude’s deceased husband and Hamlet’s late father. Hamlet thinks of his mother as a whore because she married Claudius right after her husband’s untimely death. Gertrude is not a whore;

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Mother and Son in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    In many of his plays, especially tragedies, William Shakespeare examines the relationships people have with one another. Of these relationships, he is particularly interested in those between family members, above all, those between parents and their children. In his play Hamlet, Shakespeare examines Prince Hamlet's relationships with his dead father, mother and step-father. His relationship with Gertrude, one of the only two women in the play, provides Hamlet with a deep sense of anger and pain. Hamlet feels that Gertrude has betrayed his father by marrying with his brother. Throughout the play, he is consumed with avenging his father's death and all the mistreatment the former King had suffered and still suffers after his life is over. Gertrude adds to the dead King's tarnished memory by not mourning and instead rejoicing in her new marriage. Hamlet is thus extremely angry with Gertrude and expresses this anger towards her directly and indirectly through his words, both to himself and to other characters.

    Read More

  • Anti-Feminism In Hamlet

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is solely focusing on Ophelia sexual organs, “‘nothing’ is what lies between maids’ legs” (222). Ophelia seems not to be offended by this language in the least bit, and her actions cannot accurately portray how the women of that time perceived it. In some senses Hamlet may be a misogynist character and Shakespeare gives readers a reason for it in which it might be excused. It might seem as if his mother’s sexuality has poisoned his own, and he declares in his soliloquy, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (1.2.146). He views her sexual independence as a weakness and is appalled by her choice to remarry so soon after her husband’s death.

    Read More

  • Representation Of Ophelia In Hamlet

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Shakespeare's most well known and extensively reviewed works is Hamlet. Hamlet tells the story of a young prince who attempts to avenge his father’s murder. This story features a variety of characters, one of the most well known being Ophelia. The love interest of Hamlet and daughter of Polonius. She is a young innocent woman who is driven to madness. This character has been examined and written about multiple times. Three of these pieces include Cameron Hunt comparing Ophelia to the biblical character, Kaara Peterson’s analysis of depiction of Ophelia in artworks, and Gulsen Sayin Teker and her study of various depictions of Ophelia in film adaptations of Hamlet. The articles

    Read More

More about Hamlet's Attitude Towards Ophelia

Open Document