How Is Hamlet A Sexist

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How can one distinct between the author and the characters thoughts? Plays, novels, films, and other works of art and literature typically reflect the views or events occurring the time period they were created. Because of this, the average views of society are often the views of the author as well. Authors often project their views and opinions through the character. In Shakespeare's’ Hamlet, many of the male characters make sexist comments and view women as lesser than men. But does that mean Shakespeare is sexist? Although women in Hamlet are viewed as weak, and inferior, many of the female roles in other plays are considered powerful and heroic. The treatment of women in Hamlet provokes the reader/audience to feel bad for them. Coincidentally, …show more content…

As Polonius and Claudius become increasingly curious about Hamlet's sanity, they use Ophelia as a pawn for their plan to get to the root of Hamlet’s issue. Polonius believes that Hamlet is acting crazy because he is “lovesick” for Ophelia. So, he spies on an encounter between the two. Hamlet, however, realizes that this encounter is set up and being spied on by Polonius. Therefore, he becomes very irritated and even yells at Ophelia to “get thee to a nunnery” (3.1.131-162). By saying this, he is degrading Ophelia by calling her a whore. He is stereotyping women as whores based on the bad impressions that he has accumulated caused by his mother's betrayal of his father. Not only does Hamlet insult Ophelia's sexuality, he also insults the possibility of Ophelia becoming pregnant. While speaking to Polonius in reference to Ophelia, he exclaims that if “the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion...Let her not walk i’ th’ sun. Conception is a blessing, but, as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to't” (2.2.197-203). This line can be interpreted as Hamlet comparing pregnancy to a dead dog breeding maggots and “sinners”. Hamlet and other characters look down on women in general and “womanly” subjects, like pregnancy. In an essay by Heather Brown called “Gender and Identity in Hamlet: A modern Interpretation of Ophelia”, Brown points out how Ophelia is used “not as a …show more content…

Because of Hamlet’s built up anger towards his mother, he stereotypes all women to be like her. Although this anger towards Gertrude is expressed to all women, it is mostly directed at his mother. Hamlet gets into a major argument with Gertrude about her actions and yells that she is “the queen, [her] husband’s brother’s wife. And- would it were not so!- [she is Hamlet's] mother” (3.4.lines) . By saying this, Hamlet is telling his mother that he wishes she was not his mother, and that is the last thing a mother would want to hear. In this argument, Hamlet is being both mentally and physically abusive to his mother. She even tells Hamlet that he has “cleft [her] heart in twain” (3.4.lines). However, Hamlet does not seem to care, and continues insulting his mother as if she is of a lower value than he is. Hamlet denounces Gertrude's actions by exclaiming, “Frailty, thy name is woman” (1.2.lines). But, instead of Hamlet only insulting Gertrude, he is insulting all women. This statement generalizes the weakness of one particular woman, his mother, to all of womankind. Hamlet is clearly very upset with his mother's actions and because of this, he develops a stereotype towards all

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