Representation Of Women In Shakespeare's Hamlet

707 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women and feminity in hamlet

As the years pass the idea of treating women poorly has died out quickly. Although modern day society is very hostile towards anything even remotely sexist, there is a benefit to seeing how the opinions about women have changed over time. The female characters portrayed in Shakespeare's Hamlet are used as a pawn, only to quicken plot development. Their characters either lack depth, or are killed off where their death can then only end up being forgotten quickly. The main female characters are Ophelia and Gertrude, who are Hamlet’s girlfriend and mother respectively. Ophelia is the only female who undergoes an actual change in her character, but is killed off and is forgotten instantly by the male characters. Roles portrayed by women in the
The female roles are looked at as unimportant and disposable and are portrayed as such. With Hamlet getting over Ophelia’s death in such a short amount of time and with everyone pausing for only a few seconds for Gertrude’s death, it shows that these characters were to only have minor influence and should be forgotten about quickly. The deaths serve as quick plot development with no real emotion attached to either death from any characters. Shakespeare seems to be pointing towards saying that these characters were nothing really special, even though the most tragic part of the entire play was Ophelia’s fall into madness due to her losing everything. Ophelia being used by her father and abused by Hamlet further reinforce the notion that she was treated like property, to be used in any way possible to benefit Polonius. Gertrude is rarely mentioned as she only serves as an extra character for Hamlet to be angry at, with her character being static throughout the play. Gertrude has no extra roles in the plot and serves as another receiver of Hamlet’s verbal abuse. The sexism that was present in Shakespeare’s time is prevalent in all his plays, with Hamlet not being an

Show More
Related

  • Gender Roles In The Great Gatsby And Hamlet

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    In both texts, the two main female characters; Ophelia and Daisy, are subject to the stereotypical gender roles. Ophelia is inclined to be dependent on the males in her life. Polonius orders Ophelia, “I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment leisure, As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.”(Shakespeare 1.3.132-134). Ophelia obeys his orders and this demonstrates how

    Read More

  • Misogyny In Hamlet Essay

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is one of the most controversial characters from all of the Shakespeare’s play. His character is strong and complicated, but his jealousy is what conduces him to hate women. He sees them as weak, frail, and untrustworthy. He treats Ophelia, the women he loves, unfair and with cruelty. Similarly, he blames his mother for marrying her dead husband’s brother, who is now the King of Denmark. Hamlet’s treatment for women stems from his mother’s impulsive marriage to his uncle who he hates and Ophelia choosing her father’s advice over him.

    Read More

  • Laertes Use Of Feminism In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1260 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play “Hamlet” it is only possible to analyze feminism through the characters of Ophelia and Gertrude. It is, however, evident that Shakespeare avoided fully developing their characters because they are given lesser stage time compared to characters like Hamlet who is dominant throughout the play. The women are not seen to be participating in any significant decisions and are occasionally yelled at by the male characters. An interpretation can be drawn from the fact that the women are not given enough time on stage and it may be a representation of how women were silenced at the time the play was being prepared. The woman appears to be a victim of silencing and not being given an opportunity to express her thoughts historically.

    Read More

  • Ophelia Character Analysis

    1373 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Hamlet is set in the late middle ages, in Denmark. A time in history when women were not respected and thought of as the inferior sex. There are two women characters in Hamlet; Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest. Magda Romanska the writer of “Ontology and Eroticism: Two Bodies Of Ophelia”, argues that Ophelia represents the typical idea of women in the nineteenth century. I agree with this, but argue that it is not the only aspect of Ophelia’s character. Ophelia becomes the bearer of Hamlet’s hatred toward the world, and is also the character of lowest status because she is an average women. Ophelia surrenders herself to the cruelty of those around her, and sacrifices her sanctity to please and conform

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Hamlet in William Shakespeare's Play

    2037 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Role of Women in Hamlet in William Shakespeare's Play Gertrude and Ophelia, the only two women in Hamlet, reflect the general status of women in Elizabethan Times. Women were suppressed by the males in their lives (brothers, fathers, and partners) and were always inferior. Ophelia and Gertrude have little or no power due to restricted legal, social and economic rights that were found in Elizabethan society. The male characters in Hamlet reflect this sexist view point, represented by Hamlet’s judgement that “frailty, thy name is woman”. This view was not uncommon in Shakespeare’s time and heavily influenced Shakespeare to present women the way he does in Hamlet.

    Read More

  • Destroyed by Sexuality

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, women are oversexualized, and are given no role other than to be the item of a man’s desire. The promiscuity of the only two women in the play, Gertrude and Ophelia, detracts from their power and integrity, and allows Hamlet a certain amount of control over them. Gertrude’s sexual lifestyle is often mentioned by her son, Hamlet, and Hamlet uses his knowledge of Gertrude’s sexuality as a means to criticize her. Ophelia’s sexuality initially appears to be controlled by Laertes and Polonius, and Hamlet takes advantage of the naive image that she is required to keep. However, in her later madness, Ophelia taints this image by revealing that her innocence is feigned. By exposing the sexual natures of both Gertrude and Ophelia, Hamlet strips these women of any influence they may have had, and damages their once-honourable names.

    Read More

  • Hamlet from a Feminist Perspective

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Hamlet, shows strong prejudice against woman especially with such characters of Ophelia and Gertrude. Shakespeare created an interesting character with Gertrude; he created a character that sits in the middle of all the conflict and appears to not partake in much of it. However Gertrude does seem intent in defusing it at every possible chance she receives. Gertrude is a central figure in the play. She appears a great deal but doesn’t say much – implying mystery and creating an interesting uncertainty in the audience. Hamlet spends a lot of time dwelling on her marriage to Claudius and Shakespeare leaves many questions unanswered with Gertrude such as did she have an affair with Claudius behind old hamlets back? Why does she drink the poisoned wine that is intended for her son? Does she know it is poisoned? Gertrude is the mother of Hamlet and although they do not have a typical mother son relationship she does love him. Queen Gertrude is often interpreted by many as an adulterate, incestuous woman. Catherine Belsey states that typical interpretations of Hamlet maintain: ‘Gertrude a slut; and Shakespeare a patriarchal bard’ (Belsey,1997:34). Gertrude’s actions throughout the play could be read to show her to be a very passive character, far from a strong independent woman. This is shown with her obedience to Claudius, three times during the play, Gertrude is told to leave and each times she complies without hesitation. In Act 1, scene 2 Claudius says to Gertrude, ‘Madam, come’ (122). Then again, Act 3, scene 1, Claudius says to her, ‘Sweet Gertrude, leave us .’ (28), she complies with ; ‘I shall obey you’ (37). And finally, in Act 4, scene 1, Claudius say, ‘O Gertrude, come away!’ (28). This obedience that Gertrude ...

    Read More

  • Men Overpowering Women In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mostly, men are the ones included in the dialogue while rarely women were allowed to make their own decisions in this play. Hamlet by William Shakespeare shows that females are often looked down upon and mistreated, this is shown through the two female characters Ophelia and Gertrude. Often, women are looked at as objects; this happens to Ophelia when she returns love letters to Hamlet. In act three, Ophelia tries to give Hamlet his love letters that he had written for her back.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Hamlet

    1513 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since Hamlet is notoriously the worst to the female sex, we will start with the assault on his character. Hamlet said "Frailty, thy name is woman,“ thus Hamlet believes his men are the epitome of stability and strength, right? Not really, but Hamlet's attitude toward women is definitely sexist and biased, and his hate seems to emanate from his revulsion at his mother's marriage to Claudius, which he considers “unfaithfulness” to his dead father. His attitude is totally unjustified.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women in Hamlet

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    The mindset of the unequal genders in the past is thought to have influenced the way playwright William Shakespeare portrayed females in his plays. Shakespeare exemplified this in his revenge tragedy Hamlet, written in 1601 with one of the most significant characters, Gertrude. She is central to the plot due to her relationship with the main character, Hamlet, being his mother. However, not only is she the mother to the tragic hero Hamlet, she is also widow to his late father, King Hamlet Senior, and also newly wed to Hamlets uncle, Claudius. In this tragic play, we witness not only the downfall of women of the play in general, but specifically the falling out of Gertrude as a mother to Hamlet, as a wife to the new King Claudius, and as a woman herself.

    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

  • Gertrude and Ophelia

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    For many years, in the older eras, women had always been categorized as insignificant, and worthless. Because of this, women were forced to conform to the stereotype of depending on men, and were subjected to what the men said. William Shakespeare demonstrates this in the play Hamlet. The women are portrayed to deserve their fate because of their inability to be independent and their ability to be easily influenced. In the play, Shakespeare demonstrates that both Gertrude and Ophelia deserve their fate.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Role of Women in Hamlet

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    For many years in the past women played a small role socially, economically, and politically. As a result of this many works in literature were reflective of this diminutive role of women. In Elizabethan theatres small boys dressed and played the roles of women. In contrast to this trend, in Shakespeare's Hamlet the women in the play are driving factors for the actions of many other characters. Both Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet's love, affected many of the decisions and actions done by Hamlet.

    Read More

  • Anti-Feminism In Hamlet

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s dramatic works there is no room for the heroic or the strong woman, and therefore many of his plays can be perceived as being antifeminist. Often he portrays women as weak, mad, sexual, and as even witches. Hamlet is no exception. The only women in the play, Ophelia and Queen Gertrude, are given confined and limited roles. These roles are from a male-dominated viewpoint and only add focus to the male characters instead of incorporating the insight and the impact of the women as well.

    Read More

  • Women in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” women are used as method for men to get what they want. The men in Hamlet, either directly or indirectly continuously use women to acquire something from other men. The only two women in the entire play are Gertrude and Ophelia, who are consistently used by the current king, Claudius, Polonius, and Hamlet. Ophelia is exploited by Polonius and the King (mainly together), and is also used by Hamlet. Gertrude is used by the King, as well as Polonius. In “Hamlet,” the women throughout the play are used as pawns for men to get what they want, mainly from the other men.

    Read More

More about Representation Of Women In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Open Document