The Treatment of Women in Hamlet

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The Treatment of Women in Hamlet

The treatment of women in Hamlet is very troubling. The leading female characters, Queen Gertrude and Ophelia, are pawns or puppets for the men around them. Like chess pieces, they are moved about and influenced by the men they love with little say of their own; in fact, Shakespeare does not even develop their characters.

Of course, Hamlet is the whirlwind at the center of attention throughout the play, one who is incredibly difficult to understand. To me, he appears to be an adolescent completely out of control. Virtually everyone tries to pacify him, yet nothing seems to work, and the more they pamper the worse he becomes; reminds me of the old cliché, give an inch, take a mile. He continues to act out, as a child would after losing a favorite toy. I do understand Hamlets anger i.e., Gertrude's collaboration with Claudius being crowned King, and especially her subsequent marriage. However, Hamlet should have been wise enough to know she was manipulated by Claudius. The state of Denmark was at war and vulnerable to attack; without strong, experienced leadership and diplomacy it could have fallen to its enemies.

One must keep in mind Hamlet was at school in Wittenberge when he received word of his father's death. I am sure, during the ten days required for his travel back to Elsinore, Claudius, Polonius, noblemen and others conspired to grab the crown. To me, considering Hamlet's emotional makeup this was an infinitely wise decision even Gertrude approved. Queen Gertrude indeed had her share of faults, primarily her hasty marriage; however, in the end, she simply chose order, over the chaos war would have brought to Denmark and its people. I bel...

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...76. Rpt. in Women Reading Shakespeare 1660-1900. Ed. Ann Thompson and Sasha Roberts. New York: Manchester University Press, 1997.

Pennington, Michael. "Ophelia: Madness Her Only Safe Haven." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of "Hamlet": A User's Guide. New York: Limelight Editions, 1996.

Pitt, Angela. "Women in Shakespeare's Tragedies." Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint of Shakespeare's Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.

Sardone, Frances J.: Gertrude: Queen of Denmark, Available: http:www.netaccess.on.ca/~frances/gertrude.htm

Shakespeare, William: Hamlet. Published by Penguin 1996.

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html

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