In Hamlet, women are portrayed to be submissive and nurturing, causing them to be labeled either a ‘good girl’ or a ‘bad girl.’ These stereotypes have negative effects on all, even men.
Women are meant to be submissive, emotional, and maternal, if they do not have these traits they are portrayed as abnormal and a ‘bad girl.’Ophelia and Gertrude--the only female characters--were subject to stereotypes and gender roles. Ophelia, for example, was a soft, fragile girl who is submissive and follows the patriarchal standards. Because of this she is labeled a ‘good girl.’ “Good girls’ typically tend to want to be saved by a man and are placed on a pedestal-- if she is a good girl that is all she can be, there is no room for her to do anything she
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She makes decisions based on her desire for love and affection. Gertrude uses men in order to get what she wants. Her attractive aura is formed by her sexuality. Even when Claudius is tending to important tasks, he cannot wait to get back to bed with Gertrude. Dependent on the men in her life, Gertrude had to be submissive and compliant. This was Hamlet's major problem with his mother. In Act 1 scene 2, Hamlet expresses his exasperation and need to communicate his distress, “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.”
The ghost conjectures the cause of Gertrudes sudden marriage is her palpable lust. “So lust, though to a radiant angel linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed And prey on garbage. (1.5.55–57)” The ‘garbage’ in his quote is referring to Claudius. Claudius defines Gertrudes reputation and relationships. Hamlet’s words, rather provocative, alter our perception of Gertrude. He cajoles the audience into making us believe that she is pretentious, self-absorbed, and lustful, even though she says nothing within the play to confirm
Also, the fact that the ghost claims Gertrude was seemingly virtuous can be seen as an attempt for him to gain more
JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2866964. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023. "Gertrude is not a shallow or evil woman but a good and gentle one, misled by a male world" (Heilbrun, 225). "Gertrude is a radical figure in the play, for she defies the norms of femininity and motherhood by prioritizing her own desires and needs" (Heilbrun, 226). “Guilt makes you so full of stupid suspicions that you give yourself away because you’re trying so hard not to”(Shakespeare 235).
Instead of admitting her wrongdoings and regretting her choices, she undervalues Hamlet's distress and misery by telling him, “you answer with an idle tongue” (III.iv.14). Gertrude continues to engage in wrongdoing alongside Claudius since she lies to herself and Hamlet by dismissing that her behaviours are tainted and immoral. Her failure to discern horrific activities leads her to blindly accept the sinful actions of herself and the other characters in the play. As a result of her unchecked corruption, her soul undergoes moral decay comparable to “an unweeded garden / [t]hat grows to seed.
A quote from Megan Wray states, “Patriarchy has infiltrated our society so deeply that if women don’t follow a strict set of ‘proper’ behaviours, they’re immediately deemed wicked. That’s default-evil until proven good” (Wray, 2021). This quote relates to Shakespeare’s misogynistic depiction of women as evil if they are not subservient to their husbands, quiet, and naive. Consequently, when analyzing Hamlet written by Shakespeare from a feminist perspective it is evident that women are portrayed as wicked, impulsive, and superficial. These sexist stereotypes are greatly depicted in Act 1 Scene 5 of the play.
Justine Leleng Mrs. Wojciechowicz English 12 March 29, 2023 Viewing Hamlet through a Feminism Lens Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a timeless tale known for its revenge, betrayal, and tragedy. While the play is known for its character, Hamlet, viewing the story through a feminist lens offers us a fresh perspective on the story. Hamlet's actions and behavior throughout the play directly contribute to the tragic demise of his mother Gertrude and his lover Ophelia, showing us the destructive consequences of unresolved emotional trauma and the dangerous effects of toxic masculinity on relationships. Toxic masculinity is a recurring theme in Shakespeare's Hamlet, as male characters often treat women with condescension and control. An example of this masculine
In Scene 1 Act 2 she says “Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet; I pray thee stay with us; go not to Wittenberg" (1.2,18-19) she’s trying to protect Hamlet but not seeing that she’s actually hurting him. What made Hamlet mad was that she had married her uncle two months after his father’s death. Gertrude causes the main problem in Hamlet’s life and she does it by only thinking of herself.
Every modern society since the beginning of time has painted the female as frail and individuals at the mercy of men, unable to reap the same freedoms and aspirations as their male counterparts. The English Renaissance is no different as women were not allowed to play themselves on stage, and more often than not were seen as weak characters in their portrayal. In Shakespeare's “Hamlet”, all the female protagonists all have flaws that eventually leads to them meeting their deaths. The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude are two different women trapped in the same predicament, partly being due to the inefficacy of being taken seriously, and are therefore perceived as feeble women; looking at the persona of Ophelia, she tends to follow the direction
His beliefs shape the audience’s perceptions of women throughout the play. Hamlet’s attitude towards Gertrude and Ophelia reflects the prevailing misogynistic values of the time period, stereotyping women as weak and helpless, and condemning them for having opinions.
Throughout Hamlet, the thoughts, intentions, and actions of all of the characters can be explained through predisposed gender roles in the play. Hamlet is a tragedy in which the main character, Hamlet, attempts to seek vengeance for his father’s murder, while the relationships with him and around him begin to strain. In the play, gender plays a huge role in assuming the capability and worth of people. Women are most commonly depicted as being weak, powerless, and confused, while men are commonly shown as being strong, analytical, and intuitive. Hamlet features Ophelia and Gertrude as the only two female roles, and even then they show little independence from the males.
To begin, Gertrude is a victim because she is naive that eventually leads to her death. At the end of the play when Hamlet and Laertes are fencing, Gertrude unknowingly drinks the cup of wine filled with poison. Even after Claudius warns her not to drink it, she persists and tells him, “I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me” (5.2.318). Gertrude here thinks
In conclusion, the character of Gertrude in the play Hamlet is complicated and can be viewed in several different ways. Throughout the play, readers attempt to interpret her motives and the actions that she takes. Whether or not she knows Claudius is a criminal and whether or not she loves Hamlet are two questions that are asked about Gertrude’s character. Shakespeare leaves room for the reader
Hamlet: a Feminist Perspective Hamlet by William Shakespeare is considered to be the apogee of canonical texts. Hamlet who is seen to be the hero, seeks revenge of his uncle for killing his beloved father and marrying his mother. In the finale, all characters find an unfortunate end and leave the kingdom of Denmark to prince Fortinbras who coincidentally passes through to invade Poland. The play Hamlet has received great stricture from feminist critics due to the actions and behaviors of many of the characters in the play. Feminism is “the advocacy of woman 's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men” (Dictionary.com).
Hamlet’s dislike of women is shown through his behavior and language toward his mother, Ophelia, and women in general. In the play it is very obvious that he is heartless towards the opposite sex by the actions that he takes and the words that he speaks. During the time that this play was written women were viewed as insignificant human beings. Hamlet found himself having feelings for a woman and he does not know how to portray these feelings because he holds his mother responsible for his inability to love Ophelia.
For numerous years in the past, women always play a smaller role in society politically, economically, and socially than men do. This was a norm for everyone living during that time period; everything that people do was reflect by it, including the literature written. In William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, the roles of women are just as society would have displayed them during that time. The leading women, Gertrude and Ophelia, are seen as less valuable than men and insignificant because of their dependence on male authorities, obedience, and are easily manipulated by others throughout the play.
Scene I. Lines 1-25). Gertrude’s words show she had moved on from King Hamlet’s death too fast because Hamlet was still grieving while she did not care anymore. The rush into marriage with Claudius shows Gertrude is weak and relies on men. Claudius