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Ophelia's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet Essay

1118 Words5 Pages

Women are conveyed as dispensable, hysterical characters ruled by their feelings. Consequently, their motives and thoughts are insignificant and only become of relevance when in relation. This reflects attitudes of that rime when men dominated and womens submissive role was clearly defined. The interpretation of Ophelia’s character depends upon whether she is viewed by a Shakespearean audience or a modern one. Ophelia’s response to her brother suggesting he is “like a puffed and reckless libertine” could be seen as a “feisty “ response to her brother as she is subtly referring to his “sexual “ activities and in doing so suggesting he is hypocritical to reprimand her relationship with Hamlet. Questioning a male would have been shocking …show more content…

However, it could be that Castiza’s lack of obedience is due the fact it is her mother who is asking her, had Vindice or Hippolito ( her brothers) insisted that she obey directly (and not in disguise ) she may have followed their orders. Misogyny is an attitude that is rife , at times, in the play Hamlet. Hamlet displays a complete lack of respect for Ophelia taunting her feelings by claiming “ I did love you once” and then a few lines later “I loved you not”. Her feelings are disregarded and completely insignificant to him and a Shakespearean audience would have been neither appalled, nor concerned, expecting Ophelia to take the criticism and keep her feelings confined. This portrays sheer impudence to women , conveying that the attitude of that time was one that put no consideration towards the feelings of women. A particularly powerful line would be “ Get thee to a nunnery! “ where the emphasis has been altered by various directors, placing large amount of empathy, or indifference in the actors tone. Consequently, this brings into question Hamlet’s true “feelings” towards

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