Female oppression, otherwise known as misogyny, has a prominent role in society and influences social norms, as well as many pieces of artwork and literature. In Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Ophelia’s character is heavily influenced by the men in her life, and her behavior takes a turn towards madness. The feminist critic, Elaine Showalter, argues in her work, “Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism,” whether Ophelia becomes mad from patriarchal control or from love. Ophelia is from a society where feminism and femininity are seen as weak, and she is driven into madness by the actions and words of Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet. In Elizabethan society, males have more dominance and
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Any feminine characteristics in men, such as crying or showing intense emotion, are seen as pathetic. Hamlet comes from a royal family and must act accordingly; therefore, he is not allowed to show his softer side. This conformity causes him to lash out at people who he is close to, such as Ophelia, even though she does not wrong him in any way. Equally important, Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, attempts to persuade Ophelia into thinking twice about her love for Hamlet. His advice does nothing, but place more stress on Ophelia to make a decision. He says, “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor, / Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, / A violet in the youth of primy nature, / Forward, no permanent, sweet, not lasting…” (Shakespeare I. iii. 6-9). Laertes warns Ophelia to not get involved with Hamlet, and this circumstance results in no other choice, but for Ophelia to obey her brother's wishes. On the other hand, one could argue that Ophelia’s madness directly comes from her love for Hamlet. Showalter says, “[Ophelia] has fantasies of a lover who will abduct her from or even kill her …show more content…
Polonius and Claudius demand, "Ophelia, walk you here...Read on this / book, / That show of such an exercise may color / Your loneliness" (Shakespeare III. i. 48-52). Ophelia is used as bait to catch Hamlet in his own acts of madness, and she is seen as nothing more than an object that Polonius and Claudius can use in their plan. Ophelia is put in a potentially uncomfortable situation to lure Hamlet, and the men appear to disregard Ophelia's distressed emotions. Near the end of the play, however, Ophelia is nearly past the point of madness and she sings, "Young men will do 't, if they come to 't; / By Cock, they are to blame. / Quoth she 'Before you tumbled me, / You promised me to wed" (Shakespeare IV. v. 65-68). Songs about marriage and a woman losing her virginity before marriage directly reflect Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet; this suggests Ophelia becomes mad from love and a broken heart, rather than from a man's verses. Contrary to this belief, feminist theories claim that Ophelia is a "...strong and independent woman destroyed by the heartlessness of men..." (Showalter 235). Ophelia's character is broken down piece by piece as her mental psyche diminishes into nothing. The male figures in her life put a strain on Ophelia's mental and physical state, so much to the point where she can no longer take care of
Any feminine characteristics in men, such as crying or showing intense emotion, are seen as pathetic. Hamlet comes from a royal family and must act accordingly; therefore, he is not allowed to show his softer side. This conformity causes him to lash out at people who he is close to, such as Ophelia, even though she does not wrong him in any way. Equally important, Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, attempts to persuade Ophelia into thinking twice about her love for Hamlet. His advice does nothing, but place more stress on Ophelia to make a decision. He says, “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor, / Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, / A violet in the youth of primy nature, / Forward, no permanent, sweet, not lasting…” (Shakespeare I. iii. 6-9). Laertes warns Ophelia to not get involved with Hamlet, and this circumstance results in no other choice, but for Ophelia to obey her brother's wishes. On the other hand, one could argue that Ophelia’s madness directly comes from her love for Hamlet. Showalter says, “[Ophelia] has fantasies of a lover who will abduct her from or even kill her …show more content…
Polonius and Claudius demand, "Ophelia, walk you here...Read on this / book, / That show of such an exercise may color / Your loneliness" (Shakespeare III. i. 48-52). Ophelia is used as bait to catch Hamlet in his own acts of madness, and she is seen as nothing more than an object that Polonius and Claudius can use in their plan. Ophelia is put in a potentially uncomfortable situation to lure Hamlet, and the men appear to disregard Ophelia's distressed emotions. Near the end of the play, however, Ophelia is nearly past the point of madness and she sings, "Young men will do 't, if they come to 't; / By Cock, they are to blame. / Quoth she 'Before you tumbled me, / You promised me to wed" (Shakespeare IV. v. 65-68). Songs about marriage and a woman losing her virginity before marriage directly reflect Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet; this suggests Ophelia becomes mad from love and a broken heart, rather than from a man's verses. Contrary to this belief, feminist theories claim that Ophelia is a "...strong and independent woman destroyed by the heartlessness of men..." (Showalter 235). Ophelia's character is broken down piece by piece as her mental psyche diminishes into nothing. The male figures in her life put a strain on Ophelia's mental and physical state, so much to the point where she can no longer take care of