Objectification Of Female Characters In Hamlet

Although William Shakespeare and Jane Austen lived in different time periods and wrote their works in different formats many of the same archetypes and stereotypes are used in both of their works. Austen and Shakespeare took a similar approach to the portrayal of female characters within their works, however in Austen’s novel it acted as the focal point of the story and took a more liberalized appearance because of the time gap. The male dominated view of a female’s place in society historically is explored in both stories. The similar representation of female characters is shown to exist in both Emma and Hamlet because of the dialogue between characters and actions taken by them outlining the stereotypes and objectification of female characters …show more content…
Elton “Are you imagining me to be Mr.Elton’s object” illustrating the portrayed objectification of female characters that Emma is no longer her own identity, but rather an item of Mr.Elton. In Hamlet Polonius is using ophelia as an object to advance in rank (Austen 136). The objectification of Ophelia is depicted by the scene when Polonius finds out that Hamlet is mad, and he assumes the reason is because his affections toward Ophelia were denied so although before he believed that Ophelia and Hamlet could never marry, but since now that Hamlet is mad with the only way of curing him being marriage to Ophelia he sees the opportunity of securing himself a higher rank through the usage of his daughter “come, go with me. I will go seek the king. this is the very ecstasy of love” (1.2.113-118). Female characters display the portrayal of objectification through their own actions as well. Emma views Mr. Elton’s proposal to her as a person attempting to advance themselves in society instead of reflecting on past events to see if his feelings toward her are genuine causing her to turn herself into an object of monetary value that others want to steal and that she has to fend off “He only