In society, everyone has their own view on gender roles. In Hamlet, author William Shakespeare uses foils between multiple characters to display his views on gender roles. Men are seen as leaders, manipulator, and honorable; meanwhile, women are seen as followers, dependent upon men, and questionable. He creates a foil between Hamlet and Ophelia to exemplify these characteristics throughout the play.
Shakespeare crafts the typical power structure upon the two. The contrast between stereotype of leaders and followers are displayed upon the characters, Hamlet and Ophelia, through his responsibilities and her actions. At the graveyard, when Laertes holds off the burial of Ophelia while Hamlet exclaims, “What is he whose grief/ Bears such an emphasis, …show more content…
In the final battle, Hamlet and Laertes are fencing while dramatic irony is in play because Laertes and Claudius have plotted to murder Hamlet. Since Hamlet is poisoned, he has time to plan for last minute decisions such as telling Horatio, “Absent thee from felicity a while./ And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain/ To tell my story” (V.ii.382-384). He uses this chance to make sure that Horatio will be able to tell Hamlet’s story and not taint his name, allowing Fortinbras to understand the true story. On the other hand, Gertrude delivers the news to Laertes announcing, “Your sister’s drowned, Laertes…/ …Fell in the weeping brook. / Her clothes spread wide…/ … But long it could not be/ Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,/ Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay” (IV.vii.188, 200, 206-208). Ophelia accidentally falls into the water trying to look into the water. With her clothes weighing her down, she ultimately drowns due to her weakness. She isn’t able to save herself, therefore her story is lost with her. This is what gives the second gravedigger the chance to question whether or not she deserves a Christian burial in contrast to Hamlet, who is given an honorable and heroic
Shakespeare crafts the typical power structure upon the two. The contrast between stereotype of leaders and followers are displayed upon the characters, Hamlet and Ophelia, through his responsibilities and her actions. At the graveyard, when Laertes holds off the burial of Ophelia while Hamlet exclaims, “What is he whose grief/ Bears such an emphasis, …show more content…
In the final battle, Hamlet and Laertes are fencing while dramatic irony is in play because Laertes and Claudius have plotted to murder Hamlet. Since Hamlet is poisoned, he has time to plan for last minute decisions such as telling Horatio, “Absent thee from felicity a while./ And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain/ To tell my story” (V.ii.382-384). He uses this chance to make sure that Horatio will be able to tell Hamlet’s story and not taint his name, allowing Fortinbras to understand the true story. On the other hand, Gertrude delivers the news to Laertes announcing, “Your sister’s drowned, Laertes…/ …Fell in the weeping brook. / Her clothes spread wide…/ … But long it could not be/ Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,/ Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay” (IV.vii.188, 200, 206-208). Ophelia accidentally falls into the water trying to look into the water. With her clothes weighing her down, she ultimately drowns due to her weakness. She isn’t able to save herself, therefore her story is lost with her. This is what gives the second gravedigger the chance to question whether or not she deserves a Christian burial in contrast to Hamlet, who is given an honorable and heroic