Hamlet, Prince of Denmark written by Shakespeare had the potential to become one of the greatest play ever written. Even though it was written during the renaissance period, many of the ideas and theme in hamlet translate into the modern society but there is some theme that does not convert every well. William Shakespeare explored mortality, the human spirit and what happens to the human spirit when it challenged by fate. Hamlet shows the how life was during the renaissance period, one of these are how women are viewed during that time. Women are often shown as fickle things, whom often need men to tell them how to live. There are two every important female character in the play: Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is characterized as a shallow
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Although she is a woman of such a status, she is portrayed as shallow person who only cares about her body and external pleasure. William Shakespeare had the chance to depict Gertrude as a doting mother but instead she is characterized as a woman with no backbone. She is clearly defined by her need of attention and affection. Hamlet address this behavior by "Frailty, thy name is a woman" (Shakespeare. I.ii.146). This quote demonstrates hamlet's weak state of mind and Gertrude's fragile state. Gertrude all throughout the play has no courage, she never voices her own opinion. She often times agrees with the man who has the strongest voice as shown by, "be thou assured, if words is made of breath and breath of life, I have no life to breathe what thou hast told me" (Shakespeare.III.iv.201-203). As this scene progress, she slowly begins to understand hamlet condemnation toward her. Gertrude is convinced by hamlet's persuasion thus showing that she often needs men to show what to feel and how to think. This also shows how Claudius managed to convince her to marry him so quickly after the late king's death. Gertrude betrays the late king and hamlet by marrying the late king. In agony after his father's death, Gertrude does little to comfort hamlet or explain why she re-married. This negligence toward Hamlet, she becomes one of the most hated characters in the readers mind and awful mother. In the end, …show more content…
Ophelia is a young girl, daughter to Polonius, and sister of Laertes, who both makes decisions for her and refrain her from having any independent thoughts. Shakespeare gives another example of how women are treated. Ophelia should be able to make her own decision, she should be able to choose who to love but ultimately Laertes makes the decision for her. Ophelia is a pushover character who lets everyone and anyone walk over her. Hamlet, who once had a crush on Ophelia, does not spare any thoughts for her when he began to plan his revenge for his father. Hamlet admits that he never loved Ophelia and instruct Ophelia "Get thee to nunnery" (Shakespeare .III.i.122) rather than give birth to sinners. Hamlet wishes to send her to covenant so she can stop being a harlot that he deems all woman to be. Even the death of Ophelia represents her role in the play. As Gertrude described her death as she was finally home and she looked like she belonged in the water (Shakespeare .IV.vii.187-200). Ophelia is like the water in many ways, she is someone without shape and often transforms herself under Polonius and Laertes command. In some way her madness allowed her to be finally herself since there is no man instructing herself how to act.
The role of the women in the play is far from being equal to men, they are simply used as plot devices to push this play into
Although she is a woman of such a status, she is portrayed as shallow person who only cares about her body and external pleasure. William Shakespeare had the chance to depict Gertrude as a doting mother but instead she is characterized as a woman with no backbone. She is clearly defined by her need of attention and affection. Hamlet address this behavior by "Frailty, thy name is a woman" (Shakespeare. I.ii.146). This quote demonstrates hamlet's weak state of mind and Gertrude's fragile state. Gertrude all throughout the play has no courage, she never voices her own opinion. She often times agrees with the man who has the strongest voice as shown by, "be thou assured, if words is made of breath and breath of life, I have no life to breathe what thou hast told me" (Shakespeare.III.iv.201-203). As this scene progress, she slowly begins to understand hamlet condemnation toward her. Gertrude is convinced by hamlet's persuasion thus showing that she often needs men to show what to feel and how to think. This also shows how Claudius managed to convince her to marry him so quickly after the late king's death. Gertrude betrays the late king and hamlet by marrying the late king. In agony after his father's death, Gertrude does little to comfort hamlet or explain why she re-married. This negligence toward Hamlet, she becomes one of the most hated characters in the readers mind and awful mother. In the end, …show more content…
Ophelia is a young girl, daughter to Polonius, and sister of Laertes, who both makes decisions for her and refrain her from having any independent thoughts. Shakespeare gives another example of how women are treated. Ophelia should be able to make her own decision, she should be able to choose who to love but ultimately Laertes makes the decision for her. Ophelia is a pushover character who lets everyone and anyone walk over her. Hamlet, who once had a crush on Ophelia, does not spare any thoughts for her when he began to plan his revenge for his father. Hamlet admits that he never loved Ophelia and instruct Ophelia "Get thee to nunnery" (Shakespeare .III.i.122) rather than give birth to sinners. Hamlet wishes to send her to covenant so she can stop being a harlot that he deems all woman to be. Even the death of Ophelia represents her role in the play. As Gertrude described her death as she was finally home and she looked like she belonged in the water (Shakespeare .IV.vii.187-200). Ophelia is like the water in many ways, she is someone without shape and often transforms herself under Polonius and Laertes command. In some way her madness allowed her to be finally herself since there is no man instructing herself how to act.
The role of the women in the play is far from being equal to men, they are simply used as plot devices to push this play into