“Frailty thy name is woman” (1.2.150). A statement as such today will be regarded as sexist and may aggravate women who do not fit that stereotype. In the Shakespearian time period women were socially degraded and were inferior to men. The society win which Hamlet, from the play Hamlet, resides in is a patriarchal society – a system where men are in authority over women in all aspects of society. In the play Hamlet, women are portrayed as weak and inferior through the dysfunctional relationships between father daughter, Polonius and Ophelia, the royal family, Claudius and Gertrude, and Hamlet and Ophelia; objects that assist or hinder the actions of men and lack positive roles in the play.
From Act I scene 3 we see Polonius as a caring father who is looking out for his daughter by objecting to her dating prince Hamlet. “Affection! Pooh, you speak like a green girl, unsifted in such perilous circumstance” (1.3.101-2). He is merely telling Ophelia that she is too innocent to know the true nature of the world. However, he goes on tell her that she is only as valuable as her virginity and that she should do as he says. ” Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Set your entreatments at a higher rate than a command to parley” (1.3.120-3). Analyzing the text through a feminist lens we notice the negative stigma women may …show more content…
Overall “Frailty thy name is woman” (1.2.150) represents the attitude towards women in Hamlet. Ophelia and Gertrude are portrayed as weak and insignificant; so weak in fact that the only two women take their own lives. This attitude today would not be accepted as we live in a time where women are equal to men. The idea that women are weaker or insignificant compare to men was clearly the prominent idea during the time of
From Act I scene 3 we see Polonius as a caring father who is looking out for his daughter by objecting to her dating prince Hamlet. “Affection! Pooh, you speak like a green girl, unsifted in such perilous circumstance” (1.3.101-2). He is merely telling Ophelia that she is too innocent to know the true nature of the world. However, he goes on tell her that she is only as valuable as her virginity and that she should do as he says. ” Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Set your entreatments at a higher rate than a command to parley” (1.3.120-3). Analyzing the text through a feminist lens we notice the negative stigma women may …show more content…
Overall “Frailty thy name is woman” (1.2.150) represents the attitude towards women in Hamlet. Ophelia and Gertrude are portrayed as weak and insignificant; so weak in fact that the only two women take their own lives. This attitude today would not be accepted as we live in a time where women are equal to men. The idea that women are weaker or insignificant compare to men was clearly the prominent idea during the time of