Hamlet
Women in the past, especially in Elizabethan times, heave played a relatively insignificant role in politics, economy, and the overall social scene. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet" Ophelia and Gertrude, these lone female characters, are subjected to such degrading and underestimation of women. Their actions are questionable by times, the reason perhaps, being related to their position in society. Despite where they stand among a male dominated world they are, however, significantly influential throughout the play . This essay will discuss the position of women in Elizabethan times, the actions of Gertrude and Ophelia, and the reasoning behind their behavior. One major difference between Elizabethan males and females was that Elizabethan women and girls were forbidden form entering public schools
She was unable to attend school in Whittenburg or Norway as her brother and other men was capable of doing. Their behavior was the driving factors to the actions of the men around them. Her youthfulness could have bee the reason why her brother, Laertes, and father, Polonuis, felt it was their duty to guide her while she makes certain decisions. They were, however, allowed to hire personal tutors, so not all women were uneducated. Because of this, women usually became housewives, but not to worry they were still greatly respected by the men of the household. Regardless of social position, women were not permitted to enter professions in the medical, law, political or army fields. Although these two, Gertrude and Ophelia, were relatively minor characters, their involvement in the play was crucial to the development and execution of the most important sections of "Hamlet". Women, also, were not entitled to their father's estates at that time and so it may have been a wise decision for Gertrude to get remarried, although she did so without the approval of her son , Hamlet. It is obvious that her judgment may not always have been seen as wise. She clearly had no say in her own life, much like most women during the Elizabethan time period. Being of a youthful nature, Ophelia's behavior was that of immaturity. Women , on average, gave birth every two years and so consequently, larger families were produced. Their position as women undoubtedly was the cause of their tragic fates and the men in their lives executed the final factor of their deaths. Could it be that she was afraid to go husbandless for the pressure of ruling a country alone would be too much for her? The rule of women was not greeted with delight during the Elizabethan period and so I presume there was pressure from her community to remarry fast.
Common topics in this essay:
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Gertrude Ophelia,
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Whittenburg Norway,
,
position women,
elizabethan period,
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