THE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN HAMLET
Hamlet presents the dramatisation of the helplessness of the "feminine" qualities in the context of a patriarchal society. The two main female characters in Hamlet are Ophelia, Hamlet's lover and daughter of the lord chamberlain, Polonius and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother who is now in an incestuous marriage with Claudius, the present king of Denmark and is the widow of the old king Hamlet. Throughout the play, these two female characters are portrayed as weak, vulnerable and powerless. The men in their lives have complete control over them as is shown by the actions in the play, their willingness to do exactly what they're told and to agree to everything that is said to them. They do not appear to have a mind of their own and if they did they would certainly have more control over their lives. They both also commit sins against the rules of the Catholic religion.Ophelia is easily persuaded to stop seeing Hamlet. She lacks the strength that would enable her to stand up for her lover or help her endure the murder of her father later on in the play. Ophelia's thoughts and actions show she is completely obedient to her father. Her cruel actions towards Hamlet also demonstrate her obedience to Polonius, as she goes against her
She is annoyed with Hamlet as he has upset Claudius and speaks : 'Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended'Gertrude is easily persuaded to act in ways others want her to act. It demonstrates Hamlet's agonised state of mind but to a great extent Gertrude does seem morally frail. 'It is very clear that Ophelia still has feelings for Hamlet and she still loves him, even though she has told her father she will obey his command and no longer see Hamlet. This shows that Polonius has complete control over his daughter and that she will do anything that he desires to please him. For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act; and an act hath three branches- it is to act, to do, to perform; argal, she drown'd herself wittingly. It is clear that Hamlet,and most probably the many other male characters in the play think that women are weak. Gertrude finds it difficult to stand up for herself and her son and she is easily influenced by Claudius. Her incestuous marriage to her brother in law is a sin against the Catholic religion, as is the adultery she committed before the old king Hamlet's death. Gertrude's adultery shows the weakness of her character. Ophelia shows how upset she is when she realises Hamlet is acting strangely and she speaks : 'Oh my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted'She is a very vulnerable character in that she lets Polonius and Laertes use her like a puppet in an attempt to see if Hamlet's sudden madness follows as consequence of the love she is unable to repay him with, as she was told to keep away from him by her father and her brother. Throughout the play, she spends most of her time trying to appease those around her. It is clear that she has infact taken her life and not accidentally fallen into the river as is shown by the words spoken by one of the clowns (grave digger) : 'It must be 'se offendendo'; it cannot be else. The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude in Hamlet show the dramatisation of the "feminine" qualities in the context of a patriarchal society and this is an intention made by Shakespeare. 'Ophelia's later actions sacrifice her personal feelings for Hamlet under the command of her father, proving her complete obedience. However, she is not ignorant towards society's expectations and she is capable of understanding that she should not let her love of Hamlet cloud her judgement, as she is so told by Laertes and her father.
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