Group+7

Andrew Moriarty Jennifer Steinruck

__Hamlet: Role of women__

Women play a small role when compared to the men in Hamlet. This role is the same throughout Hamlet and it seems Shakespeare wrote Hamlet portraying his secondary views of women. In the 17th Century women were viewed as weaker and less than men. This is very evident in Gertrude's and Ophelia's characters. They get used by the male characters in the play in order to find out if Hamlet is crazy.

Within Act one, scene 3, Shakespeare introduces the reader to Ophelia. Daughter to Polonius and Sister of Laertes, Ophelia is one of the two major female characters in the novel. She is thrown into the plot because of her intimate relationship with Hamlet. In this scene Laertes and Ophelia talk about this relationship. Laertes states "...on his choice depends the safety and the health of this whole state. Therefore his choice must be circumscribed unto the voice and yielding of that body whereof he is the head...". this passage states that Hamlet is king, to be, and even if Hamlet tells Ophelia that he loves her, his decision is heavily weighted on his state. This means that Ophelia could be put second to the thrown if he declares he is not in love. Laertes then continues to say be careful to which Ophelia replies "I shall to the effect of this good lesson keep".

Now in the same scene, after Laertes leaves, Polonius enters and on has a discussion with Ophelia on the same subject, Hamlet. Polonius declares "I would not in plain terms, from this time forth have you so slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to 't. I charge you. Come your ways". His words are more demanding and stern towards Ophelia. She is told not to see the Man who she has feeling for. This is curious because no one says anything to hamlet on who he should see, but Ophelia is told by two other characters in the novel that she should not see hamlet. This reaction hints that males are allowed more access to women but Females are sternly judged when it comes to their men. Also, before Laertes goes to school in France, Polonious just tells him to have fun and be careful, but when Ophelia talks to Polonius about Hamlet, Polonius is very quick to make rules. It just shows that even in families, there is a major difference between how men and women are treated. The males in the family can do almost whatever they want to, but the women of the family have to do what their father or brothers tell them to do. This just shows that women don't have any choice who they can have relationships with.

Within Act two, scene 1, Ophelia runs into Polonious' chamber distraught and bothered. She states that hamlet had came to her that night and looked horribly mangled. Polonius asks "is he mad for thy love?" , which she returns "My lord, I do not know, but truly I do fear it.". This passage conflicts with Ophelia's thoughts of Hamlet during Act one. then as the Act continues in scene 2, with his new knowledge, Polonius decides to confront King Claudius. During their conversation Claudius and Polonius scheme a plan to confront Hamlet about his love for Ophelia, By using Ophelia as bait to spur him into a rant of confession while they hide behind an arras."Be you and I behind an arras then. Mark the encounter. If he love her not, And be not from his reason Fall'n thereon, let me be no assistant for a sate, But jeep a farm and carters.".(page 93, Polonius) These two men are planning to use Ophelia. This is a grand example of the secondary role of women. Polonius chooses to use his own Daughter in a goal to find Hamlets madness.

Also in this act Gertrude Declares her thoughts that Hamlet is mad because of his father's murder, not due to Ophelia's rejection. "I doubt it is no other than the main, his father's death and our o'er hasty marriage." Although, Polonius and Claudius don't listen to her because shes a woman. If a man would've thought this, then most likely more of the characters would have payed attention.

In Act 3, Polonius and Claudius use Ophelia to find out for sure if Hamlet is crazy or not. This scene is the first scene in the Act and Ophelia is told to "Read on this book", states Polonius, "That show of such an exercise may color your loneliness.". In other words she is told to stay put, pretending to read while she waits for Hamlet. Then enters Hamlet in deep thought"To be or not to be.."(page 127, Hamlet). After the two say there greetings, Ophelia tries to give back Hamlet's love and at this Hamlet's words turn into a rant of hatred towards Ophelia and women in general. He states"...I did love you once"," go thee to a nunnery", and then towards women he states,"...God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another. you jig and amble, and you lisp; you nickname god's creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance.". Hamlet plays with Ophelia's emotions here. When Ophelia tries to give back her love Hamlet denies he loves her, but says that he did love her before. Then Ophelia's emotions are even more strained when hamlet starts to insult her. Ophelia's character is breaking down. But Hamlet doesn't just insult her, he insults all women in general saying that they make a new face with all the make up they put on. This is ironic in the sense that women put make up on for two reasons. One to look good and two to look good for men. In fact women want to look good to compete with other women to gain an advantage in the eyes of the men. so for him to insult women for trying to compete for the affection of men is truly ironic.

Ophelia was thrown into this emotional battle by Polonius and Claudius who still wish to pursue Hamlet's reasons for madness. Claudius, Polonius, and Hamlet use her, and cause her to be emotionally confused after Hamlet tells her that he doesn't love her and questions her honesty. Polonius decides to use Gertrude, Hamlets mother, instead of Ophelia to again question Hamlet's madness. This is an indicator of Shakespeare's view of women, and how he sees them as second class citizens because of the way male characters in the novel use women to find out information.

Within Act four, Gertrude shows who she is more devoted to when Claudius suggests they send Hamlet away, and she doesn't even try and change his mind. Claudius murdered her first husband, and now hes sending away her only son. The women seem to depend on the men in their lives to fix their problems. Gertrude left it up to Claudius to take care of Hamlet after he murdered Polonius. Also in the same act they find out that Ophelia has become crazy because of her father's death. She starts singing about her father, " Say you? nay, pray you, mark. [Sings.] He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone; At his head a grass green turf, At his heels a stone" (Ophelia). When people thought that Hamlet was crazy everyone was concerned and wanted to know why, but when Ophelia became crazy they weren't as concerned about her.

Within Act five, scene two A jousting match between Hamlet and Laertes begins. This scene is one of the major scene's in the book because it contains the death of four character's. One of which is Gertrude, the queen. Her death is one that parallels the theme of mistreatment of females. Her death comes when the King puts poison in a drink intended for Hamlet. To show love for her son Gertrude raises the cup to drink."Gertrude, do not drink" yells king Claudius. He proclaims his caring for her at this moment. But when Gertrude responds."I will my lord; I pray you forgive me." He does not stop her. This is interesting and may suggest Shakespeare's view of women. Claudius decides at that very instant that she is not worth it. That she is not worth losing his crown. Claudius's decision shows the last role play of Hamlet. The scene shows that women, compared to men, have a secondary role in society, even to politics. Even when Gertrude was dying from drinking the poison, Claudius said "She swoons to see them bleed," he doesn't even try to help her or keep her from dying.