Hamlet a Feminist Approach Essay examples - 1224 Words

Hamlet: A Feminist Approach Sexism: the belief or attitude that one sex is inherently superior to, more competent than, or more valuable than the other (most commonly used for male superiority). This idea that women are weak is not a new one in the modern world. It has been studied for countless years along with the concept of a patriarchal society. A patriarchy is defined as a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. Such systems currently exist in several forms and areas around the world; however, the most common place for these patriarchies is in literature. Novels, plays, works of nonfiction, and other forms of literature have shown to either â€Å"reinforce or undermine the†¦show more content†¦Tender yourself more dearly, or—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, running it thus—you’ll tender me a fool† (31). Here, Polonious clearly shows that he does not care as much as for Ophelia as he does for his reput ation, suggesting that he thinks that women are inferior. In addition, Ophelia’s lack of refusal to being pushed around while submitting to her father’s oppression contributes to her being portrayed as a weak, frail woman. The single response to her father’s lecture on her relationship with Hamlet is â€Å"I shall obey, my lord† (31). She truly has no say in important decisions either. For example, she was asked to spy on Hamlet by her father and Claudius, and no option was provided to say no, simply because it was expected of her to follow the orders of the males present. As Polonius and Claudius spy on Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet and Ophelia’s dialogue shows the degradation of females. Hamlet says, â€Å"†¦for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too† (31), describing his disgust and lack of trust for women in marriages, thinking they are all uncommitted deceivers. Hamlet, as the plot progresses, eventually accidentally kills Polonius, leaving Ophelia with no close family and influences left. When she comes to the King and Queen insane, Claudius says, â€Å"Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs all from her father’s death, andShow MoreRelatedFeminism in both Hamlet and Lady Oracle Essay1179 Words   |  5 Pagesworks, Hamlet and Lady Oracle, chart both the life’s course of their main characters and underline the protagonist’s trajectory in some decisive moments of their existence, when both of them, Hamlet and Joan Foster, need to take some decisions which may change their destinies. In this brief essay I will try to point out similarities and differences between these two stories taking into consideration a feminist approach. First and foremost I would like to mention what do I mean by feminist approachRead MoreEssay about Ophelia: Harshly Criticized1027 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, has been subject to evaluation for centuries. Each character has been broken down and analyzed. The psychology of each character has been examined. Every relationship has been studied to find more answer surrounding the play. Harold Bloom and Sigmund Freud have examined it extensively. Scholars have dissected all parts of the play. One character that has recently been analyzed more and more is Ophelia. She has been defended byRead MoreThe Role Of Female Characters In Hamlet1347 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet is a play about death, revenge, and love. Written by William Shakespeare, this play is famous around the world for its dramatic plot. The central theme of Hamlet is love. The story starts off with a Queen falling in love with the brother of her husband. The Quee n decides to quickly marry the brother of her previous husband, when her previous husband suddenly dies. Her son (Prince Hamlet), who loves his biological father and disagrees with his mother’s quick decision to marry, is quite saddenedRead MoreConflict Between Hamlet And Laerte By William Shakespeare1564 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout Hamlet, several characters die. For most, this happens through combat, such as the duel between Hamlet and Laerte, which kills them both. In the play, however, two characters die in quick, seemingly careless ways. The first, the fair Ophelia, is killed by her own madness in what seems to be suicide. The other, Gertrude, dies due to the carelessness of her husband, who accidentally poisons her. In both of these cases, their deaths, and the events that led to them, represent a differenceRead MoreLiterary Criticisms of Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pages This essay will discuss several literary criticisms of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. After skimming through several articles, I ended up with four peer-reviewed journal articles, each a different critical perspectives of the play: feminist, psychoanalytical/freudian, moral, and new historicism. My previous studies of Hamlet, as well as my rereading of the play this semester, has collectively given me a general knowledge of the text. My familiarity of the play made it easier for me to decipherRead More Feminine Representation in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay2628 Words   |  11 PagesFeminine Representation in Shakespeares Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Abstract: This essay employs Feminist Criticism, New Historicism, and Marxist Criticism, to analyze the portrayal of Queen Gertrude and Ophelia.    Because Shakespeares Hamlet centers on the internal struggle of the Prince of Denmark, the reader focuses primarily on his words and actions.   An often overlooked or under appreciated aspect of the play is the portrayal of the female characters, particularly Queen Gertrude and OpheliaRead MoreHamlet s Life And The Way That He Portrays Women Essay1007 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s Hamlet, there is no doubt that Gertrude has had quite the major impact on Hamlet’s life and the way that he portrays women. Gertrude is the only woman in Hamlet’s life, so his view on women is strictly based off of what he knows about his mother. But is Gertrude a horrible mother? Is she a good mother? Is Ophelia a whore, or is this assumption based solely on Hamlet’s perspective of his mother? These questions can be answered through both a psychological and feminine approach, alongRead MoreBrothers Grimm and Beautiful Mind1109 Words   |  5 Pagesbiography of the mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., Sylvia Nasar quotes one of his colleagues: All mathematici Premium 2568 Words 11 Pages * A Critical Analysis of Feminist Theories Concerning the Representation of Women in Advertising. A Critical Analysis of Feminist Theories Concerning the Representation of Women in Advertising. There are many forms of feminisms which often contradict each other and focus their efforts on issues which reflect their local concernsRead MoreFeminist Theory Applied to Hamlet2809 Words   |  12 PagesRepresenting Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism Elaine Showalter Though she is neglected in criticism, Ophelia is probably the most frequently illustrated and cited of Shakespeare’s heroines. Her visibility as a subject in literature, popular culture, and painting, from Redon who paints her drowning, to Bob Dylan, who places her on Desolation Row, to Cannon Mills, which has named a flowery sheet pattern after her, is in inverse relation to her invisibility inRead MoreFeminist Criticism Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1838 Words   |  8 PagesFeminist Criticism of Hamlet â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman† (1.2. 150)! This controversial line, followed by several more from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, displays a common view towards women that portrays them as being weak and reliant on men. Throughout the play, two women, Ophelia and Gertrude, are shown to be dependent on the men in their lives. They both take on a senselessly obedient state of mind. Even though they share this common characteristic, Ophelia and Gertrude are very different