especiallyemma

Analyzing the role of women in Hamlet.

In Hamlet, William Shakespeare shows that women have little power or control in their lives. The two main female characters often find themselves controlled or judged by the men in their lives. Through Ophelia’s obedience to her father, the instructions she receives, and Prince Hamlet’s treatment of Queen Gertrude and his love interest, Ophelia, the play reveals how male authority limits women’s independence and ultimately contributes to their suffering. Their actions and decisions are shaped by the authority of fathers, husbands, and sons, leaving them with little opportunity to act independently.

Throughout the play, the female characters have been given orders to follow by the male characters. For example, both Polonius and Laertes have told Ophelia not to trust Hamlet. She replies to this by saying, “I shall obey, my lord.” (Shakespeare 1.3.145). This response from Ophelia also proves that she doesn’t question her father’s power. Rather, she immediately accepts her father’s order and follows it without showing any signs of resistance. This proves that the women in the play must submit to male authorities, such as fathers and brothers. Ophelia’s obedience also proves that women have limited power in the play, as her opinions of and feelings for Hamlet are overridden by the orders given by the male characters.

In addition to controlling her personal relationships, the male characters in the story also use Ophelia for their own interests. Polonius informs Claudius that he should arrange for Ophelia to encounter Hamlet, and they should observe their meeting secretly. Polonius says, “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him” (Shakespeare 2.2.176). This scene reveals that the male characters in the story use Ophelia, not because they care for her, but because they want to observe how she influences Hamlet. They do not care about how they use Ophelia in their strategy. They have made her a part of their strategy, and this reveals that women have no power over their roles in the story.

Throughout the play, Hamlet expresses anger toward the female characters, in particular Ophelia. Initially, when Polonius asks if Hamlet has said anything to her that would explain his unnatural behavior, Ophelia mentions, “something touching the Lord / Hamlet” (Shakespeare 1.3.96-97). She shows concern toward Hamlet, if a little hesitantly. If she didn’t notice the change in the moment, now she does in hindsight. Ophelia insists on describing her relationship with her father, claiming “[Hamlet] hath importuned me with love / In honorable fashion” (Shakespeare 1.3.119-120), claiming that Hamlet loves her. However, Ophelia recognizes the changes the next time they speak:

“My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, / Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, / No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, / Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle, / Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, / And with a look so piteous in purport / As if he had been loosèd out of hell / To speak of horrors—he comes before me” (Shakespeare 2.1.87-94).

This shift from declarations of love to odd dishevelment is something Ophelia is aware of after her father brings it up. From Ophelia’s point of view, Hamlet’s sudden change in behavior and how he treats her is in stark contrast to how he acted before. Ophelia initially struggles to understand Hamlet’s sudden change in behavior, which contrasts sharply with the affection he previously showed her. The behavior could be interpreted as a temporary irritation or an emotional episode rather than a permanent shift in character, though Hamlet is the only one to truly understand the reality behind his actions. In his note to Ophelia, Hamlet writes, “Doubt thou the stars are fire, / Doubt that the sun doth move, / Doubt truth to be a liar, / But never doubt I love. / O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not / art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee best, O / most best, believe it. Adieu” (Shakespeare 2.2.124-130). This letter cements his love for Ophelia. However, this is vastly different from how he treats her later, telling her, “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be / a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, / but yet I could accuse me of such things that it / were better my mother had not borne me: I am / very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses / at my beck than I have thoughts to put them / in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act / them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling / between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves / all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery” (Shakespeare 3.1.131-140). Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship is harmful. Hamlet’s actions and harsh switch-up cause ripples in Ophelia’s well-being as she goes from being explicitly loved to being told she is, for lack of a better word, a whore. Hamlet’s harsh treatment of Ophelia reflects the broader lack of respect and understanding given to women in the play. His shift from loving her to rejecting her demonstrates how little power Ophelia has in determining her own fate.

Gertrude is caught in the middle of the conflict between her son, Hamlet, and her husband, Claudius. Hamlet says, “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (1.2.161-162), referring to how quickly Gertrude remarried after the death of her husband. This shows that Hamlet thinks very badly of his mother and believes that she was weak by remarrying quickly after her husband’s death. It should be considered that, even though Gertrude was queen, she may have had to remarry quickly in order to maintain peace and stability in Denmark. Nevertheless, it is clear that Hamlet is intent on criticizing and blaming Gertrude instead of considering her situation and how it is difficult for a woman to be in such a powerful position.

However, some readers might argue that the women in the play do have some influence, particularly Gertrude, the queen of Denmark. As queen, Gertrude holds a position of authority, participates in court discussions, and has sway with Claudius and other court members. Yet, despite her position, she rarely opposes Claudius or makes any decisions of her own. Instead, she tends to follow his lead and be passive throughout the play. She immediately married the new king, Claudius, after her former husband’s death, which might have been a way for her to retain what power she had as queen. It might also have been done to do what was best for her son. At the very least, she is somewhat aware of her position in the conflict between Claudius and Hamlet: “To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is), / Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. / So full of artless jealousy is guilt, / It spills itself in fearing to be spilt” (Shakespeare 4.5.21-25). This shows that she is guilty because she has committed sins and sins by association. She is aware that guilt is full of silly jealousy and could make her appear guilty. She realizes that she could have prevented all of the suffering. By talking to Ophelia, she is making it so she doesn’t seem guilty and doesn’t feel overwhelming guilt. Regardless, Gertrude contemplates the fact that Claudius killed King Hamlet. If she were to confront Claudius, her status as queen could be threatened. This indicates that even women of high status are still subject to the power of men.

In Hamlet, Shakespeare demonstrates that women have limited control over their lives, as seen through Ophelia’s obedience, the manipulation she experiences, and Hamlet’s treatment of both her and Gertrude. Ultimately, the play reveals how male dominance restricts women’s independence and adds to the, though mostly emotional, suffering of its female characters.

Work Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Dr. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2012.