Shakespeares Hamlet - To what extent do you consider the female roles in the play to be subordinate to the male roles?

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To what extent do you consider the female roles in

 the play to be subordinate to the male roles?

In Shakespeare’s day women played a small role socially, economically and politically.  As a result of this, many works in literature were reflective of this diminutive role of women.  Women were not allowed to perform on stage that meant that, in Elizabethan theatres, men dressed up as women and played their parts.  So, female parts were kept relatively small when it came to writing plays.  This could be why Shakespeare might have under developed the female role in Hamlet.  

One of the two females in the play is Gertrude.  Her role in the play is a significant one.  First of all for being the mother of the main character, Hamlet, whom she influences throughout the course of the play.  Secondly, for being married to the villain of the play, Claudius, who has murdered her first husband.

Hamlet’s first soliloquy suggests that Gertrude has rejected the traditional way that a woman should behave when she is widowed.  He says “For Hecuba! / What’s Hecuba to him, or he to her” (Act II, Sc II, Ln 555-556).  Hecuba was a mythological queen representing a grieving mother, and Gertrude does not fulfil this role.  Hamlet’s constant repetition of the time in which took the two to get married “But two months dead … A little month … Within a month … Most wicked speed” (Act I, Sc II, Ln 138-156). This has the affect of outlining Hamlet’s supposed contempt of his mother only mourning a month.  There could be two possible reasons for this quick re-marriage.  The first is that she has rebelled against tradition and married out of her own choice.  Certainly in Zefferelli’s film version of Hamlet, a stronger and younger Gertrude is portrayed than the impression given in Shakespeare’s play.   The opening scene of the film suggests that Gertrude has chosen to marry Claudius rather than grieving her husband’s death.  In Shakespeare’s day this would be an act of defiance, not only against the traditions of society but also against the law.  The marriage to her husband’s brother would have required special permission as in those days the marriage would be illegal.  This would have been an act of courage on Gertrude’s part.

However, Claudius could have forced her to marry him. We already know that he has killed the King, his brother, and his motive would have been the throne.  He is portrayed as a strong, manipulative, sly and deceitful person.  In his opening speech at the wedding banquet, quite politically explained to the public gaining their support even though he admits that the death of his brother and the queen’s husband wasn’t long ago.  He could have manipulated Gertrude in the same manner.

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Certainly, Claudius’ words “Imperial jointress” imply that they have equal power.  However their actions throughout the play are to the contrary.  The king is in control throughout the play, making all the decisions and choosing to refer with Polonius rather than the Queen, who stays very much in the background.  

However, a sign that her lack of involvement might be of her own choice is when, although has got the opportunity, she chooses not to be confrontational with the King when he orders Rozencrantz and Guildernstern to spy on Hamlet.  Instead, she responds, “I shall obey you” ...

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