Examine how Shakespeare explores the role of women in Hamlet. What might the response of a modern audience be to this aspect of the play?

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Charis Trehearn 12Toii

AS English Literature Coursework: Examine how Shakespeare explores the role of women in Hamlet. What might the response of a modern audience be to this aspect of the play?

Gertrude and Ophelia, the only two women in Hamlet, reflect the general status of women in Elizabethan Times. Women were suppressed by the males in their lives (brothers, fathers, and partners) and were always inferior. Ophelia and Gertrude have little or no power due to restricted legal, social and economic rights that were found in Elizabethan society. The male characters in Hamlet reflect this sexist view point, represented by Hamlet’s judgement that “frailty, thy name is woman”. This view was not uncommon in Shakespeare’s time and heavily influenced Shakespeare to present women the way he does in Hamlet. In a critical essay, Judith Cook noted that in many of Shakespeare’s plays major women characters ‘die because of direct association with the fate of a tragic hero’. This could be seen as Shakespeare trying to convey women’s fate being a ‘by-product’ of the fate of men- men are superior.

 On the other hand, Ophelia is crucial in understanding Hamlet as a character and gives an insight into different motifs of the play. Some may argue that Ophelia is one of the causes of Hamlet’s ‘madness’ and his recoil from love. The reaction Hamlet has to Ophelia, at the play for example, allows us to watch Hamlet’s disintegration- he is crude and sexually offensive towards Ophelia which allows us to see the way Hamlet is changing throughout the play.

Gertrude is also arguably crucial in displaying motifs of the play. Hamlet sees his mother as a representation of how weak and frail women are-she is the reason he views women in this way. This shapes Hamlet’s opinion of women during the play, and alters his behaviour towards the blameless Ophelia.

Shakespeare presents Ophelia as innocent and naïve. This is emphasized by Laertes’ and Polonius’ concern to protect Ophelia. Ophelia tells her father of Hamlet “he hath importuned me with love in honourable fashion”. Polonius insists that Hamlet will only use Ophelia for sex which Laertes supports. He describes her virginity as a ‘chaste treasure’. Ophelia is viewed by her father, brother, and consequently the audience as a virginal naïve girl.

Her innocence is emphasized when Shakespeare makes a link between Ophelia and flowers, a common symbol of sexual purity. When Polonius is killed Ophelia’s madness develops. She starts carrying and spreading flowers; this is the first connection between Ophelia and flowers in the play. A second link is when Gertrude scatters flowers on her grave. Laertes refers to her as ‘rose of May’ and imagines violets growing from her ‘unpolluted flesh’. Flowers traditionally represent new birth and therefore innocence and naivety. Shakespeare puts Ophelia forward as the innocent, naïve overprotected girl that wouldn’t be uncommon in Elizabethan times due to restricted rights and inferiority compared to men.

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However, Shakespeare’s portrayal of an innocent Ophelia is not a view shared by everyone. Jacques Lacan described Ophelia as an of Hamlet’s male desire. This view could be based on Hamlet’s teasing of Ophelia in ‘The Mousetrap Scene’.

Ophelia. You are keen my lord, you are keen.

Hamlet. It would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge.

Ophelia. Still better, and worse.

Ophelia reacts embarrassed suggesting her innocence and naivety. She parries Hamlet’s jokes and is clearly made uncomfortable by his maniac behaviour. However, as Hamlet is comfortable aiming sexual puns at Ophelia, it creates an ...

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