Gertrude's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet Essay

Treatment of Women in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Since the dawn of theater women have not had rights equal to men. Women are not only forbidden from acting, but also considered the property of men. This patriarchal society was considered the standard for the life of Shakespeare. The common views on women, primarily negative ones, are portrayed in Hamlet’s Ophelia and Gertrude. These women cover both ends of the spectrum: Ophelia is observed as innocent and submissive while Gertrude embraces her sexuality to maintain her title as Queen of Denmark. Shakespeare’s writings take the culture and social customs of his time and apply them to the play; women of this time were expected to hold a life of servitude to the men around them. It is not shocking that Hamlet follows the same Elizabethan customs he practiced.
Gertrude and Ophelia represent the harsh treatment faced by women during their lives in an anti-feminist society.
Misogyny and women’s inferiority run rampant through the play, and the treatment of Ophelia and Gertrude is devaluing, cruel, and inherently oppressive.

Ophelia’s identity has little recognition by others from the start. Her lack of independence should not be considered a flaw on her disposition but rather than an oppression of her character. On the rare occasions that she is given the opportunity to voice her opinion, it is easily disregarded by the man speaking to her. Surrounded by male critics, Ophelia is taught to confide in the thoughts of others and depend their judgement. As Polonius asks her opinion on a simple question, she responds “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (1.3.104). Gertrude may be the Queen of Denmark, but Ophelia is the queen of indefinite answers. Instances of her ambiguity can be found throughout the entirety of play, but is this a lack of self-assurance or submission to the patriarch? Her lack of self-assurance and submissive tendencies may have easily come from her father, Polonius, making every decision for her. Even Hamlet sees his controlling ways; when Polonius asks Hamlet if he knows who he is Hamlet replies
with “Excellent well; you are a fishmonger” (2.2.173). His use of “fishmonger” does not necessarily mean “a person who sells fish,” but instead takes the Elizabethan slang form as “a pimp.” Hamlet’s confrontation with Polonius does not stop here, as he later calls him “old Jephthah” (2.2.388) in reference to Jephthah’s treatment of his daughter. There are two ways to interpret this parallel of the fathers and daughters. The first is a feminist view by feminist critic Nona Fienberg who states that this is not alluding to Ophelia’s oppression, but her empowerment of her madness as she “substitutes her own desires and mysteries for those which Hamlet hermetically articulates when he describes her as Jephthah’s daughter” (Hunt, 15). In this view, Hamlet knows and respects Ophelia’s true desires, leading to her madness in Act 4. The other view, the contrasting view, Hunt himself believes Ophelia to be merely another pawn in Polonius’ quest for power. However, this view doesn’t just highlight Polonius’ “fishmonger” ways, but the virginity of Ophelia and Jephthah’s daughter. The similarities of the two young women are uncanny; the time it takes for Ophelia’s “descent into madness” and Jephthah’s daughter’s mourning is only two months. This time frame strengthens the correlation between the two, with both dying as virgins in the end. Hamlet’s insults towards Polonius have much consideration. So much so, Polonius recognizes it when he says “though this be madness, yet there is method in't” (2.2.201).