Hamlet: The Roles Of Gertrude And Ophelia

During the Elizabethan time period women were not given a substantial amount of power. Although their position did not supply them with control, they had a considerable amount of influence, especially on men. In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Gertrude and Ophelia take on the roles of a woman during this time period. Exemplifying the essential role they play in Hamlets life. The women’s roles especially Gertrude’s and Ophelia’s, in Hamlets life is an essential factor in what dictates his actions, they are preeminent components as to why he does the things he do. In the tragedy of Hamlet, the death of the king brings chaos within the castle walls of Denmark. The queen, Gertrude, marries the brother of her late husband, in effort to obtain
His debased view shows for the first of many times in Act 1, Scene 2 “Let me not think on’t it, frailty thy name is woman!” (146) Hamlet’s view of his mother broadens, to subject all women in general. Instead of angling his emotions specifically to her, he blames women as a whole. As a result, this begins to reflect on his relationship with other people and how he treats them. Willamowski points out, “Whatever the initial cause, the women’s external durability only serves to irritate the unsettled mental state of the protagonist.” (5) Ultimately, Gertrude’s inability to see her wrong and her lack of remorse drives Hamlet into
How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.” ( Shakespeare, 26-29)
Lost in rage and madness Hamlet takes his sword and kills Polonius. Knowing that the queen set him up and feeling the betrayal from his mother put Hamlet in a murderous rage, afterward he shows no remorse. This Act was the beginning of his downward spiral, resulting from his mother destroying their trust. “Their actions resulted from an inner turmoil of feelings which originate with in themselves but, are prompted by a variety of external factors.” (Wilamowski, 5). In other words, Hamlets emotions within himself have been troubling him for a time but this event prompted him to act impulsively. Hamlets marred view of women begins to have an effect on his relationship with Ophelia. As his madness begins to spiral out of control, Ophelia is cautioned to stay away. Although he uses his love for Ophelia to portray false madness, the truth is identifiable in his act. “You should not have believed me, virtue/ cannot so (inoculate) our old stock but we shall/ relish of it. I loved you not.” (Shakespeare, 3.1, 127-129). It is arguable that Hamlet’s harshness towards her was an attempt to protect her from the turmoil’s that was sure to come. But it is also arguable that hamlet pushes Ophelia way because he cannot separate her from the way he now views women. “No independent view of Ophelia is possible because he can only see her as an extension of his agonized relationship to his mother” (Erickson,