The Single Persona of Ophelia and Gertrude
Zoe Altenau
Ms. Herring
AP English
5 November 2013
The Single Persona of Ophelia and Gertrude According to Shakespeare, Elsinore did not require more than two women, let alone two unique women. On a larger scale, the society in which Shakespeare wrote agreed that most women were indistinguishable: women in general did not hold positions of prominence and did not demand recognition. In all of Shakespeare’s plays, a meager 126 female characters develop; of these, Ophelia and Gertrude play minor roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, having a mere 169 lines and 128 lines respectively. Being the only two females in the play, and with Shakespeare’s lack of knowledge that women could have varying personalities, Ophelia and Gertrude manage to possess many similar characteristics. In fact, they are so similar that one could argue, if convinced an Oedipus-complex exists, there is no need for two separate characters. Through their relationships and circumstances, interactions and dialogue, Shakespeare portrays Ophelia and Gertrude as parallel characters. Women during the Renaissance, and even women during any time period prior to the 1900s, were submissive and loyal. Ophelia and Gertrude are no exceptions to this stereotype; they passively listen and, without question, obey their superiors. As Laertes accuses Hamlet of false love, Ophelia agrees saying, “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep” (1.3.44). Soon afterward, Polonius demands that Ophelia avoid Hamlet, and Ophelia is obedient: “I shall obey, my lord” (1.3.136). Even in Laertes’ questioning of Hamlet’s feelings, Ophelia admits that, as a woman, she should not have her own thoughts: “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (1.3.104). She repeats this degrading fact saying, “I think nothing, my lord” (3.2.107) when Hamlet asks what she thought he meant in mentioning a virgin’s legs. In 2.2 lines 110-113, as Polonius attempts to raise his popularity among the court, he reads a personal letter from Hamlet to
Ms. Herring
AP English
5 November 2013
The Single Persona of Ophelia and Gertrude According to Shakespeare, Elsinore did not require more than two women, let alone two unique women. On a larger scale, the society in which Shakespeare wrote agreed that most women were indistinguishable: women in general did not hold positions of prominence and did not demand recognition. In all of Shakespeare’s plays, a meager 126 female characters develop; of these, Ophelia and Gertrude play minor roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, having a mere 169 lines and 128 lines respectively. Being the only two females in the play, and with Shakespeare’s lack of knowledge that women could have varying personalities, Ophelia and Gertrude manage to possess many similar characteristics. In fact, they are so similar that one could argue, if convinced an Oedipus-complex exists, there is no need for two separate characters. Through their relationships and circumstances, interactions and dialogue, Shakespeare portrays Ophelia and Gertrude as parallel characters. Women during the Renaissance, and even women during any time period prior to the 1900s, were submissive and loyal. Ophelia and Gertrude are no exceptions to this stereotype; they passively listen and, without question, obey their superiors. As Laertes accuses Hamlet of false love, Ophelia agrees saying, “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep” (1.3.44). Soon afterward, Polonius demands that Ophelia avoid Hamlet, and Ophelia is obedient: “I shall obey, my lord” (1.3.136). Even in Laertes’ questioning of Hamlet’s feelings, Ophelia admits that, as a woman, she should not have her own thoughts: “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (1.3.104). She repeats this degrading fact saying, “I think nothing, my lord” (3.2.107) when Hamlet asks what she thought he meant in mentioning a virgin’s legs. In 2.2 lines 110-113, as Polonius attempts to raise his popularity among the court, he reads a personal letter from Hamlet to