the Betrothed‚ specifically by introducing a minor character with a great backstory. Gertrude‚ also known as “The nun of Monza”‚ is brought into the story when one of the protagonists‚ Lucia‚ is sent to a convent as she has been forbidden to marry her one true love Renzo. Immediately following Lucia’s arrival to the convent‚ Gertrude appears and her life story takes up the following two chapters of the novel. Gertrude grew up at a time when a woman had two choices in life: the first was to find a spouse
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every Shakespeare’s play. In Hamlet‚ this theme is depicted through personality traits of both Queen Gertrude and Ophelia‚ who are the only two women in the play. Although‚ Queen Gertrude and Ophelia are different in age‚ both show some similar traits. Both the Queen and Ophelia are weak‚ insecure and dependent. However‚ compare to Ophelia who is indecisive and lack of confidence‚ Queen Gertrude seems more decisive in thoughts and actions. By showing the similar and different personal traits of each
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In the play “Hamlet”‚ there are only two women named Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is the mother of Hamlet‚ and Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and sister to Laertes. Throughout the play‚ it is evident that women are highly dependant on men. Both Ophelia and Gertrude allow the controlling men in their lives to form their identities. Thus‚ being one of the leading causes to their tragic death. Gertrude‚ mother of Hamlet‚ is proven to be dependent on Claudius thus transforming her into a weak
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I believe that by allowing Jocasta’s suicide‚ and the subsequent blinding of Oedipus to take place out of the audience sight‚ adds a great impact to the play as a whole. Throughout the play‚ the audience is repeatedly exposed to the deep seated emotional states of both of these characters. We see each of them rise and fall‚ and go through the gamut of emotions as the deep secret is slowly revealed. The audience is lead down the corridor of each of their individual minds‚ and encouraged to partake
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theme‚ women as a sexual being‚ is presented in both plays. Juliet is portrayed as an independent sexual woman and Gertrude and Ophelia are dependent sexual women. The role of women is important because women represent a tool which men use to manipulate their circumstances; in Romeo and Juliet‚ Juliet is a woman who knows what she wants and who she is‚ all the while struggling to push back male dominance; in Hamlet‚ Ophelia and Gertrude are used willingly as instruments for the enhancement of their male
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see that he is caught up in a web of cruel destiny that he can not escape. The gods demonstrate foresight and insight into the play. In addition to this‚ Tiresias has physical blindness but also has prophetic insight. Finally‚ both Oedipus and Jocasta portray types of mental blindness and shortsightedness. These are all examples of different uses of sight in the play Oedipus the King. Oedipus is a hero‚ but sometimes he can not see the reality of this. He goes into states where he lacks
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As time passes‚ works and writing will eventually be forgotten‚ the only ones that remain in the light of the public are those which reflect universal‚ unchanging themes. Fate plays a vital role in Oedipus Rex ranging for the pinnacle of Oedipus’ success to his distressed downfall. Centuries ago during Sophocles existence the ancient Greeks believed that one’s fate was predetermined by the Gods and unable to change. In modern times the definition of fate has evolved; fate is merely a belief that
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Defined by her sensual nature‚ Gertrude is heavily associated with the pitiful collapse of the Kingdom of Elsinore. “Gertrude’s flaw of lust made Claudius’ ambition possible‚ for without taking advantage of the Queen’s desire still to be married‚ he could not have been king” (Bloom 325). Unmistakably‚ Shakespeare portrays Gertrude as the corruption that accentuates the play. While the murder of Old King Hamlet lies at the hands of
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The play concerns it’s characters with personal and political problems. The women‚ Gertrude and Ophelia‚ struggle with making their own decisions without being influenced or directed by men. Ultimately‚ this leads both women to their death. Ophelia commits suicide. Gertrude unknowingly drank poisoned wine‚ despite being told by Claudius not to drink it. The end of this play can be inferred one of two ways: Gertrude knew it was poisoned and drank it to save Hamlet‚ or she simply disobeyed Claudius
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The Strength of Gertrude in Hamlet Murder‚ treason‚ and deceit are common themes in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. Throughout the play the women are often viewed as weak in character as the men easily dominate them and steal the spotlight through their manic actions. The time period in which Shakespeare would have written Hamlet‚ women would have been treated with little respect. One woman that shows her feminine power is Gertrude‚ the Queen of Denmark and mother to Hamlet. Through the play
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