Hamlet: A Soft Misogynist

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Hamlet: A Soft Misogynist

Women today have many rights. We can vote, work, and even voice our own opinions. In the past women were seen as mothers and housekeepers, always taught to respect, listen, and serve their husbands and men in general. Because this act was considered normal in those days, women had no choice but to obey. As a result of this many works in literature were reflective of this diminutive role of women. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet goes both hand in hand and contrasts with this trend. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the women in the play are driving factors for the actions of many other characters, although they are not treated with much respect. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet's love, affected many of the decisions and actions done by Hamlet. Although this is true, Hamlet utilizes his gender, status (as a prince) and madness to use and disrespect women. Despite his lack of respect for women throughout the play, Hamlet realizes he loves and needs both Gertrude and Ophelia and eventually professes his love for them.

Many of Hamlet’s actions revolve around his mother. Superficially, his quest for revenge may seem only to be brought on by his love for his father, but this is not so. He is simultaneously angry with his mother, jealous of her attention to Claudius, and desperately wishing for her love. Scolding, "you are the queen, your husband’s brother's wife; and -would it were not so!- you are my mother"(III.iv.18-19), Hamlet berates his mother with sharp edged comments showing his lack of respect and his disapproval of her marriage. Angrily thinking, “Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, she married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannon come to good” (I.ii.156-160), Hamlet terms the marriage as incest and disapproves of how quickly his mother married after her father died. Saying, "Frail...