...Throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is evident that women play a secondary role. Gertrude and Ophelia are characterised as weak and submissive, and are extremely obedient to the men in their lives. Both female characters play passive roles in a play but are important in displaying the theme of Hamlet’s misogyny; “Frailty, thy name is woman”. Gertrude from the beginning proves to be very wholly dependent on men. Her first husband, King Hamlet, was murdered and yet “within a month”, she was married to his brother Claudius. The relationship between Claudius and Gertrude seems to be for convenience rather than love. It is perceived as good for Denmark to have a politically skilled ruler and Claudius was undoubtedly fit for the role. Gertrude’s...
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...The Themes of Hamlet: Love in Denmark Through the interactions between young Prince Hamlet, his lover Ophelia, and his mother Queen Gertrude, Shakespeare explores the themes of romantic and familial love. The two main female characters are torn between their love for their families and love for their romantic lovers. Ophelia is torn between her love for Hamlet and loyalty to her father, and Gertrude must choose between her love for Claudius and love for Hamlet. Ultimately, Ophelia and Gertrude’s choices and interactions with the men in their lives suggest that familial love is stronger than romantic love. Hamlet’s treatment towards Ophelia reflects the fickleness of romantic love, and Ophelia’s obedience to her father demonstrates the strength of familial love. Likewise, Gertrude’s quick marriage with Claudius reflects the fickleness of romantic love, and Gertrude’s unwavering love for Hamlet demonstrates the strength of familial love....
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...play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there is an example of an unhealthy relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet. Gertrude is guided by self-interest rather than motherhood while making decisions, and their relationship is more than an Oedipus complex, it’s incestuous. These two aspects of their relationship give Hamlet a general disgust and distrust towards women, including Gertrude. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude in Hamlet is extremely unhealthy. Gertrude makes decisions based on what is good for her, not for Hamlet. She chooses to marry Claudius because it keeps her position of Queen safe. While making all of her decisions throughout the play the audience realizes that Gertrude thinks of herself before others. This is a bad trait to have because Hamlet is hurt by some of the decisions. When Gertrude asks Hamlet why he is so upset, Hamlet says Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,” For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe. (82-86) Hamlet is upset at his mother because she married his uncle without thinking about what Hamlet wanted. He has grief because Gertrude made decisions based on what was best for her, which is not a good trait for a mother. Their relationship suffers because Gertrude thinks of herself always before anyone else. The relationship between the Hamlet and his mother is incestuous. Hamlet has an...
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...Hamlet kills Polonius in his mother’s bedroom, mistaking him for Claudius. The fact that Hamlet has feelings of anger and envy towards Claudius to the point where he wants to kill him shows that Hamlet has the Oedipus complex, since as stated in the introduction, a boy has an attachment to his mother, which in turn results in feelings of envy and aggressiveness towards the male figure, which in this case is Claudius. Gertrude comments on Hamlet’s actions saying “O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!” ( Shakespeare 3.4 26). In response, Hamlet says “A bloody deed—almost as bad, good-mother,/As kill a king and marry with his brother” ( Shakespeare 3.4. 27-28). This is when Hamlet finally confronts Gertrude about what Hamlet is furious with her for and what he thinks she has done. Hamlet quips with her, insults her, tells her he wishes she were not his mother, and when she, still retaining dignity, attempts to end the interview, Hamlet seizes her and she cries for help (Heilbrun). In turn, Gertrude has a very bewildered answer to this “As kill a king?” ( Shakespeare 3.4.28) which leaves Hamlet wondering if he is wrong about his mother’s involvement in his father’s murder. Hamlet comes to see that Gertrude is wholly ignorant of Claudius' successful plot against her first husband and equally oblivious of Hamlet's protectively possessive feelings towards her. She finds his melancholic behavior...
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...Hamlet: Ophelia vs. Gertrude In the play, “Hamlet”, written by William Shakespeare, there are only two women in the entire play, Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is Hamlets wicked mother. Ophelia is a girl who loves Hamlet. Throughout the entire play, they are shown to be two totally different characters. In a sense though, they are both alike, they are both women who are held back by love. In “Hamlet,” Ophelia plays the role of Hamlet’s love-interest. She is a strong-willed character that faces many hardships throughout the play, but remains true to her, and to the ones she loves. Not caring just for what she sees as good, but for those who care about her as well, and also do her good. She cares for Hamlet a great deal, and wants him to notice that not all women are like his mother, Gertrude; all sexual, and cold-hearted, that they too can love, and care just as Hamlet does for Ophelia. Gertrude plays the role of Hamlet’s mother, and also a conniving queen, who uses her body and sexuality to get what she wants. Gertrude is the main reason that Hamlet doesn’t like women, because he sees how she really is, and not mentioning the fact that he knows that she had his father (the Ghost in the story) killed to let her lover Claudius take the throne. Hamlet is mad at her for such a thing being that Claudius is his uncle. Also, Gertrude is a woman of fine things. We really don’t expect much less from her, but we don’t really read too...
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...mind. Michael Almereyda portrays Hamlet as having a great level of mental instability and hysteria. This is shown through his actions throughout this scene. At the beginning of the scene Hamlet is shown being extremely violent towards Gertrude. He throws her on the floor with great force, and then while on the ground he grabs her hair and forces her against the mirror. While against the mirror Hamlet makes Gertrude look at her herself. After this he pulls her away and wraps his arms around her neck and holds her there (Almereyda 2000). The violence expressed shows his inability to control his emotions. Further, this shows his mental instability because he lacks that ability have a normal interaction with his mother. He lets his anger overcome all other emotions he is feeling and takes it out on Gertrude. Also, within this scene Almereyda shows Hamlet’s hysteria after he has committed the act of killing Polonius. While still holding Gertrude in a choke like hold he shoots Polonius through a closet door. After Polonius is shot he falls out of the closet and onto the floor. Hamlet stands on the bed and looks down at the body. He appears shocked and as if he doesn't know what to do (Almereyda 2000). Hamlet's mental instability is shown here by the emotions he shows. He shows no remorse for what he has just done and only stays focused on the body for only a short period of time before returning to his interest in Gertrude. Rodney Benner shows hamlet as having both high and low levels...
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...In Act 3, Scene 4, Hamlet is asked by his mother, Gertrude, to reveal what was making him act like he was crazy. Hamlet believes that Gertrude is truly having a heart to heart with him and really desires to put Hamlet’s troubles to ease. However, what Hamlet does not know is that Gertrude allows Polonius to hide being the arras to overhear their conversation for King Claudius. As the audience, we are aware that Polonius is in the room with Gertrude and Hamlet, but Hamlet is unaware of his presence. By arguing to Gertrude over her marriage to his uncle Claudius, Hamlet’s emotions of hate towards Claudius were beginning to boil and it was as if Hamlet would commit to anything under impulse. At this point, Hamlet is in complete control over Gertrude, using physical force to pressure her to admit her guilt. While still listening from being the arras, Polonius, believing that the Queen could be in danger, calls out for help. Tragically, as an audience, we know that Hamlet will act on impulse by confusing Polonius for Claudius. Although Hamlet is unknown of the identity of the man hiding being the arras, he assumes it is Claudius and acts irrationally, killing Polonius. Even immediately after the incident, it is revealed that Hamlet was not sure that he had killed Claudius when he says “Is it the king?” (Act 3, Scene 4, Line 32). It is tragic that the dramatic irony of this scene made is predictable for the audience to determine Polonius’ fate. In this case, Polonius suffers for his...
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...William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Shakespeare reveals the tragedy of the young prince of Denmark, Hamlet. After the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, appears Hamlet and tells him that his very own uncle Claudius, killed his father, Hamlet swears vengeance. Claudius took over Denmark and married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, making Hamlet hate Claudius. Gertrude, Hamlet’s friends and his love Ophelia all die during his mission to kill Claudius. Hamlet does eventually avenge his father by stabbing Claudius with a poisoned blade, but also dies from a scratch on the back from the same sword used in a duel. Feminist theory focuses on analyzing the inequality between genders. Feminist literary theory illuminates how power relations in the play are dominated by only men which shown in the characters of the play with Hamlet and Ophelia, Polonius and his daughter Ophelia, and Gertrude and Claudius, and Hamlet and Gertrude. Firstly, Polonius' ascendancy over Ophelia, Polonius' death and Polonius' relationship with Laertes in comparison to Ophelia's all illuminate the dominance Polonius has on his daughter. Ophelia is really devoted when it comes to the relationship with her father Polonius. Polonius does control her choices when Ophelia says she likes Lord Hamlet; he says "I would not, in plain terms, from this forth, have you so slander any moment's leisure, As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet" (1.4.130-134). Polonius tells her not to associate with Hamlet because he doesn’t trust...
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...Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern talk about Hamlet and his lunacy. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell the King and Queen that they have tried to find out the reason for Hamlet’s madness, but he avoids their questions. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell the King and Queen about the actors that have arrived at the court and will be giving a performance. After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, Claudius tells Gertrude that he has arranged for Hamlet to run into Ophelia, and Polonius and the King will hide and spy on their conversation to see if Hamlet is truly going crazy because he is in love. Gertrude tells Ophelia that she hopes that Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for her. Polonius tells Ophelia to read from a prayer book while waiting for Hamlet, which makes Claudius feels guilty as he remembers his own sin that he disguises with kind words. Then, Hamlet arrives speaking his famous to be or not to be speech. He is contemplating suicide, but he decides against it because he is worried that the environment after death will be even worse than the one he is living in right now. Ophelia then tells Hamlet that she has some of his mementos that she needs to return, which Hamlet denies ever giving her. Hamlet then goes into a dialogue with Ophelia that focuses on women and marriage. He is telling Ophelia to go to a nunnery because he does not believe in women or marriage anymore. Hamlet says that women use their beauty and power to fool their husbands. Hamlet also tells...
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...Why Didn’t Hamlet Kill Claudius When He Got a Chance? Throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we see a man with countless opportunities to avenge his father’s untimely death by killing his uncle, King Claudius. However, Hamlet shrinks away from these responsibilities due to his subconscious Oedipal desires for Queen Gertrude. Hamlet is unaware of his desires as they stem from a part of his subconscious mind, and is unable to kill Claudius as he is the manifestation of Hamlet’s fantasies. If Hamlet were to kill Claudius, it would be comparable to Hamlet killing himself. When Gertrude dies, Hamlet is finally able to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius as his desires for his mother died along with her. The Oedipus Complex is the unresolved desire of a child for sexual gratification through the parent of the opposite sex, especially the desire of a son for his mother (Dictionary.com). Hamlet displays these desires and thinks about his mother’s sexuality, and relations with his Uncle Claudius a great deal. Hamlet continuously postpones his act of revenge on Claudius because of the impossible situation he finds himself in, through his oedipal desires for his mother....
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...Horatio, to watch with them. When he sees the ghost, he decides they should tell Hamlet, the dead King's son. Hamlet is also the nephew of the present King, Claudius, who not only assumed his dead brother's crown but also married his widow, Gertrude. Claudius seems an able King, easily handling the threat of the Norwegian Prince Fortinbras. But Hamlet is furious about Gertrude's marriage to Claudius. Hamlet meets the ghost, which claims to be the spirit of his father, murdered by Claudius. Hamlet quickly accepts the ghost's command to seek revenge. Yet Hamlet is uncertain if what the ghost said is true. He delays his revenge and begins to act half-mad, contemplate suicide, and becomes furious at all women. The Lord Chamberlain, Polonius, concludes that Hamlet's behavior comes from lovesickness for Ophelia, Polonius's daughter. Claudius and Gertrude summon two of Hamlet's old friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to find out what's wrong with him. As Polonius develops a plot to spy on a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet develops a plot of his own: to have a recently arrived troupe of actors put on a play that resembles Claudius's alleged murder of Old Hamlet, and watch Claudius's reaction. Polonius and Claudius spy on the meeting between Ophelia and Hamlet, during which Hamlet flies into a rage against women and marriage. Claudius concludes Hamlet neither loves Ophelia nor is mad. Seeing Hamlet as a threat, he decides to send him away. At the play that night, Claudius runs...
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...Queen Gertrude Confronts Her Sins - “Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practise to deceive!” Gertrude’s ambiguous personality has been dissected in a numerous ways by generations of readers, but those who read Shakespeare’s Hamlet unanimously agree upon her morally frail and fickle nature. In the play’s opening scenes, Queen Gertrude is presented as a victim of her own moral missteps and lapse of judgment. Upon hearing of the death of her late husband, she appears indifferent and callous. She betrays both the late King Hamlet and her son through the incestuous act of marrying King Hamlet’s brother, Claudius. However, as the play progresses, a Gertrude’s pivotal encounter with Hamlet disintegrates the persona she has hidden behind for so long. By the conclusion of the play, Gertrude realizes the ramifications of the tangled web of lies she has wrought, shedding her mask of deception and betrayal to reveal her genuinely benevolent and kind nature. Further scrutiny of the three focal scenes involving Gertrude delve into the acknowledgement of her vices, and the actions she takes in order to abolish them. When Act 1, Scene 2 begins, the audience is aware of King Hamlet’s death and the stage is set for the introduction of the play’s primary characters, the freshly-minted King Claudius, the sartorial Queen Gertrude and her grieving son, Hamlet. In an ensuing discussion between the three, the queen sheds few tears over King Hamlet’s death, brushing...
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...Spying is a recurring theme in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet as it creates an abundant amount of dramatic intensity throughout the play. It causes the death of Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and it reveals significant characteristics of major characters. Shakespeare specifically incorporates spying into certain scenes known as observation scenes or ‘closet scenes’. An observation scene dramatically enhances the climatic moments of the play and develops the complex reasoning behind many major characters such as Hamlet. The most important observation scene in the play is Act III scene IV as Hamlet discusses his true feelings to Gertrude while Polonius overhears the conversation. It probes the sexuality of Hamlet and Gertrude and is the turning-point in which Hamlet demonstrates a change in character. Throughout the play, Hamlet displays hostility towards his uncle Claudius due to the marriage between him and Gertrude. This is especially evident in the closet scene as Hamlet berates his mother with many sexual and incestuous references. In order to explain the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Sigmund Freud’s theory the Oedipus Complex identifies this situation as a male’s unconscious sexual desire for his mother (Losh). Freud believes that these sexual desires are repressed unconsciously which in turns creates a lasting effect in a boy’s life (Losh). An example in this scene is when Hamlet says: “But to live / In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, / Stewed...
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...Hamlet, is considered one of the greatest achievements for William Shakespeare. The play is filled with many conflicts between each other’s different personalities; all wanting power and victory. Betrayal, in Hamlet is surrounding everyone with the air they breathe in Denmark. Hamlet shows the theme of betrayal out of the these three characters: Ophelia, Gertrude, and Hamlet. Ophelia has taken her own life over a man who has betrayed her. When Ophelia’s father, Polonius forces her to hand him the love letters Hamlet has sent to her, right then and there Hamlet thinks she has betrayed him for doing that act. But in reality Polonius has betrayed his own daughter, because of going their her own personal belongings. Hamlet starts rumors...
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...Hamlet Movie Scene Comparison Act II, scene 2 is the longest scene in Hamlet. In this scene, Rosencrantz and Guildernstern come to the King, Voltimand and Cornelius report the message from Norway, Polonius suggests to Claudius and Gertrude the reason of Hamlet’s madness, Hamlet calls Polonius a “fishmonger”, Rosencrantz and Guildernstern bring in the players, Hamlet decides to let the players play the Old King’s murder. Scene 2 is divided into sub-sections in a way to present the plot and the theme more clearly. The “fishmonger scene” refers to the part from Polonius’s explanation of Hamlet’s madness “Your noble son is mad” (2.2.92) to the end of Hamlet and Polonius’s first interaction “except my life” (2.2.210), initiates Hamlet’s actions on revenge and vouchsafes how other characters view his “madness”. This essay will compare the actors’ gestures and line arrangements from directors Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli to depict the different effects in Hamlet’s madness. First, the actors’ gestures between Kenneth Branagh version and Mel Gibson version show differences to the interpretations of Hamlet’s madness. There are not many gestures in the Kenneth Branagh film, which can mean something. When Polonius talks to Claudius and Gertrude, also when he talks to Hamlet, he does not have obvious big body movement, but instead just standing straight, walking steadily, behaving perfectly like a honorable and educated man; Hamlet as the noble son of the King and Queen, and the...
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