Feminist Criticism Of Hamlet

Feminism is a form of criticism used by an author that wishes to expose how dominant men are over women. Feminism came to fruition in the 1960s, and is still used today. This form of criticism looks at how society and culture are inherently male dominant, another word for patriarchal. Feminist criticism critiques the economic, political, societal, and emotional oppression of women. This form of criticism emphasizes the activities women are prohibited and prevented from participating in. The theory of this criticism evaluates how facets of our culture are naturally male dominant and “…this critique strives to expose the explicit and implicit misogyny in male writing about women…” (Richter 1346). A current day example of political feministic
Ophelia is the sister of Laertes, and daughter of Ophelia. Ophelia and Hamlet are affectionately involved with one another. On multiple occasions throughout the book, women are treated as though they know nothing and must obey a man. For example, before Laertes boards his ship, he tells Ophelia, “For Hamlet and the trifling of his favor,/ Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,/ A violet in the youth of primy nature,/ Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,/ The perfume and suppliance of a minute./ No more.” (1.3.5-10) Superficially, this just sounds like an older brother looking out for his sister, but when digging a bit deeper, it can be interpreted that he’s treating Ophelia as though she knows nothing. Lastly, conclusions could be drawn that Ophelia goes insane and kills herself because she has been coached to listen to her father and brother about Hamlet. Towards the end, she sings, “How should I your true love know/ From another one?/ By his cockle hat and staff,/ And his sandal shoon.” This shows how she is beginning to question life and the decisions she’s
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 because she wanted to make her own decisions. That having been said, from a feministic standpoint, it is viewed as that she made her first decision herself, and it led her to