Examples Of Misogyny In Hamlet
Misogyny in Hamlet
In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the title character has many different states of mind and personality changes. However, he consistently shows throughout the play misogynistic behavior. Because Hamlet feels so betrayed by the actions of his mother, he begins to associate this betrayal with the actions of all women, which causes him to treat Ophelia cruelly and unfairly. Hamlet’s misogyny is shown in how he speaks about his mother, how he addresses Ophelia, and in how he refers to women in general. Hamlet shows many times in the play that he has a high disrespect for women, and uses his low opinion towards the female gender as a stereotype for all women. This could easily be interpreted as misogyny.
Throughout the …show more content…
Many of the things he says about her, or in reference to her could easily be seen as misogynistic. He refers to her actions as if they are typical of all women. Hamlet is impatient with the introduction of the play. Ophelia assures him that it will be brief, to which Hamlet replies, “As woman’s love.” Although Ophelia has done nothing to betray Hamlet in any way and is still very much in love with him, Hamlet assumes that her love won’t last simply because Gertrude’s love for Hamlet’s father did not last after his death. In a soliloquy early into the play, Hamlet mentions what he considers to be his mother’s betrayal to him and his father and utters, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” ‘Frailty is referring to his mother’s ‘moral weakness’ which in Gertrude’s case, could very well be true, but it his reference to all women having moral weaknesses and being distrustful. Similarly, when Hamlet finds out the truth regarding his father’s death from the Ghost, he includes the line, “O most pernicious woman!” in his soliloquy. This is to reiterate that women are evil. It is shown in many cases that Hamlet feels betrayed by his mother and seems to use these feelings against all
In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the title character has many different states of mind and personality changes. However, he consistently shows throughout the play misogynistic behavior. Because Hamlet feels so betrayed by the actions of his mother, he begins to associate this betrayal with the actions of all women, which causes him to treat Ophelia cruelly and unfairly. Hamlet’s misogyny is shown in how he speaks about his mother, how he addresses Ophelia, and in how he refers to women in general. Hamlet shows many times in the play that he has a high disrespect for women, and uses his low opinion towards the female gender as a stereotype for all women. This could easily be interpreted as misogyny.
Throughout the …show more content…
Many of the things he says about her, or in reference to her could easily be seen as misogynistic. He refers to her actions as if they are typical of all women. Hamlet is impatient with the introduction of the play. Ophelia assures him that it will be brief, to which Hamlet replies, “As woman’s love.” Although Ophelia has done nothing to betray Hamlet in any way and is still very much in love with him, Hamlet assumes that her love won’t last simply because Gertrude’s love for Hamlet’s father did not last after his death. In a soliloquy early into the play, Hamlet mentions what he considers to be his mother’s betrayal to him and his father and utters, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” ‘Frailty is referring to his mother’s ‘moral weakness’ which in Gertrude’s case, could very well be true, but it his reference to all women having moral weaknesses and being distrustful. Similarly, when Hamlet finds out the truth regarding his father’s death from the Ghost, he includes the line, “O most pernicious woman!” in his soliloquy. This is to reiterate that women are evil. It is shown in many cases that Hamlet feels betrayed by his mother and seems to use these feelings against all