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Gender Role in Hamlet Essay Example

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Gender Role in Hamlet Essay Example
Greg Grunewald
The gender role in hamlet
Girls Make Hamlet Go Nutty

In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the women have major influence in shaping Hamlet’s behavior. Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet’s girlfriend negatively affected Hamlet and his behavior and actions throughout the play.
Gertrude has shaped Hamlet’s behavior negatively during the play. Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius adds to complexity of Hamlet’s revenge. Hamlet is still upset about his mom’s quick marriage to his uncle, Claudius so soon after the death of his dad. He feels as though his mom has in a sense betrayed his father, because she did mourn his death properly. Hamlet could not accept this saying, “my father’s brother, but no more like my father/than I, Hercules, with a month/Ere get the salt of the most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, she married”(act 1, scene2,line157). By stating “Frailly, thy name is women” in earlier lines he is mad at all women including his mother.
Ophelia, Hamlets girlfriend in the play, helps hamlet insecurities show, she also contributes to her own death. Through Hamlets journey to avenge his father’s death, he is interrupted many times by Ophelia. Hamlet’s thoughts of getting Claudius to his fate, affected his chances with loving Ophelia. When Ophelia asks Hamlet if he prefer beauty over honesty, Hamlet says “I did love thee once” (act3.scene1.line125). In return Ophelia says that he has made her believe that she loved him. Enraged Hamlet tells her it was a lie, “I loved you not” (act3.scene1.line129). Hamlet loves Ophelia, but because of his craziness he can’t treat the people he loves the same way he did once before. Knowing that she was being used by Claudius and Polonius, he felt like Ophelia has betrayed their love. Though Hamlet says he loves her “Doubt trut to be a liar but never doubt I love. O Dear Ophelia! ... but that I love thee best, O most best! Believe it.”(act2.scene2.line124). The

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