The human psyche seeks to find common ground amongst peers, and, as part of this herd mentality, an early distinction was created to separate men and women. As with any distinct groups, certain traits come to define members, based on their traits and ideals: this reality creates the mental interpretation of gender identity. Although some nowadays would assert that gender identity has never been a bigger issue, Shakespeare uses Hamlet to thoroughly investigate the topic, draw his own conclusions, and share these conclusions with his audience hundreds of years ago. The struggles each character faces paint Shakespeare’s thoughts on the role of gender identity in everyday life. Men in the play, including Hamlet, Claudius, Polonius, Laertes, and …show more content…
Having been raised in this society, and taught the expectations of one’s gender, each character must carefully choose their actions so as to conform. Hamlet laments his failure to do so when he does not take action on the knowledge of his father’s murder, and, having recently witnessed an actor expend all his effort to play a part, exclaims: “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” (2.2.471). Hamlet’s tone and sorrowful diction depict the disdain with which he holds himself for his failure to be brave, honorable -- manly. His continued scrutiny, depicted and described through the question: “What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have?” (2.2.481-482) exposes another effect of gender expectations, one which sparks the internal conflicts which Hamlet is grappling with in this scene: comparison between oneself and others is magnified and assigned importance due to the presence of gender attributes and expectations. One can also tell the effect of such a situation: Hamlet’s description of himself as “A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause” (2.2.488-489) and self doubting question of “Am I a coward?” (2.2.492) both decry the negative effect which self-depreciation due to failure to meet gender expectations has. The internal doubt, …show more content…
Throughout the play, prestige, power, and public opinion are changed by whether a character meets or fails to meet the gender expectations and norms. Fortinbras provides a strong example of this phenomenon: even though his actions are against the throne of Denmark at the outset of the play, laying aside his conflict and agreeing to fight the Poles improves his public standing heavily. Fortinbras’s actions exemplify significant bravery, discipline, and honor: all key traits for one to be “masculine”. Hamlet’s declaration: “Rightly to be great is not to stir without great argument, but greatly to find quarrel in a straw when honour's at the stake.” (4.4.54-57) not only proves the traits which are valued, but also suggests that Fortinbras is “great”- because he embodies these traits. Conversely, Hamlet loses his standing, and his reputation, due to his lack of masculinity. When Hamlet is making wild accusations and using extensive hyperbole, arguing at Ophelia’s funeral, The King brushes him off, saying “Oh, he is mad, Laertes” (5.1.252). The King’s offhand tone describes perfectly how Hamlet’s public standing has changed: his extensive bouts of madness and sorrow have stripped him of his masculinity, and with it his importance. Hamlet’s lack of masculinity detracts greatly from the sway he would have held in the
He is still a noble man that does not wish to go against his king but he is troubled by the stereotypes of society during that time that his ambition should trump all emotions. Overall, stereotypical ideals were a major factor that determined whether a man or woman was respected during Shakespeare’s
Both authors’ characterized males as the head of the family and that they are the one who should protect the females. In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, social behaviors for males are to be manly, true to themselves, and controlling. For example as Polonius a kings men stated to his son Laertes, “And, above all, be true to yourself” (Shakespeare 1376). Polonius the head of his family is telling his son to go explore and find friends, which are either female or male and to test out whom they are. He is telling his son to be friendly with people, but to not become too attach to them, while being in dominate of the society by being true to himself.
Hamlet shows his admiration for Fortinbras by saying: The imminent death of twenty men; That for a fantasy and trick of fame; Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot. (4.4.60-63) Here, Hamlet is fascinated with the fact that Fortinbras would wage a battle for land that has no meaning. Fortinbras is a manly warrior and shows the ability to take action.
Back around the 16th to 17th century men had very clear gender roles. Society dictated that men needed to be emotionless and powerful leaders. Showing too much emotion or shying away from any challenges was shown as cowardly and weak. These same ideas translate directly into Hamlet in many situations. First off all, in Act I Scene II Claudius makes sure to condemn Hamlet for showing so much grief over his father’s death
To some, Hamlet may seem unappreciable and irrational, but during further examination one sees that his attitude is only for attention. Not only does Hamlet control when he does or does not talk in prose, he also announces that he
Throughout the play, Hamlet is forced to make difficult decisions; as he is conflicted with almost every decision he makes, his uncertainty and unsophisticated thoughts will eventually lead to his downfall. Man vs. Self is a common theme in Shakespeare’s work, and Hamlet is no exception. The most distinct example of this sophisticated concept is Hamlet himself. When analyzed thoroughly, Hamlet is his greatest obstacle and enemy. The earliest of his internal conflicts is when his mother married his uncle, Claudius, in such a short window of time after his father’s death.
In spite of everything, Hamlet ends up dying a hero due to his best friend Horatio, fulfilling his final dream, which was to tell the truth about his tragic story. The new king of Denmark, Fortinbras, states that Hamlet be remembered as a fallen soldier, “Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, for he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal; and for his passage, the soldier’s music and the rite of war, speak loudly for him” [V.ii 441-446]. Through this closing quote of the play the audience is able to understand Fortinbras’ decision to have Hamlet remembered as a hero. One must remember throughout the novel that Hamlet’s ambiguous decisions were solely to redress the murder of his father who was slain out of jealousy and the acquisitive desire of his uncle
Consequently, Hamlet’s view of women being adulterous not only root from his mother; however, they root from his misogynistic tendencies as
In today’s world, gender expectations and roles of men and women are a highly debated topic. However, the reconsidering of these expectations is not a new phenomenon. Set in Verona, Italy, the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare explores the reversal and fluidity of characteristics usually assigned to a specific gender. In this play, two young people fall in love and end up tragically taking their lives as a result of their forbidden love. Shakespeare suggests that men are not necessarily masculine, women are not necessarily feminine, and that when people are forced by society to act the way their gender is “supposed” to, problems will arise.
William Shakespeare was well versed in the English language, whether it be poetry or playwrights. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and Hamlet are playwrights that entail odd, but heavy struggles for both characters. Using Brutus’s and Hamlet’s interaction with their female counterparts, their thirst for vengeance, and specific character traits, Shakespeare develops two tragic heroes of different time periods. When comparing and contrasting Brutus and Hamlet it is important to note their interactions with women within the play. Both Hamlet and Brutus have significant female influences throughout each of their stories.
In the highly acclaimed Shakespearian play Hamlet, prince Hamlet of Denmark strives to redeem his father’s murder in the midst of deceitful schemes and chaos. Set in the 1600s, hamlet is faced with not only the inability to marry his true love but in addition his mother’s recent marriage to his uncle Claudis (the suspected mude Polonius is talking to the queen and king about Hamlet’s cause of madness which he believes to be Ophelia’s love. He says that he his daughter should not be talking to him in that type of matter because he is the prince. In 2.2, Polonius say, “Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star. This must not be”(Hamlet 2.2.150-1).This shows that Hamlet is expected to court someone of his own class.
Hamlet: a Feminist Perspective Hamlet by William Shakespeare is considered to be the apogee of canonical texts. Hamlet who is seen to be the hero, seeks revenge of his uncle for killing his beloved father and marrying his mother. In the finale, all characters find an unfortunate end and leave the kingdom of Denmark to prince Fortinbras who coincidentally passes through to invade Poland. The play Hamlet has received great stricture from feminist critics due to the actions and behaviors of many of the characters in the play. Feminism is “the advocacy of woman 's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men” (Dictionary.com).
Hamlet’s dislike of women is shown through his behavior and language toward his mother, Ophelia, and women in general. In the play it is very obvious that he is heartless towards the opposite sex by the actions that he takes and the words that he speaks. During the time that this play was written women were viewed as insignificant human beings. Hamlet found himself having feelings for a woman and he does not know how to portray these feelings because he holds his mother responsible for his inability to love Ophelia.
Hamlet is William Shakespeare 's renowned tale of mystery, intrigue, and murder, centered on a young misguided prince who can only trust himself. Some may say that the actions of Prince Hamlet throughout the play are weak and fearful, displaying a tendency to procrastinate and showing an apathetic nature towards his family and peers. Others spin a tale of a noble young scholar, driven mad by the cold-blooded murder of his father by his uncle. In truth, I believe Hamlet is neither of these things. Hamlet is a sort of amalgamation of the two, a bundle of contradictions thrown together into one conflicting but very human mess of a character.
The story of a young man by the name of Hamlet has been told since it was first written in the early 1600s. The timeless classic tells the tale of Prince Hamlet, who discovers that his mother had wed his uncle, two months prior to his father’s passing. He visits the throne in Denmark because he is disgusted at the act of incest, where the ghost of his deceased father confronts him, insisting that he was murdered by Claudius, the new king. Hamlet is enraged, and he becomes obsessed with the idea of proving the crime so that he can obtain revenge against Claudius (Crowther). Despite the myriad of themes that circulate throughout the Shakespearean play, many do not realize one hidden yet extensive theme: actions and their consequences.