Feminist Theory and Ophelia Daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, lover of Hamlet, Ophelia, from William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Hamlet, could be examined through a feminist lens. Feminist criticism analyzes the representation of women through a traditionally male dominated society, it’s concerned with the ways that literature reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women (The OWL at Purdue, “Feminist Criticism”). The assumption in feminism
Doubling Within Hamlet William Shakespeare is known for his impeccable writing skills within the Elizabethan Era. He used many techniques within his writing like iambic pentameter, soliloquies and character foils. Doubling is used as another like term for character foils but it can be the used for characters as well as items or places within the script. Dualism is also like character foiling and doubling as it is the separation of one thing into two. Throughout the play of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince
In comparison, both Gertrude and Ophelia are powerful women in Hamlet’s life. In the play, both women have a sexual hold on Hamlet. Hamlet has anger toward his mother, while Ophelia has him in the grip of lust, being an emotional item of his. Both women are oblivious to the situation of Hamlet's father's death, and play it off as being a minor bump in the road. Hamlet cannot understand with this, and begins(supposedly) spiraling into madness. The first sign of this “madness” is when Hamlet states
Shakespeare’s Hamlet contains strong themes of inequality that set up the blatant gender inferiority and superiority complex shown throughout the play. This complex can be seen in the character relationships between: Ophelia and Laertes, Ophelia and Polonius. In these relationships, the male insults or criticizes the female in that relationship and it is in those moments that the weak and submissive behavior of the woman is evident. Ophelia is told by her brother, Laertes, that Hamlet does not reciprocate
Hamlet Seminar Introduction: In Hamlet, William Shakespeare creates three sets of fathers and sons. Understanding the parallels that exist between these three father-son relationships is integral to understanding the play. For this seminar we will first look at each relationship separately. Next, will connect each father-son relationship through three points of comparison. After doing that we will connect these father-son relationships to Fugitive Pieces, and then address why Shakespeare chose
Polonius V.S. Claudius In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince Hamlet finds out about the death of his father and plans for revenge against the killer. The killer being Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, made it difficult for him to reach this goal. However, Claudius has a plan on his own in order to get rid of Hamlet and uses his trusted advisor, Polonius, to achieve this. Claudius sends Polonius and many others on tasks to gather information based upon Hamlet’s actions. Hamlet sees past the perfect mask Claudius wears
The Sexist Sequences of Shakespeare’s Hamlet The oppression of a group first begins with culture; for culture molds the minds of the populace. Hamlet, a story about the vengeance of Prince Hamlet by William Shakespeare was written during the precarious Elizabethan era. As the play progresses, signs of misogyny surface. The sexism can be connected to the “cult of domesticity” which preached piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity to achieve the “True Woman” (Lavender 1). Shakespeare’s
Kennedy 1 In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, many questions are raised in regards to Hamlet’s love for Ophelia. The play is filled with drama, revenge, and hatred. However, underneath that is a love story between the characters Hamlet and Ophelia. The love shared between both of these characters is complicated and sadly ends in tragedy. There are many situations that take place in this play where is it unclear to the reader whether Hamlet’s feelings are true or if they are fake. Although
Jet Ryan P. Nicolas Mr. E.P. Salazar Composition IV 15 January 2014 The Hamlet of Identity Politics Identity is an essential part of an individual; it encapsulates the very definition, self-worth, sense of self, and firm continuity of individuals. This identity is often described by what it is not; the holders of it determine what their identity really is. They dictate the very essence of their identity, their description; they exclude people or groups of people from their identity, calling them