Prescribed Question: Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?

Title of the text for analysis: Hamlet

Part of the course to which the task refers: Part 4 - Literature - Critical Study

My critical response will:

 Explore how the genders are depicted

 The differences between Hamlet and Ophelia’s bereavement
 Comment on how the female roles get no soliloquy
 Comparison of Gertrude and Ophelia
 Conclude by stating that in this text the genders are treated and depicted very differently

Hamlet is a tragedy set in Denmark, written by William Shakespeare between 1599 and 1602. The
play follows the story of Prince Hamlet and his revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who murdered
Hamlet’s father and married his mother in order to take the throne. In this play, there is a noticeable
difference in how the genders are depicted.

In this tragedy, there are two similar events which provide a good example of how the genders
supposedly need to act or react even when faced with the same situations. Both the main character,
Hamlet and his love interest, Ophelia have to cope with their fathers’ murders. For both of them, this
important figure was taken away by a person that was close to them. In Hamlet’s case, it was
Claudius, his own uncle, scheming with his mother. For Ophelia, it was Hamlet, the one she loved.

When Hamlet is mourning his father, he is told by Claudius that his mourning is unmanly.

Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief.

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschooled:
(1.2.90-92; 96-101)

However, he decides to find out the truth about the circumstances of his father’s death and seeks
revenge. Hamlet puts on an antic disposition, which is believed to be caused by his father’s death. He
does this in order to take the attention away from himself and look less threatening to Claudius, so he
can, later on, take his revenge. Hamlet is able to keep up with this persona for a long amount of time
even though it is not easy, he remains determined. His decisions are quite cunning as he approaches
his problem slowly and in a very strategic way. His behavior could be seen as rare, as someone in that
emotional state would possibly be more impulsive.

On the other hand, when Ophelia’s father dies, she actually goes insane, and then, later on, drowns,
raising the argument that she took her own life.

Shakespeare uses soliloquies to show what the characters are thinking and feeling. This technique can
help us relate more to the characters and get some more insight on what is happening or on what is
going to happen. A perfect example is Hamlet’s soliloquy. In the entire play, he performs 7
soliloquies; we always know what he is going through and what is going on in his mind. On the other
hand, we can notice that none of the female characters perform any soliloquies, no matter how
important their role in the play is. It’s like their thoughts and feelings don’t matter and don’t in any
way influence the course of events, they just do what they are told. Just like Ophelia, obeying her
father, brother and her lover with their every command. No matter of her feelings or desires, she
would simply do what she was told without giving it a second thought.

According to Hamlet, all women are morally weak because they are lustful. He categorizes them as
unable to be independent or make decisions of their own. We could say that this opinion is fueled by
his mother, as she married her husband’s brother right after his death, which Hamlet saw as a huge
betrayal and lack of empathy. Ophelia is as well a perfect depiction of Hamlet’s opinion; weak,
dependent and unable. Men, on the other hand, are depicted as strong-willed, power-hungry, capable,
strong, immune to temptations, and not affected by feelings. A good example of the typical male
figure would be Claudius. He murders his own brother and takes advantage of the social standards
that were set at that time, according to which a woman could not be alone. He’s used all of these
factors and manipulated his way to the crown and fought hard and dirty to keep it. Claudius was
willing to go to great lengths to keep the crown but in a very sly way.

On the other hand, Gertrude and Ophelia are two characters that are seemingly simple, but are in fact,
quite complex. They are the only two female characters in the play.
They have very important roles in the play in their core both these characters are very similar. They
are both portrayed as weak, helpless, obedient, and many more similar characteristics which were
typical for the women at that time. However, Ophelia is seen as more innocent and purer, because of
her age and her obedience. They are both driven by love and have great trust in their loved ones.
However, this is used against them as they are very often manipulated and puppeteered by their loved
ones. For instance, Ophelia is used throughout the book by her father, brother, and lover. For
example, in Act 3, Scene 1, Polonius and King Claudius plot to spy on Hamlet’s interactions with
Ophelia, in order to find out if he has actually gone mad or not. Polonius states:

Ophelia, walk you here.

Read on this book,

that show of such an exercise may colour

your loneliness - We are oft to blame in this,

‘Tis too much proved, that with devotion’s visage

And pious action we do sugar o’er

The devil himself (III.I.49-55)

Also, the entire bedroom scene is an example of Hamlet's manipulation of Gertrude. He is attempting
to get information out of her by being cold-hearted and to a certain extent, evil.

To sum up, In Shakespeare Hamlet, there are major inequalities when it comes to how the two
genders are depicted. Males are superior throughout the entire play, and even though there are two
main female characters there are just a means to an end, to show how the male roles manipulate and
control them. Women are depicted as weak, lustful, unable to be independent and make their own
decisions, while males are strong, power-hungry, manipulative, strong-willed etc. Unfortunately,
some of these stereotypes are still active in today's society.