Nathan Bittner

ENG4U
Mrs. Oldford.
08 December 2022
Exploring Attitudes about Women
The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude are both treated poorly, but for different reasons.
Ophelia is mistreated by the men around her, including her father, her brother, and Hamlet, the
man she loves. These men manipulate and abuse her, ultimately driving her to madness.
Gertrude, on the other hand, is mistreated by Hamlet, who is angry and suspicious of her
relationship with his uncle, the new king. He accuses her of being unfaithful to his father and
treats her harshly as a result. Overall, both women are mistreated because of the actions and
attitudes of the men around them.
It is fair to say that both women and men in the play are treated differently because of
their gender. The men in the play wield power and authority, whereas Ophelia and Gertrude are
largely powerless and at the mercy of the men around them. Furthermore, the men in the play are
free to express their emotions, whereas Ophelia and Gertrude are expected to conform to societal
expectations of how women should act. These expectations limit their ability to express
themselves fully and, as a result, contribute to their mistreatment.
It's possible he was using these characters to make a point about societal expectations and
treatment of women at the time. Shakespeare may have been illustrating the ways in which
women were frequently powerless and subject to the whims of the men around them by
mistreating these characters. Furthermore, the characters' limited ability to fully express
themselves and their emotions may have been a commentary on the strict gender roles that were
imposed on women during this time period. Individual interpretation will ultimately determine
what message, if any, Shakespeare was attempting to convey through these characters.
While the specific societal expectations and gender roles that these characters face may
be different from those experienced by women today, it is still the case that women continue to
face challenges and discrimination in many parts of the world. In some places, women are still
not afforded the same rights and opportunities as men, and they may face discrimination,
mistreatment, and violence because of their gender. Additionally, gender stereotypes and
expectations can still limit the ability of women to fully express themselves and pursue their
goals and aspirations. While progress has been made in many areas, there is still much work to
be done to ensure that women are treated equally and with respect in all parts of the world.