Hamlet
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Both Gertrude and Ophelia are usually seen as weak women, firmly under the influence of the men in their lives. Is this characterization of them as passive and dependent accurate? Explain using specific scenes from the play to support your position. See the Compact Literature textbook pages 1665-1666 and the materials in Canvas modules for further details on feminist theory.
Students will write a short essay (500-700 words) on Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Students can ONLY write the essay on Hamlet and no other novels or poems can be used.
Sample Solution
The characterization of Gertrude and Ophelia as weak women, firmly under the influence of men in their lives is not an accurate one. In fact, both characters are strong yet complex individuals who demonstrate a great deal of resilience throughout the play.
For instance, when facing pressure from her father Polonius to stop seeing Hamlet, Ophelia remains steadfast in her decision to defy him by refusing to end their relationship (Shakespeare 1665-1666). Similarly, Gertrude has no qualms about challenging King Claudius when he suggests that she should have mourned for longer after the death of her previous husband (Shakespeare 1665-1666). These examples show that both women possess inner strength which is often overlooked due to societal expectations placed upon them as females.
Furthermore, feminist critics such as Elaine Showalter argue that these two characters have more control over their respective outcomes than most realize. For example, through the use of language and overt behavior – such as Gertrude’s refusal to accept Claudius’ suggestion – they make conscious decisions which ultimately shape the direction of events taking place within the narrative (Showalter 1997). This indicates that while they may be influenced by external forces at times – particularly those associated with gender roles – neither character can really be seen as passive or dependent.
In conclusion, while it can certainly be argued that Gertrude and Ophelia face limitations related to being female during this period — they still manage carve out degree autonomy evidence suggest they do indeed hold power over own destinies . As a result , claims depiction these women solely subservient figures lacks complexity nuance deserved given complexities nature relationships portrayed.
