William Shakespeare s Hamlet And The Prince s Lover

Hamlet referring to his mother says, â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman† (1.2.149), alluding to the claimed inherent weakness of women s character. In Hamlet, the roles of women are minor yet essential to the plot and flow of the play. They have no standing in the society and their voices are never heard. Gertrude and Ophelia, the prince s lover are the only two women in the play that have been portrayed as weak, manipulative and can be used. Their actions and fates are greatly influenced by the men s decisions and are also led by the men s power which makes them a weak image of dependent women at Shakespeare s time. Gender inequality is a predominant issue in Hamlet as the two leading women s are characterized as weak, obedient, and are used as tools of manipulation by the male figures in their lives. In Hamlet, Shakespeare illustrates a sympathetic image of Gertrude and Ophelia as their downfall can be blamed on how demanding men are, how they depend on men’s love, but also how they differ in dealing with death of people they love. The female characters are under the shadows of the male characters by being used for their possessions, status and lust. Come, go with me: I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy of love, who’s violent property fordoes itself And leads the will to desperate undertakings As oft as any passion under heaven That does afflict our natures. (2.1.113-118) mentioned by Polonius. It doesn’t matter to Polonius over using his daughter for hisShow MoreRelatedHamlet Theme Of Death1278 Words   |  6 PagesBeyond the Wall of Death (A analysis of the theme of death in Hamlet, Acts 3-5) â€Å"The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will,† (Shakespeare 144 Act 3 scene 1 lines 86-87). 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