Comparison of Female Roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet: Hamlet's Women
...went out to work and earned a living, or worked his own land. Both husband and wife worked extremely hard, and both roles were as important to each other” (Thomas 2). Because married women in the Elizabethan era had many constraints; they were often treated with little respect yet were expected to sacrifice just as much as the males for their families and for society. In Hamlet, Shakespeare used Gertrude’s character to support a traditional role for married women in society. Gertrude’s very essence in Hamlet is that of a docile and loving woman, yet her image is marred by her son’s own hatred toward her. She is loyal to the king, her husband, but she possesses a natural bond with Hamlet that any mother/son relationship shares. Hamlet’s heartfelt line “Frailty thy name is woman” sums up his view of her actions early in the play. Married women in the Elizabethan era were often considered ‘frail’ and passive; they possessed a certain slave-like quality to their husbands. They were often forced into arranged marriages and had little say in how their own lives developed. Gertrude’s character in Hamlet can be considered weak and inconsistent, thus disseminating women’s roles in society. Gertrude’s character is all-knowing of the fact that she has betrayed her dead husband and living son; this is a direct reflection of how she treats others in Hamlet. At times it seems that Gertrude doesn’t know why Hamlet is so angry with her, feigning ignorance and weakness. “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag they tongue. In noise so rude against me” (3.4.46-47). At other times Gertrude seems to know exactly what is troubling Hamlet, dominating her role as a strong and decisive married woman. “I doubt it is no other but the main, -- His father’s death and our o’erhasty marriage” (2.2.59-60). Gertrude feels guilt and contempt for Claudius, yet she is still obedient and humble to her husband. In her death scene, Gertrude’s behavior is loving wife yet defiant and strong willed toward Claudius as she sips from the poisonous cup. “I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me” (5.2.276). She drinks from the cup even though Claudius tells her not to, yet she still is compliant in asking for his forgiveness. The way Gertrude’s character reacted to Hamlet and Claudius draws a parallel to how married Elizabethan women might have reacted toward the male figures in their lives. Gertrude’s ever-changing face allocates her married status and allows for a real ‘Elizabethan Woman’ experience; the Queen’s reactions to Hamlet and Claudius often mirrored how married women of the Elizabethan era conducted themselves toward similar male figures in their lives. A wife in the Elizabethan era was obedient yet productive; she often ran the household with a firm hand: “Not only was the housewife responsible for the physical well-being of the family, but she was actively involved in the productivity of the estate: under her guidance were produced vegetables from the garden; woolen, linen, and hempen thread, dairy products; and malt together with its end products of beer and ale” (Best 1). Gertrude’s character in Hamlet was firm in her role as a housewife; she often kept the peace between Hamlet and Claudius. The love she had for the men in her life and the responsibility she had toward Castle Elsinore took precedence in her life; this is seen in the way she carries herself as well as how she reacted to the men in her life. The character of Gertrude in Shakespeare’s Hamlet encouraged established roles for women during the Elizabethan era. The Queen often was obedient to Claudius and humble toward Hamlet. She encouraged a peaceful familial dwelling; her actions often emulated those of Elizabethan women. Married women during the Elizabethan era were very docile and subservient to their husbands, yet they also were very dominating in the family. They often kept the family together by running the household with an unyielding hand. William Shakespeare promoted conservative positions for married women in society through his character Gertrude in the play Hamlet. The role of Ophelia in Hamlet is also obedient and docile in nature; she often complies with the leading men in her life: Polonius her father, Laertes her brother and Hamlet her lover. She is often treated as a young, feeble-minded girl by her father Polonius; he often makes decisions for her that she should make for herself: I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment leisure As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to’t, I charge you; come your ways (1.4.137-140). Laertes also is in control of Ophelia in many ways. Although he has his sister’s best interest at hand, he still dominates her decisions. He tells her not to trust Hamlet’s affections and to spurn his advances: Lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmaster’d importunity. Fear it, Ophelia; fear it, my dear sister; And keep within the rear of your affection, Out of shot and danger of desire (1.3.34-38). Hamlet, too, seems to dominate Ophelia and leads her decisions. He doesn’t allow her to make the decision to love him or not; he is cruel in his speech and intentions for Ophelia and he emulates a deep-seated resentment he harbors for his mother: You should not have believed me; For virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but what we relish of it: I loved you not (3.1.124-125). Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet all treated Ophelia as if she couldn’t make decisions for herself and made decisions for her accordingly; their actions epitomized how she was treated throughout the play. Unmarried or single women during the Elizabethan era were often misunderstood as well as mistreated by society. Marriage was held in such high regard that if a woman wasn’t married or chose not to be married, she was often left with menial jobs. “Women who perhaps suffered the most during this period were, ironically, those like the Queen who did not wish to marry. Tudor society did not have many avenues’ open to single women” (Thomas 13). Single women during the Elizabethan era also dealt with ostracizing and were often shunned by society. “Single women were sometimes looked upon with suspicion. It was often single women that were thought to be witches by their neighbors” (Thomas 13). If a woman chose not to marry, she was often left with a hard life of hard, disciplined work. “At one time single women might spend their lives in a convent or nunnery—the only other alternative to marriage for the Elizabethan woman was domestic service” (Alchin 3). Single women during the Elizabethan era were often treated as lower-class and unskilled; their status in society was often misunderstood and their position was viewed as undesirable. Ophelia’s role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet advocated a traditional role for single women in Elizabethan society. Ophelia often did as she was told and complied with her father’s wishes with verbiage such as “I shall obey, my lord” (1.4.141). Her character mirrored how unmarried women were treated by society during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Single women were often shunned by society; perpetuating the view that unmarried women were witch-like. Likewise, Ophelia was rejected by Hamlet and her love for him misunderstood; thus encouraging a weak-minded, almost insane woman. William Shakespeare drew a parallel between Ophelia’s character in Hamlet and unmarried women of the Elizabethan era. Ophelia’s character, although considered feeble and inconsistent in her behavior, also showed some strength in her convictions. Her reactions to the leading male figures in her life were an indication...