The Women of Hamlet - Essay Example

The Women of Hamlet Roles and responsibilities of women are usually minor In Hamlet by William Shakespeare. However, they allow the plot to develop and flow. Hamlet has only two women characters who are portrayed based on their association with the main character. The two women characters are Ophelia and Gertrude. Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother who contributes significantly to the plot because of her marriage to King Claudius. Ophelia is romantically involved with Hamlet. Ophelia is solely included in the development of Hamlet’s role. It is vital to explore the impact of Ophelia to the play by studying the development of conflicts. It is also important to explore how Ophelia changes over the course of the play. Impact of Ophelia, Conflicts and Changes In Hamlet, Ophelia is depicted as a young mad woman. Towards the end of the play, she committed suicide. Ophelia is shown as a woman who is caught up in her struggles that were shared by women of the 16th century. The play depicts Ophelia as a woman who does not have any powers over her surroundings or herself. She maintains her devotion to men. Additionally, she is prevented by the society from acting on her behalf. She is deceived and manipulated for the gain of her male supervisors. In my opinion, Ophelia’s madness emerged from her inability to control her actions, body and mind. Ophelia has an opportunity to influence the plot of the play. She is romantically involved with Hamlet, a relationship which Laertes, her brother, describes as, “trifling of his favor” (1. iii, 5). Her interactions and associations with Hamlet give her an opportunity to influence the development of Hamlet. The symbolism of her language adds to the range on meanings that are conveyed in the dialogues. For instance, in one of the scenes, she is throwing flowers around after the death of her father (4. Iv. 3). The use of flowers is used as an imagery that symbolizes her purity. According to Laertes, she is a “Rose of May” that has unpolluted flesh (4. Iv. 3). Ophelia influences the play through the introduction of the theme of the manipulation and deception of women. Throughout the play, various men manipulate Ophelia. For instance, Polonius is seen reminding Ophelia that she does not enjoy similar freedom to Hamlet. With this manipulation and deception, Ophelia is completely shut down. She believed that Hamlet had, “importuned me with love, and had given countenance to his speech with the holy vows of heaven” (1. iii. 110). Polonius tells her that she does not have any freedom by stating, “For Lord Hamlet believes so much in him that he is young, and with a large tether may he walk. Than may be given you, I would not from this time forth. Have you so slander any moment leisure, as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet (1. iii. 133). This is not the only instance in which Ophelia is manipulated and deceived. When Ophelia went to Polonius with the news that Hamlet had confessed his love to her, Polonius manipulates Ophelia and deceived her to think that Hamlet is mad. Polonius stated, “This is the very ecstasy of love, whose violent property pardons itself, and leads the will to desperate undertaking” (2. i. 102). Ophelia has to deal with several conflicts in the play. She must deal with the fact that she does not have the freedom to express herself or act willingly. In scene two, her father known as Polonius, throws Ophelia into a conflict. In this scene, she engages in a conflict that involves her father Polonius, and lover, Hamlet. At the end, Ophelia loses the struggle to free herself. She has to abide by her father by hurting Hamlet, whom she loves. In order for Ophelia to be with Hamlet, she has to betray her father’s authority. This scene presents Ophelia in a conflict that faced many women of the period. Ophelia engages in a traditional patriarchal conflict, which does not present her with personal choices. As a result, she will always lack control. The devastation and pain caused by the conflict contributed to the ultimate demise of Ophelia. In my opinion, in case strong love and attachment are threatened by interference from others, the result is a response that merges extreme adulation and feelings of disappointment. The individual is left with worries of neglect and disloyalty. This interference and conflict of interest forced Ophelia to participate in Polonius’s plans. In the absence of freedom, Ophelia is thrown into a conflicting situation where she acts as a pawn. Polonius instructs Ophelia, “Ophelia, walk you here, read this book, that shows an exercise you may color, your loneliness” (3. i. 43). Without any objections, Ophelia proceeds to read the book as she waits for Hamlet. By obeying her father’s words, Ophelia faces a dilemma Ophelia influences the play through her one-dimensional and static character. In the play, Ophelia can become a tragic hero by overcoming the adversities that she faces in her life. However, she crumbles into insanity and forced to suicide meaning that she becomes a tragic character. In my opinion, Ophelia is vital in the representation of the dual personality of women in Hamlet. She has a distinct role of showing Hamlet’s warped depiction of the virtues and innocence of women. The introduction of Ophelia to the play shows that Hamlet feels betrayed by Gertrude. Hamlet’s rage towards Gertrude is directed towards Ophelia who Hamlet thinks that is hiding her nature behind a veil or guise of impeccability. Ophelia gives the audience an opportunity to witness the evolution of Hamlet, and de-evolution into a person persuaded that all women are prostitutes. Ophelia makes Hamlet believe that even the most pure woman is corruptible and has callous sexual desires. According to Hamlet, in Act three, if women are whores, they must have procurers. In this case, Claudius makes Gertrud a whore, while Polonius make Ophelia a whore. For instance, in Act 3, Polonius uses Ophelia to examine Hamlet’s behavior. Conclusion Ophelia’s character in the play is different because she influences the play by her naivety and ability to be deceived and manipulated. She also influenced the play by her unfortunate death. She is enjoined in a ferocious cycle of manipulations and deception that tear her down. Ophelia was introduced in the play to do according to the will of others, without a sense of freedom or control. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron's, 2002. Print. Read More