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Written in the first years of the 17th century, when women were forbidden even from appearing onstage, and set in the Middle Ages, Hamlet exposes the prejudices and disadvantages which narrowed or blocked off the choices available to women–even women of noble birth.
- Poison, Corruption, Death
When the sentinel Marcellus speaks the line “Something is...
- Religion, Honor, and Revenge
Every society is defined by its codes of conduct—its rules...
- Action and Inaction
Hamlet is part of a literary tradition called the revenge...
- Appearance Vs. Reality
Hamlet is full of references to the wide gulf that often...
- Characters
Check out our detailed character descriptions. From the...
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Character Analysis Organizers: Symbol Analysis Organizers:...
- Poison, Corruption, Death
10 sty 2020 · Discover the role and significance of each key character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
After Hamlet kills her father, Ophelia is driven to madness and dies, presumably by suicide. In her madness, Ophelia’s disjointed stories and songs often touch on themes of sex, betrayal, and ...
Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet frequently speak to her in either an infantilizing or sexualizing manner, and the diametrically opposed nature of these approaches highlights just how difficult life as a woman in the court can be.
27 lip 2021 · The women of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” appear to be frail, passive figures used as pawns and dying prematurely after the mistreatment of men. However, there is more to Gertrude and Ophelia than meets the eye.
In Shakespeare’s society, the ideal female is cherished for her youth, beauty and purity. These qualities are appreciated and boundaries are set up to protect the ingénue. A compliant young woman accepts these standards and dwells safely in the space created for her.
Insofar as Hamlet names Ophelia as “woman” and “frailty,” substituting an ideological view of femininity for a personal one, is she indeed representative of Woman, and does her madness stand...
