“Women in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man, not to rule and command him” is a quote said by John Knox. Society in the 15th and 16th century was built on this quote as it demonstrates how women in the Elizabethan era were overpowered by the men in their lives. In the tragic play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the role of women and how they are treated is revealed throughout the play as women in this era were considered to be weak and vulnerable, they must be obedient and follow the men, and without a doubt, they were disrespected and undermined continually.
To begin, women in the Elizabethan era were regarded as weak and frail by the men in their lives. This is shown in Act 1, Scene 2, where the main character, Hamlet, sees his mother as weak for the actions she took after her husband died.
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Would have mourned longer,-married with mine uncle,
My father’s brother… within a month;
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing of her galled eyes,
She married:- O most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheet! (151-157).
Hamlet expresses his resentment by stating his anger towards his mother for her rushed marriage. This demonstrates that Hamlet perceives his mother to be weak because she married her brother-in-law within a month of her husband passing away. It is revealed that Gertrude is a frail person in this quote as she is insecure and shows her reliance she needs by quickly remarrying. Gertrude is a woman that has a tendency to be dependent on men as she needs them to help her make decisions and protect her. Later in the play, weakness is demonstrated again in act 3 scene 1 Ophelia lets Hamlet act discourteous towards her and takes no action to support herself. “O woe is me, to have seen I have seen, see what I see!” (162-163). This shows that Ophelia is filled with self-pity instead of being filled with anger for Hamlet’s mockery towards her. The author, Shakespeare, portrays Ophelia has weak due to the fact that she could not defend herself when she should have. In the 15th and 16th century, women were considered to be weak and always depended on the men and that is why Shakepeare decided to portray Ophelia and Gertrude as weak because during that time period, it was believed that women were vulnerable and unable to take care of themselves. In the Elizabethan era, it was always believed that women needed to be taken care of by a man, in order to thrive in a patriarchal world. To summarize, woman in this era were regarded as the “weaker sex” because they were inferior to men and could not come to their own defense.
Furthermore, women in the 15th and 16th century must be compliant and dutiful by always listening to the men’s orders. Obedience and compliance is revealed in Act 3, Scene 1 of the play, when Claudius requests Gertrude to leave so Polonius and him can continue their plan to check Hamlet’s sanity. Gertrude, who is dutiful as ever, follows his order. “I shall obey you” (38). This indicates how submissive Gertrude is. Not only is she portrayed as weak by showing the reliance she needs on men, but she also does whatever she is told. She is Hamlet's mother and therefore, she has a right to know if her son is going crazy or not. She does not want to disobey Claudius because she is desperate for love and acceptance, so she listens to his command. Ophelia is another character that displays obedience. In Act 2, Scene 2, her father, Polonius reads a letter written by Hamlet to the King and Queen. Polonius got this letter from his obedient and dutiful daughter.
I have a daughter, have while she is mine-
Who in her duty and obedience, mark…
This in obedience hath my daughter showed me (106-107, 123)
Polonius knows that it is Ophelia’s duty to be compliant and follow his orders. Polonius is confident that his daughter is obedient to him. Both Gertrude and Ophelia have no voice regarding situations about themselves or about anything. Shakespeare portrays Gertude and Ophelia to be obedient and dutiful because in the Elizabethan era, it was customary for women to follow the men and do whatever they say. Women first belonged to their fathers then, when the time was right, they would be dutiful and belong to their husbands. They were treated as if their opinions did not matter as the men in their lives choose everything for them. Whether the women liked it or not, it did not matter. If they were disobedient, the consequence for that was being whipped. They were whipped into submission, so that if they ever try to be insubordinate again, they would remember the punishment and would not attempt it. Altogether, women in this era had their right to speak taken away from them as they were made to follow the men and always be dutiful of their place.
Above all, the Elizabethan era was a time period where women were continually disrespected and degraded. They were not treated equally as men and were thought to be subservient to them. Both Gertrude and Ophelia are constantly getting disrespected by the men in their lives. This is demonstrated in Act 1, Scene 3, where Polonius lectures his daughter about what Hamlet’s true intentions are but he ends up disrespecting her. “Marry, I’ll teach you: think yourself a baby” (105). This quote demonstrates how Polonius is showing a lack of respect towards his daughter. He insults Ophelia for not seeing through Hamlet’s intentions. Instead of giving advice in a kind way, he lectures Ophelia in a disrespectful course of action as if she is less than a person. In the Elizabethan era, it was prevalent for women to be disregarded and shown a lack of consideration because they were a woman. Disrespect and scorn is revealed again in Act 1, Scene 2, where the main character, Hamlet, speaks in an ill-mannered way about his mother and all women in general.
… why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on: and yet, within a month-
Let me not think on’t - Frailty, thy name is woman! (143-146).
Hamlet indicates his disgust for his mother about her relationship with his uncle. He does not only call his mother weak, but he goes on to say that all women are weak. This quote is a strong example that reveals how Shakespeare has the need to demean women because in the Elizabethan era, it was common for women to be degraded and devalued. Ophelia is yet again disrespected and insulted. In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet is angry at his mother for marrying his uncle after her husband died and Hamlet decides to take his anger out on Ophelia.
… Get thee to a nunnery,
Go; farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a
Fool;for wise men well enough what monsters you
Make of them. To a nunnery,go; and quickly too (137-140).
The fact that Hamlet insults Ophelia in such a degrading way reveals what lack of respect he has for her. He lashes out at Ophelia and tells her to go to a brothel. He insults and degrades Ophelia by telling her to marry a fool because wise men know that women will cheat on them. Both Ophelia and Gertrude are shown a lack of respect and honour because they are a woman. Women in this era were also subjected to the same lack of regard and appreciation. Men could say disrespectful things to the women and they would have to accept since they cannot voice their own opinion. Overall, the 15th and 16th century was a time period where women were disrespected and talked towards in a derogatory way. Women in this era were degraded by men making comments about their appearances, saying anything to humiliate or belittle them, they were disregarded and their opinions were ignored.
All in all, the tragic Shakespearean play, Hamlet, shows that women in the Elizabethan era were inferior and subordinate to the men in their lives as they were regarded as vulnerable and frail, they are required to be compliant and follow the orders given to them, and by all means, they were repeatedly disrespected and degraded. Shakespeare portrays the women in Hamlet as weak characters that are dependent on men. The reliance they need on men portrays them to be vulnerable and powerless.
Works Cited
- Elizabethan Women, http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-women.htm.
- Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Marilyn Eisenstat. Toronto: Harcourt Shakespeare, 2003. Print
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