Essay on Patriarchy in Hamlet - 1721 Words

Patriarchy in Hamlet William Shakespeare’s Hamlet employs the concept of patriarchy in several scenarios and each on different levels. These levels of patriarchy, if even for the same character, vary in their role in the play. Three patriarchal characters are easily identified: the ghost of Hamlet’s father, the king Claudius, and the lord chamberlain Polonius. Despite their variances each patriarchy displays values and actions which are key factors in bringing about the cataclysmic ending to Hamlet. Claudius fills the role of father figure as both king to a nation and stepfather to young Hamlet, whose father has died unexpectedly. It is revealed later that Claudius is responsible for the death of his brother, King†¦show more content†¦Claudius accepts this message at face value and foolishly shuffles it aside; he is more eager to hear news on the matters of his stepson Hamlet (2.2.60-85). It is the threat within the family that has Claudius distracted from the threat without. A wiser king would certainly concern himself with affairs abroad and defense of his borders more than Claudius has shown himself capable of doing. Claudius’s poor display as head of the grand patriarchy of the throne of Denmark is directly related to his poor display as the patriarch of the royal family. His character is cast in an unfavorable light from the start to the omniscient reader: incestuous murderer, spy, plotter, and schemer. To Hamlet, he is no father figure. Hamlet is made extremely angry by Claudius’s marriage to Gertrude. This is, of course, even before he is privy to the information that Claudius is his father’s murderer. He is angry with the haste in which his mother has agreed to marry Claudius, and so overwhelmed with grief is Hamlet that he cannot identify with his new father figure (1.2.129-57). This anger is not to be viewed from an Oedipal point of view (Hamlet expresses no interest in â€Å"replacing† either his father or step-father) but out of genuine love and concern for his true father, who in life represented a healthy patriarchal figure to Hamlet. These conflicts in emot ion do not bode well for the infrastructure of the royalShow MoreRelatedWomen s Tragedy : Hamlet And King Lear1185 Words   |  5 PagesTinsley Anderson Dr. Pitchford ENGL 4037 24 November 2015 Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Hamlet and King Lear While William Shakespeare’s Tragedies are well known for their violence, tragic heroes, and fatal flaws, the method in which Shakespeare portrays his female characters in a negative light is seldom expressed. The women of Shakespeare’s Tragedies are represented unfavorably, no matter if they are virtuous or evil. â€Å"Shakespeare’s plays are not lacking in women with positive human qualitiesRead MoreComparison Of Ophelia And Hamlet By William Shakespeare1382 Words   |  6 Pagescould. I took what I felt were the three major points of this play with women in it. I analyzed how Shakespeare portrayed and meant the two major female characters to be (Ophilia and Gertrude), and an example of the interactions between Ophelia and Hamlet, as they were very consistent throughout the story, and are an interesting but very easy display of societal norms at that time. After the fallout of my previous essay I tried to stay as far away from using resources to avoid anything else fromRead MoreHamlet: a Feminist Approach Essay examples1224 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet: A Feminist Approach Sexism: the belief or attitude that one sex is inherently superior to, more competent than, or more valuable than the other (most commonly used for male superiority). This idea that women are weak is not a new one in the modern world. It has been studied for countless years along with the concept of a patriarchal society. A patriarchy is defined as a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. Such systems currentlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Hamlet 1061 Words   |  5 PagesKylie Kwiatt Jaime Jordan Reading Shakespeare October 29, 2014 Hamlet through Feminist Lens In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character of Ophelia may be looked at and analyzed through a Feminist perspective. By using a Feminist lens, readers may observe the impact of patriarchal society and misogyny on the mind of a young lady doing her best to fit into the role of a Shakespearian-era woman. Women were expected to be virginal, yet sexual, subservient and inferior to men, and possessionsRead MoreA Traditional Revenge Tragedy Approach To Hamlet759 Words   |  4 Pagesan injury or caused by another character (Reedy). In the play of Hamlet, this approach can easily be seen in the character Hamlet’s plot to â€Å"remember† his father. After his father’s death, Hamlet spends the whole play concocting a plan to avenge his father. He develops a play to bring guilt to his father’s murderer and to convince the royal subjects of their king’s foul sin. The tragedy in this approach occurs at the end when Hamlet successfully gets his f ather’s revenge, but in doing so is also killedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Female Characters1232 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish writers and creators of all time. However, his works open themselves up to interpretation, whether in historical context or symbolism; they lend themselves to every readers individual response. In this research paper I will be addressing patriarchy, his treatment of female characters as commodity, and the misogynistic themes in his works. My goal is not to find the ultimate answer to the question of whether Shakespeare was a misogynist or not, that would simply be unrealistic. But throughRead MoreThe And Human Nature s Love For Categorization1011 Words   |  5 Pagesset of aspects it analyzes, but all have one thing in common, they help find the underlying themes and/or motivations behind the text, whether they were intentional or not. One classic example of one of these underlying themes is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet can be seen through a Feminist Literary Lens, revealing the patriarchal structure of society in this fictional work of literature. To begin with, one cannot look at a work through a Feminist Literary Lens until one knows what that is. To putRead MoreThe Decision Of Hamlet s Mental State939 Words   |  4 PagesA theme of ‘madness’ is carefully and creatively manifested within Hamlet. A question that I intend to get out of the way fairly quickly would be the decision of Hamlet’s mental state. There is much controversy surrounding the idea of Hamlet’s madness, and textual evidence can support either side of the argument. However, madness is still at the heart of this play, whether it be real or feigned. Since we cannot prove Hamlet’s sanity, we may still act under the assumption that he has lost his holdRead MoreThe Insanity Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1517 Words   |  7 PagesThe Insanity in Hamlet Insanity, a theme explored by multiple authors in countless classic selections, has instilled itself as one of the darkest and interesting themes in the literary world. In Shakespeare’s legendary Hamlet, the audience questions the sanity of Hamlet and Ophelia constantly, as well as that of the other characters. As the story progresses, this becomes more and more relevant, bringing the reader to consider the causes and effects of the characters’ mental states on the resolutionRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet And The Duchess Of Malfi 2029 Words   |  9 Pagescharacters in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘The duchess of Malfi’ by using general themes such as the patriarchy and the social control, the female identity and its independence, this institution of marriage, the expressions of sexuality and finally women shown to be either conformist or transgressive. Men were firmly in control in the Elizabethan and Jacobean era, and the expectations for women we re to stay home, cook, clean and raise a family. Women’s status and roles were subject to the Tyranny of patriarchy, they were