Feminism in Hamlet?

Question

I'm doing a seminar on Feminism within Hamlet, I'm about to start reading all the parts where Gertrude and Ophelia are in the scene, but does anyone know any starters e.g, basic ideas about feminism within the play, I've googled but it only brings up pay-to-view essays, which aren't much help atm.

Answer 1

I must qualify everything I am about to say by admitting that I am no great student of Hamlet or Shakespeare (1 college course, 1 performance, which is nothing). But here are some ideas:

Focus on how Polonius interacts with Laertes as compared to Ophelia. She is reified by Polonius, her chastity a commodity to be bartered; Hamlet's love for her a bargaining chip. Meanwhile, Polonius's (P) level of discourse with Laertes (L) is heightened, in specific the advice scene ("to thine own self be true"). Advice is a huge theme in general; follow the advice P and L give to Ophelia (O). (P manipulates his son too, but in a way that allows L more dignity than O, I think).

You'd want to focus on the scene where Hamlet and Ophelia meet after the "to be..." soliloquy--the one were Claudius and Polonius are secretly watching and Hamlet does his whole "to a nunnery with you" spiel. Certainly the theme of sexual mores and the nature of gender (its performance) are an important part of the scene (and Shakespeare's work at large).

I may be totally off, but I found the scene to be about the objectification of women, at least in part:

"If thou dost marry [says Hamlet to O], I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go: farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too. Farewell."

Women stir passions in men that make them do evil things (probably over-simplification).

I am trying to figure out the most important "feminist" aspect of Gertrude--it's one of the things that doesn't come right off the page and is left to interpretation. In the performance I saw, she is played as an over-sexed ninny, but I really thought that was crappy. This is again an oversimplification, but I'd look at the double-standard. Without getting into the whole oedipal thing, Hamlet resents his mother's practicality, doing something so politically comfortable, something so (potentially) sexually gratifying. I found Gert to be doing what she had to in order to survive, but just as easily one can interpret her sexual desire for Claudius, and for this Hamlet finds her a traitorous whore.

I am probably missing something huge, but that's what came to mind at first. I hope it helps. Here is a good website (there are plenty like it):

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/

Answer 2

Hamlet Feminist Quotes

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Feminism in Hamlet?
I'm doing a seminar on Feminism within Hamlet, I'm about to start reading all the parts where Gertrude and Ophelia are in the scene, but does anyone know any starters e.g, basic ideas about feminism within the play, I've googled but it only brings up pay-to-view essays, which aren't...

Answer 4

Anytime basically anyone talks to either Gertrude or Ophelia there is some sort of feminist comment or something that shows gender difference. Hamlet is pretty female, he over thinks everything and no one thinks he can win the fight against Laertes.

Answer 5

There is no feminism in the modern sense in Hamlet. All the female characters live lives strictly in the Renaissance code. They are obedient, dependent, and do not control their own lives and destinies.