Shakespeare's presentation of women in 'Hamlet'

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  • Presentation of women in 'Hamlet'
    • Ophelia
      • Controlled and manipulated
        • Polonius
          • Attempts to control her into avoiding Hamlet
            • Warns her of the status disparty, how Hamlet is of too high status
            • Dos not trust Hamlet's intentions
              • "Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers...mere implorators of unholy suits"
              • Ay, springes to catch woodcocks
          • Tries to maintain her chastity-
        • Laertes
          • Tries to warn her of losing her chastity
            • "Fear it, Ophelia"
            • "Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open to his unmastered importunity"
          • Tells her of his monarchic position
            • The fact they cannot be together due to status difference
              • "his will is not his own;for he himself is subject to his birth"
      • Unable to become independant
        • Too overpowered by the male roles as they patronise her
          • "Affection!Pooh!Your speak like a green girl"-P
          • "you do not understand yourself so clearly as it behooves my daughter and your honour"-P
          • "I shall obey, my Lord"-O
          • "..go to, go to"
        • Become so dependent on the males that contributes to her madness
          • Huge impact on her when he father died and Hamlet abaondoned her
            • Could not live with stability without them, increases her vulnerability
    • Gertrude
      • Deceitful and deceptive
        • Puts on a facade at Old Hamlet's funeral
          • "seeming virtuous queen" had faked her "true love showers" at funeral, her guise "falling off" as we hear Ophelia's first song
      • Sinful and evil
        • Common Book of Prayer forbids a woman wedding her late husband's brother
        • Did not seem to mourn her late husband enough
          • Normal mourning time for  King was a year
          • Moved on at "O, most wicked speed!" according to Hamlet
      • Ridden of speech around male characters, especially Hamlet, although not as much as Ophelia
        • Is criticised highly by Hamlet when he turns mad
        • Her guilt and sins re revealed only by Hamlet's depleting mental stability
        • Shakespeare attempting to silence her after he sins have been committed
      • Reticent
        • Makes it hard to form opinion of her
        • Due to overpowering male force?

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