“Don't shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman, but understand what is going on, and educate yourself to take your part in the world's work, for it all affects you and yours.” Louisa Alcott, a known and outspoken female rights activist, write what all women are desperate to hear. You see, in society today, there is no mistaking that women’s rights have come a long way from what they were in the times of, oh, let’s say Shakespeare. However, that does not mean that women are treated correctly yet. There is still sexism ingrained in our day to day ventures, the wage gap is an ever present thing, and the presence of women in power- yes, it is growing- still isn’t anywhere near the percentage of that of a man. It is no secret that
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In Hamlet, we see the main female characters to be Ophelia, Hamlet’s once lover, and Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. In both instances, Shakespeare depicts these women as frail, inconsistent, and worthy of all there is to blame. At first, we meet Hamlet and he is cursing his mother for all that she has done, or not done, in the wake of her husband’s death. In the famous scene with Ophelia, Hamlet chastises her throughout the entire confrontation, making comments towards her such as, “Get thee to a nunnery.” While it is clear that Hamlet treats Ophelia poorly, it isn’t all because of what gender she happens to be. Rather, this anger that Hamlet takes out on Ophelia is centered around the purest of love that he has for her. Being the most fair in the land, and the sweetest woman for his liking, Hamlet truly did love her, and in the wake of his crazy was forced to use that against himself. “I have even heard it denied that Hamlet did love Ophelia. The author of the finest remarks I have yet seen on the play and the character of Hamlet, leans to this opinion... I do think, with submission, that the love of Hamlet for Ophelia is deep, is real, and is precisely the kind of love which such a man as Hamlet would feel for such a woman as Ophelia.” …show more content…
Shakespeare’s top notch play in regards to women being treated poorly, peaks with the treatment of women in King Lear. “The female characters in the play are either demonic or saintly. Goneril and Regan are portrayed despicable and demonic women, while Cordelia is a virtuous, angelic daughter.” (Heinze). In this particular play, Shakespeare does an overwhelmingly swell job of bringing out the bad side of women for all to see. Just as The Iliad was all about war due to the inhumane actions of man, King Lear is all about the actions of war due to the misbehavior of women. We are first introduced to segments of lying for greed, primarily on the behalf of Goneril and Regan. Then, we see that lying turn to action as the two remaining sisters abuse their power and neglect their father, on the behalf of their own agendas possibly being compromised with him around. From there, the sisters take their “evilness” to another level by planning a way to kill their sister Cordelia, and take over all that she has rights to in France. In the midst of all this chaos, we also witness scenes of infidelity from both Goneril and Regan. There is a large amount of murder happening, and backstabbing to go along with it. In the end, the only person who did not taint the image of a woman was Cordelia, however she was not mentioned nor visible in the play nearly at
In Hamlet, we see the main female characters to be Ophelia, Hamlet’s once lover, and Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. In both instances, Shakespeare depicts these women as frail, inconsistent, and worthy of all there is to blame. At first, we meet Hamlet and he is cursing his mother for all that she has done, or not done, in the wake of her husband’s death. In the famous scene with Ophelia, Hamlet chastises her throughout the entire confrontation, making comments towards her such as, “Get thee to a nunnery.” While it is clear that Hamlet treats Ophelia poorly, it isn’t all because of what gender she happens to be. Rather, this anger that Hamlet takes out on Ophelia is centered around the purest of love that he has for her. Being the most fair in the land, and the sweetest woman for his liking, Hamlet truly did love her, and in the wake of his crazy was forced to use that against himself. “I have even heard it denied that Hamlet did love Ophelia. The author of the finest remarks I have yet seen on the play and the character of Hamlet, leans to this opinion... I do think, with submission, that the love of Hamlet for Ophelia is deep, is real, and is precisely the kind of love which such a man as Hamlet would feel for such a woman as Ophelia.” …show more content…
Shakespeare’s top notch play in regards to women being treated poorly, peaks with the treatment of women in King Lear. “The female characters in the play are either demonic or saintly. Goneril and Regan are portrayed despicable and demonic women, while Cordelia is a virtuous, angelic daughter.” (Heinze). In this particular play, Shakespeare does an overwhelmingly swell job of bringing out the bad side of women for all to see. Just as The Iliad was all about war due to the inhumane actions of man, King Lear is all about the actions of war due to the misbehavior of women. We are first introduced to segments of lying for greed, primarily on the behalf of Goneril and Regan. Then, we see that lying turn to action as the two remaining sisters abuse their power and neglect their father, on the behalf of their own agendas possibly being compromised with him around. From there, the sisters take their “evilness” to another level by planning a way to kill their sister Cordelia, and take over all that she has rights to in France. In the midst of all this chaos, we also witness scenes of infidelity from both Goneril and Regan. There is a large amount of murder happening, and backstabbing to go along with it. In the end, the only person who did not taint the image of a woman was Cordelia, however she was not mentioned nor visible in the play nearly at