Shakespeare often uses female characters to make subtle (or not-so-subtle) assertions about the roles assigned to women in their society and the ways in which they are treated. What does Shakespeare say about women through Gertrude and Ophelia?
Shakespeare tackles many large and daunting ideas in his famous play “Hamlet.” I found one in particular that really fascinated me, as it is relatively subtle when compared to the majority of the messages in the play. However, the role of women in society and its reoccurring appearance throughout many of Shakespeare’s tragedies reflects the topic’s weighty importance. While the gender inequalities during Shakespeare’s life were definitely more striking when compared to this generation’s, there is still relevance in this topic that can provide insightful details on many of the motives that drive gender roles in today’s society.
To begin, I will address the notable characteristics of the main women in “Hamlet,” Gertrude and Ophelia. Their exact role in the play is not distinctly revealed, as we cannot distinguish their exact purpose as we can for the men (Hamlet is trying to get revenge, Claudius is trying to gain power, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern serve at Claudius’s pleasure and watch after Hamlet). This lack of establishment in the roles of the females in the play often prompts us to gloss over the two characters in pursuit of the messages that the more-developed men have to offer. However the ambiguity of the women’s roles is essential to the message and results because of their submissiveness to men. Both Gertrude and Ophelia repeatedly exude an awful sense of obedience and weakness towards their male counterparts, ultimately preventing them from establishing a developed role in their society.
This idea is kindled by the relationships that these women have with other men in the play. Gertrude’s relationship with Claudius is quite puzzling and I was utterly surprised when Claudius stated “Therefore our sometime sister, now our Queen” and proceeded to take Gertrude as his wife following the death of King Hamlet (I.ii.8). Although this act of marriage was not uncommon for royalty during this time period, it is the endless list of possible motives that might have prompted the hastiness of this marriage that draws my interest. The marriage is likely just Claudius trying to gain power. However, there may have been a greater backstory. Maybe Gertrude and Claudius were having an affair before the death. Maybe it was actually Gertrude who wanted to keep the power, but could not do so unless she accepted another man’s hand in marriage. But all of these possibilities would make Claudius look weak, so they are suppressed and hidden from the public’s view, which instead makes Gertrude look weak and submissive. She is merely a pawn that Claudius is using for his own gain. She barely gets to grieve before she is quickly married again so Claudius can fill the King’s powerful position. Ophelia emanates a similar submissive nature that is evident through her relationship with he father, Polonius. She obediently cuts her ties with Hamlet when her father urges Ophelia to “not believe [Hamlet’s] vows for they are brokers” and asks his daughter to not “give word of talk with Lord Hamlet” (I.iii.134). While this may not suggest that Ophelia is weak or submissive, as it is appropriate to honor one’s parents and their requests, Ophelia continues to act as her father’s pawn, just as Gertrude did for Claudius, when she agrees to confront Hamlet so Polonius and Claudius can observe “If’t be th’ affliction of [Hamlet’s] love or no that he suffers for” (III.i.36-37). Ophelia does not act in her own self-interest and does not actively seek to make the life that she wants for herself; she relies on her father to control her every move and construct her life.
This idea brings us to the tragic deaths of these two women. I will start with Ophelia, since that is where we left off. Following her father’s death, Ophelia fell into a crazy state and aimlessly sang as she wandered through the castle. She later drowned and was reported to have been surrounded by “crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples” in that moment (IV.iiv.169). It is unclear whether her death was a suicide. Her burial was quietly done in the Catholic Church because of the uncertain nature of her death. However, it does not matter how she died but that she suffered from a crazy state following the murder of her father. Shakespeare is highlighting the undeniable dependence that she had on her father and is suggesting that women are often too dependent on men. This idea is further developed through Gertrude’s death, which is even more surprising, as the motives are hard to identify. The play can be read to suggest that Gertrude’s death was merely a mistake. It can also be read as an act of defiance towards Claudius and it can even be read to suggest that it was an intentional suicide as her only remarks when Claudius tells her not to drink the wine is “I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me” (V.ii.292). Regardless of what actually caused Gertrude’s death, every possibility results from the actions of Claudius, again revealing the submissive nature of Gertrude to the new king (even if her death was a suicide, as she ultimately would have believed that her best option was death). Claudius’s overwhelming control of Gertrude’s life ultimately leads to her death, whether it was an accident or it was purposeful and furthers the idea of women’s submissive nature towards men.
Before I go on to conclude my analysis regarding Shakespeare’s message on women and gender inequalities, I would like to note that I am not a raving feminist. I believe that there are slightly different roles in society for both genders. Women are often the emotional stability in a family and men are the primary financial sustainers for a household. However, Shakespeare’s presentation is interesting, and provides an important point. It suggests that it is up to a woman to establish a lifestyle that offers them enough independence to keep them from relying on a man figure to sustain her in every way and to micromanage every aspect of her life. This is an important idea that led to the gender revolution and the integration of many measures that ensured equal opportunities for both male and female and it is an idea that continues to spark debates regarding gender issues in economics, politics, and religious lifestyles.
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