Term Papers on Hamlets Treatment Of Ophelia And Gertrude

Term Paper Title	Hamlets Treatment Of Ophelia And Gertrude
# of Words	1452
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.81

Hamlet's Treatment of Ophelia and Gertrude

Modern folklore suggests women look at a man’s relationship with his mother to predict
how they will treat other women in their life.   Hamlet is a good example of a son’s
treatment of his mother reflecting how he will treat the woman he loves because when
considering Hamlet’s attitude and treatment of the Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s
play, Hamlet, one must first consider how Hamlet treated his mother.  A characteristic of
Hamlet’s personality is to make broad, sweeping generalizations and nowhere is this
more evident than in his treatment toward women.  Very early in the play, while
discussing his mother’s transgressions, he comments, “Frailty, thy name is woman. (Hoy,
11).”  Hamlet appears to believe all women act in the same manner as his mother.
     The first time the audience meets Hamlet, he is angry and upset at Queen
Gertrude, his mother, for remarrying his uncle so soon after the death of his father.  In his
first soliloquy he comments on the speed of her remarriage

                         Within a month,
          Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
          Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
          She married.  O, most wicked speed, to post
          With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
          It is not, nor it cannot come to good.  (Hoy, 11)

It is understandable Hamlet is upset with his mother for forgetting about his father and
marrying his uncle, Claudius.  In Hamlet’s eyes, his father deserves more than one month
of mourning and by remarrying so quickly, the queen has sullied King Hamlet’s memory.
This remarriage is a sin and illegal, however special dispensation was made because she
is queen.
     Hamlet’s opinion of his mother worsens as the play progresses because his father,
who appears as a ghost, tells him of his mother’s adulterous behavior and his uncle’s
shrewd and unconscionable murder.  Although Hamlet promises to seek revenge on King
Claudius for murdering his father, he is initially more concerned with the ghost’s
revelations regarding his mother.  King Hamlet tells Hamlet not to be concerned with his
mother but after the apparition leaves, it is the first thing Hamlet speaks of.  Before
vowing to avenge his father’s death, he comments on the sins his mother committed.
     Although Hamlet decides to pretend to be insane in order to plot against the King,
it is clear, he really does go mad.  His madness seems to amplify his anger toward his
mother.  During the play scene, he openly embarrasses her and acted terribly toward her
in the closet scene.  The closet scene explains much about Hamlet’s treatment of women
and his feelings toward his mother.  Hamlet yells at his mother for destroying his ability
to love.  He accuses her of

                         such an act
          That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
          Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose
          From the fair forehead of an innocent love
          And sets a blister there.

Hamlet curses his mother for being responsible for his inability to love Ophelia.  Queen
Gertrude’s actions have caused Hamlet to see all women in a different light because she
has taken away his innocence and love for women.
     After Hamlet kills Polonius, he tests Queen Gertrude to see if she knows about
the murder of his father and both he and the audience seem satisfied she was not party to
that knowledge.  Hamlet takes it upon himself to tell the queen her new husband killed
the former king, however he is interrupted by the ghost who warns Hamlet not to tell his
mother.  The ghosts tells Hamlet he should be more concerned with King Claudius,
suggesting revenge must be taken soon (Dover Wilson, 248).
     During this scene Queen Gertrude is unable to see her dead husband which in
Elizabethan times implied she was “unable to see the ‘gracious figure’ of her husband
because her eyes are held by the adultery she has committed (Dover Wilson, 254).”  The
ghosts steals away from the closet when he realizes his widow cannot see him, causing
Hamlet to hate Gertrude even more because he felt the same rejection when Ophelia
re...

This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Digital Term Papers. Please register below now!

Digital Term Papers has over 63,000 essays, term papers, and book notes online. Many paper sites will charge you hundreds of dollars for a single paper. Digital Term Papers only charges $14.95 for a one month membership with instant account activation!

Don't waste anymore time! Join NOW!!!

1 Month (automatic renewal) ($14.95)

3 Months (automatic renewal) ($29.95)

6 Months (one-time billing) ($39.95)

Pay by: