What is the role of the female characters in Hamlet?
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, women are portrayed as weak, foolish, easily manipulated, and dependent on men through their behaviors and interactions with the male characters. Gertrude is dependent on Claudius as he is her new husband and king. Ophelia is manipulated by both her father and her brother, as well as Hamlet.
Who is the girl in Hamlet?
Ophelia
Ophelia (/əˈfiːliə/) is a character in William Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet. She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet’s actions, ends up in a state of madness that ultimately leads to her drowning.
How does Gertrude protect Hamlet?
Gertrude’s actions also help Hamlet with his drive to kill Claudius. Gertrude is Hamlet’s shield. She protects him as a hawk would protect its babies. If Gertrude was not Hamlet’s mother or of royalty then Hamlet would be dead.
Why is Gertrude weak in Hamlet?
Gertrude’s weakness would be that she uses poor judgement. She so desires to keep her position as queen until she marries Claudius to maintain her position. She did not give herself time to mourn the death of her husband King Hamlet. Less than two months after her husband’s death, Gertrude marries Claudius.
How is Gertrude selfish?
Gertrude is continuously selfish throughout the play but, her selfishness began with her marriage to Claudius “but two months dead”(I,ii,138), of her former husband King Hamlet. Because of Hamlet’s reaction to his mother’s quick marriage, it is obvious that Gertrude had not thought of his feelings but only of her own.
How is Ophelia weak in Hamlet?
Ophelia’s madness was brought on by a multitude of medical and social factors. Cultural restrictions always determined a woman’s behavior. Her lack of a mother, even that of a mother figure left Ophelia without any source of a female advisor.
Is Gertrude a weak character?
The Queen Gertrude is a weak woman. She is told by Hamlet in their dramatic confrontation to confess her sins.