Course No. 1: The Renaissance Literature: Unit-1

Name: Trivedi Hezal K.PG Reg. No. PG15101040

Roll No:39M.A. – English Regular, Semester-1 Year: 2015

Submitted to: S.B. Gardi Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar

University (Gujarat – India)

DefinitionFeminism The belief that women should be allowed

the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state

Feminist A person who believes in feminism, and tries

to achieve change that helps women to get equal opportunities and treatment

Feminist critics are concerned with the presentation of women in Shakespearean (Hamlet) time

• In the Shakespearean time, women were classified by their sexuality .

• Feminist critics tend to defend Gertrude and Ophelia and to try to explain why the female characters seem less developed than the male characters.

• Feminists also challenge the traditional view that the female characters only have value because they aid the development of the male characters. Traditionally, character analysis of the men in Hamlet focuses on the male characters themselves, but analysis of Gertrude and Ophelia focuses largely on their relationships with men.

Women in HamletThere are only two female characters in this

play – Gertrude- the Queen, and Ophelia- Hamlet’s love interest.

The two both play a passive role in the play’s action, but they are extremely important in exposing the play’s themes – in particular Hamlet’s prejudice against women.

We find feeble female characters in Hamlet.

Ophelia• In Hamlet, Ophelia plays one of the smallest,

yet most significant roles. The male characters resemble puppeteers in their manipulation of Ophelia. She is used as a pawn to further the ambitions and goals of Laertes and Polonius and represents an emotional safe haven for Hamlet, all the while ignoring her own wants and feelings. It is only when she descends into madness and subsequently dies.

Gertrude• Gertrude, just one of the two leading female

roles, is portrayed as a weak minded woman in the shadow of male dominance; and an object of lust often maligned for her sexual relationship with Claudius. Shakespeare emphasizes this through the hasty marriage of Gertrude and Claudius, Gertrude's dependency on men, as well as her compassion as a mother.

Characters:Ophelia GertrudeObedient and innocentDependent on male

charactersFull of goodness

Impress us as a woman who is dependent on men.

Full of fault’s, pride, lustLoathsome charactersHer role like villainSensuous natureLoved luxurious lifeFemale weakness

Conclusion • In the play women are characterized as weak and

submissive and as obedient and compliant. women seem more like props than characters. The women are meek. Both women ended up dying for the men that "loved" them.

In short, Women in this play are: -Easily manipulated

-Weak-Objects to men-No individuality -Limited roles-Pawns/Bait

Thanks for watching...