Hamlets view of females- Analysis

Rebekah Barrasso
Mr.Gallagher
English 12 CP P6
2 December 2009
Hamlets Feminist view

In Hamlet Act one by William Shakespeare I think that Hamlet has a lot of hate and animosity towards women, mainly his mother. I feel that Hamlet's feelings towards his mother are justified but to generalize all women with that same feeling is unfair and shows his ignorance. Not all women are as he feels and thinks of them. His mother’s actions are not that of every woman. Hamlet also seems to be resenting his mother as a way to put blame on someone else for the hurt he is feeling about losing his father. I feel that Hamlet needs to redirect his feelings to just his mother. That is like if I judged all men as being ignorant because of Hamlets ignorance that is an unfair stereotype.

When first meeting Hamlet in act one he is angry and upset at Queen Gertrude, his mother, for remarrying his uncle so soon after the death of his father. Hamlet feels betrayed by the actions of his mother; he begins to associate this betrayal with the actions of all women in his first soliloquy he comments on the speed of her remarriage. Lines 15-19 (pg 31) 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. Hamlet's view of his mother gets worse as the play goes on. This is because his father who comes back as a ghost, tells him about his mother's adulterous behavior and his uncles planned murder. Although Hamlet wants to seek revenge on Claudius for the murder of his farther, he is more bothered by King Hamlet’s revelations regarding his mother. King Hamlet tells Hamlet not to be concerned with his mother Lines92/93 ( Pg 61) .."nor let thy soul cintrive against thy mother aught" but after his dads ghost 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.


After going through family issues, Hamlet is not so fond of women at this point. He generalizes this to and about all women not just towards his mother. Hamlet's widowed mother married his uncle, her husband’s brother. He has two huge things bothering him and he lets it affect all aspects of his life. His mother just remarried his uncle and is letting him fill in the old Kings spot. He hates the way his mother is handling his father’s death. She left no time to grieve the death of her husband. Hamlets view is finalized on women after seeing how his mother just moved on to his uncle after two months of his father passing. Hamlet doesn't just get upset with his mother he is also upset with himself Line 49 (Pg 59)"O, my pathetic soul..." Act one sc.3 lines 142-144 (Pg 29) “But two months dead-nay, not so much two. So excellent a king, that he was to this Hyperion to a satyr”. I chose these lines because it expresses his feelings towards his mother’s marriage to his uncle. He refers to it only being two months since his father’s death and his mother has already moved on when she should be in mourning as he is.


Hamlet is going through a hard time and is very emotional. His father was murdered by his own brother Cladus, witch is now with Hamlets mom! He had found this out when talking to his father’s ghost. Act one sc. 5 Lines 42-50 (Pg 59) “ Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me…” Hamlet: O, my prophetic soul! My uncle! Ghost: Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,..” Hamlet does not like nor is happy after seeing how his uncle talks to him and how his mother acts like nothing ever changed. When Hamlet was by himself he explains that he wishes he could die, that he could evaporate and cease to exist. He wishes bitterly that God had not made suicide a sin Act 1 sc. 2 lines 133 " O that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, And resolve itself into a dew ...". He feels as if his mother is dishonoring his father, she was with a nice guy and went down to someone not so good. Act one sc.3 lines 142-144 (Pg 29) “…So excellent a king, that he was to this Hyperion to a satyr.