Hamlet's Misogynistic Behaviors

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that Hamlet's hatred for his mother and Ophelia causes him to become consumed with an extended misogynist complex that sets his own tragic downfall. The paper examines the roots of this behavior and shows how Hamlet's misogynistic actions occurred due to his inability to find strong female role models and his ghostly father's patriarchal influence.

From the Paper:

"The first misogynist resentment that Hamlet has is against his mother, Gertrude. Since she has married Claudius so soon after his father's death, he begins to resent her for not realizing the usurping treachery Claudius represents. After Hamlet's father appears as a ghost and tells him that his brother, Claudius, had poisoned him, Hamlet resents anyone involved with the usurping king. Hamlet states is immediate anger at all women, but especially toward his mother: "Frailty, thy name is woman!" (1.2.146). Hamlet's diatribe on his mother's baseness for marrying his father's murderer is relentless when he defines his mother as a beast: "O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason/Would have mourned longer -- married with my uncle" (1.2.150-151)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark. 2006. University of Victoria. 6 December, 2006. <http://www.engl.uvic.ca/Faculty/MBHomePage/ISShakespeare/Ham/Ham.TOC.html>

More papers on Hamlet's Misogynistic Behaviors:

• Analytical Essay # 131175 : "Misogynistic Behaviors in 'Hamlet'"
• Analytical Essay # 1627 : "The Oedipal Complex in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'"
• Analytical Essay # 140000 : "The Tragedy of Hamlet"

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