Topic: Feminist Approach in HamletPaper: 1Paper Name: The Renaissance

LiteratureName: Patel KinjalRoll No: 19Class: M.A. 1, SEM- 1Year: 2013Submitted to: S.B. Gardi Department of

English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University (Gujarat – India)

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Feminist approach in Hamlet

IntroductionWilliam Shakespeare has universalizes his literary work.

He wrote many Sonnets, Comedies, Tragedies and Tragi-Comedies.

Usually his females characters are strong but if we go through Hamlet we find them feeble.

Females Characters in Shakespeare’s Drama

In ‘ Macbeth’ Lady Macbeth

She force his husband to kill the king.

In’ As You Like It’ heroine faced many difficulties.

In most of Shakespeare’s drama women are more beautiful.

But in the Hamlet both the women are feeble.

Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother

Ophelia

Innocent

Gertrude

Full of fault’s, pride, lust

Lothesome characters

Her role like villain

Bed chamber scene

A Bloody Deed - Hamlet (7-10) Movie CLIP (1990) HD.mp4

Gertrude as a mother

She loves her sonHelps her sonAccepts her mistakesBehave like innocent

creatureLoyal to the king

ClaudiusCares about Ophelia

and Polonius

Character of Gertrude

Sensous natureLoved luxurious

lifeA trustworthy

person Female weakness drinking poisoned

Ophelia

Polonius daughterBeautiful , faithful

and obedientLovely and innocent

girlTotally dependent on

male charactersEpitome of goodnessShe dies drowning in

the river amid garlands

Love her father and brother

Comparison between Ophelia and Gertrude

Both the female characters are weaker

Lack virtues Hamlet’s witnessBoth the women are

made whoreGertrude by

ClaudiusOphelia by Hamlet

Conclusion

Both women characters are shown as weaker sex.

Lower categorySymbol of ingratitude

and infidelityPowered by males

and lack freedom