“Frailty thy name is woman”-Explain.
Hamlet is a notable literary work by William Shakespeare. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Hamlet.
Answer
Explain with reference, “Frailty, thy name is woman”. [2020] ✪✪✪
Or, “Frailty thy name is woman”-Explain. [2016]
The famous line “Frailty, thy name is woman” is spoken by Prince Hamlet in Act I, Scene II, of Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Hamlet.” He says this when he feels heartbroken and angry about his mother Gertrude’s quick remarriage to his uncle Claudius. The word “frailty” means weakness. So, Hamlet means that all women are weak in nature, both emotionally and morally.
Hamlet has just lost his father, and he is still full of grief. But instead of mourning, his mother marries his uncle only a few weeks later. Hamlet feels deeply shocked and disappointed. He believes that Gertrude’s love for his father was not real. In his sorrow, Hamlet speaks these words to express his pain and anger. Gertrude’s action makes him lose faith not only in her but also in all women.
This line also shows Hamlet’s emotional conflict. He still loves his mother, but he cannot forgive her for what she has done. Her marriage to Claudius seems immoral to him. He calls it “incestuous” and “wicked.” Her marriage not only breaks his heart but also destroys his respect for women in general.
In fine, “Frailty, thy name is woman” reveals Hamlet’s loss of trust in his mother. It also reveals his disappointment in women in general. He has just lost his father, and he does not know whom to believe in the mysterious Elsinore Castle.