How far do Gertrude and Ophelia prove the validity of Hamlet’s observation on Women’s frailty Women?

Answer

How far do Gertrude and Ophelia prove the validity of Hamlet’s observation on Women’s frailty Women?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is known to the literature world as the sun of English literature. “Hamlet” (1603) is one of the steps in his literary career to be the sun. In this tragedy, we come to know the distinct characteristics of a high-birth society. In this writing, we are going to discuss Hamlet’s observation of the frailty of women based on Gertrude and Ophelia.

Frailty means weakness and lack of health. By the word “frailty” Hamlet means that women are morally and mentally weak. According to Hamlet, another name for women is frailty. This comment comes from the bitterness upon his mother Gertrude. Old Hamlet, the former king of Denmark, died about a month ago. His mother remarries his uncle, Claudius. Through the dialogues of Hamlet, we can understand that Gertrude should not have married very soon. Hamlet cannot endure this.

The Ghost of Old Hamlet demands revenge but tells Hamlet not to go against his mother. He describes Gertrude as merely weak and lustful. The ghost tells him to focus his revenge entirely on Claudius. In Act 3 Scene 4, Hamlet accuses his mother of the murder of his father. Hamlet thinks of his mother as a partial plotter against his father, as the ghost describes her as a lustful woman. He says that-

“A bloody deed-almost as bad, good mother,

As kill a king and marry with his brother”

But Gertrude replies soon to him by saying in an exclamation that “As kill a king!”

It shows that Gertrude has no part in the murder of Old Hamlet. But it will not be rejected that Gertrude is the indirect murderer of Old Hamlet because Claudius uses her. For this reason, we can treat her as victimized.

Now, the question is raised about whether Gertrude is responsible for Hamlet’s observation of women. Many critics say that Gertrude is fully liable for Hamlet’s observation of women.