How far do Gertrude and Ophelia prove the validity of Hamlet’s observation on Women’s frailty Women?
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.
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How far do Gertrude and Ophelia prove the validity of Hamlet’s observation on the frailty of women? [2017, 2014] ✪✪✪
In William Shakespeare’s (1564–1616) “Hamlet,” women play small but deeply emotional roles. The two main female characters are Queen Gertrude and Ophelia. They are very important to the development of the story and to Hamlet’s thoughts about women. When Hamlet says, “Frailty, thy name is woman,” he expresses his disappointment and anger toward women’s weakness. Through the behavior of Gertrude and Ophelia, Shakespeare shows how women in that time were often dependent and emotionally fragile. Both characters, in their own way, seem to prove Hamlet’s bitter words.
Gertrude’s Quick Marriage: Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, is the first reason behind his harsh judgment of women. Only a few weeks after King Hamlet’s death, she marries Claudius, her husband’s brother. This shocks Hamlet deeply. He believes that Gertrude’s love for his father was not real. He says:
“Frailty, thy name is woman!”
This line shows Hamlet’s deep disappointment with her mother and with women in general. Here, “frailty” means weakness. To Hamlet, Gertrude’s quick marriage shows moral weakness and lack of loyalty.
Gertrude’s Weakness: Shakespeare presents Gertrude as a woman who depends too much on men. The play never shows that she knows Claudius killed the king. Her marriage seems foolish but not criminal. She might have married quickly because she wanted safety after losing her husband. So, her weakness lies in her dependence on men. She loves Hamlet deeply and worries about his strange behavior. But she does not realize her son’s true concern. This is why she says this when Hamlet accuses her:
“What have I done, that thou…
so rude against me?”
Gertrude does not see Claudius’s evil nature until it is too late. Finally, she drinks from the poisoned wine cup and dies. So, Gertrude’s dependence on men and her inability to realize her son’s pain makeUnlock this study guide now