Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet" is often described as an elaborate, dramatic presentation of modern subjectivity and confronts its reader with gender issues. As far as the gender issues in Hamlet are concerned, the following question arises: which feminist’s approach should be applied to analyse Hamlet’s character and to demonstrate in how far the historical background influences the gender constellations in "Hamlet"?
Therefore, it is important to give a historical background of social structures and social roles during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Elizabethans lived in a time, in which patriarchy was part of their lives. Women were obligated to follow the rules of men. First, it is inevitable to label the categories ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’ in connection with cruelty and domination. However, it is difficult to define what is associated with ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ characteristics and to position these categories in a patriarchal system without developing clichés. To which extent, for instance is Hamlet allowed to grieve deeply for his father and why does Hamlet act misogynously towards women he loves? Obviously, along with the gender distinctions go different functional roles thus, examining the representation of gender roles in Hamlet in connection with social roles will play a dominant role in this paper.
This term paper will first address the early modern society to outline the hierarchical system in the Elizabethan World View. After a brief presentation of the Elizabethan World View, patriarchal structures in the early modern England will be illustrated since the cultural context describes the beliefs of Shakespeare’s time and provides the basis for the analysis of gender roles in "Hamlet".
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Early Modern Society, Patriarchy and Gender
2.1 Patriarchal Structures in the Early Modern England
2.2 Gender Concepts
3. The Representation of Femininity in Shakespeare’s Hamlet
3.1 The Representation of Misogyny and Male Domination in Hamlet
3.2 Hamlet’s own Gender
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper explores the intersection of patriarchal structures in early modern England and the representation of gender in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. It aims to analyze how historical and social expectations of the Elizabethan era shaped the construction of gender roles and to examine how both Hamlet and Ophelia reflect or resist these dominant paradigms through their behavior, language, and perceived identity.
- Patriarchal structures and the Elizabethan World View
- Feminist perspectives on gender performance and identity
- The intersection of misogyny and male domination in Hamlet
- Ophelia’s role and her subversion of gender expectations through madness
- Hamlet’s complex gender identity and his struggle with masculine ideals
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Representation of Misogyny and Male Domination in Hamlet
As it could be illustrated, early modern English society represents the traditional paradigm in which men are superior to women and express themselves in a misogynous way. The male’s selfish desire to define himself as powerful and independent in no sense dependent upon women can be analysed with respect to the sexual differences and in how far it attaches to misogyny with the help of the tragic hero Hamlet.
Hamlet is probably beyond doubt Shakespeare’s most famous character. He is not only thoughtful and melancholic but also a philosopher, who calls in his numerous soliloquies the human existence into question by challenging the death of human beings. Furthermore, he attends university, is educated and is interested in acting. With the help of his studying in Wittenberg, he lays the foundation of following in his father’s footsteps becoming a king. However, his father’s death brought deep grief and weakened Hamlet by sorrow. After his father’s death and his father’s appearance as a ghost, Hamlet attempts to take revenge on his uncle Claudius and mistreats his mother for marrying him.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on patriarchal structures and gender issues in Hamlet, setting the basis for investigating how historical context influences gender representation.
2. The Early Modern Society, Patriarchy and Gender: Explains the Elizabethan World View and the hierarchical "Great Chain of Being" that institutionalized gender subordination.
2.1 Patriarchal Structures in the Early Modern England: Details how social rules and Christian beliefs defined men's dominance and women's perceived inferiority.
2.2 Gender Concepts: Discusses feminist theories, such as those of Judith Butler, to distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed gender identity.
3. The Representation of Femininity in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Explores how Hamlet's character interactions and language reflect the societal gender norms of the Renaissance.
3.1 The Representation of Misogyny and Male Domination in Hamlet: Analyzes Hamlet’s misogynous behavior toward Gertrude and Ophelia as a manifestation of patriarchal power dynamics.
3.2 Hamlet’s own Gender: Examines Hamlet’s character as an androgynous figure, balancing both feminine and masculine traits within the context of early modern manhood.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on how the play portrays the complexity of gender roles, confirming that despite patriarchal control, characters like Ophelia show resistance, while Hamlet remains a complex, often ambiguous, gender figure.
Keywords
Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Patriarchy, Femininity, Masculinity, Gender Roles, Early Modern England, Elizabethan Era, Misogyny, Ophelia, Gertrude, Gender Identity, Performance, Social Hierarchy, Renaissance Tragedy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how early modern patriarchal structures and social hierarchies influenced the representation of gender roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the Elizabethan World View, male dominance, the performative nature of gender, and the impact of systemic misogyny on both male and female characters.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates how the historical background of the Elizabethan era influences gender constellations in Hamlet and how specific feminist approaches can reveal these power dynamics.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon historical context, feminist criticism (e.g., Judith Butler, Valerie Traub), and psychoanalytic perspectives on gender.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the hierarchical Elizabethan society, the construction of gender through the characters of Ophelia and Gertrude, and an analysis of Hamlet’s internal struggle between masculine ideals and feminine-coded behaviors.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
The study is characterized by terms such as patriarchy, gender performance, Shakespearean tragedy, misogyny, and early modern social structures.
How does the author interpret Ophelia's madness?
The author suggests that Ophelia’s madness acts as a form of resistance, granting her a "voice" to protest against the patriarchal constraints that silenced her throughout the play.
Does the author conclude that Hamlet is strictly masculine?
No, the author argues that Hamlet is a complex and androgynous character, often struggling with his own "unmanly" grief and feminine-coded language, making his gender identity a mystery.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Katrin Miel (Autor:in), 2015, The Representation of Femininty in Shakespeare's "Hamlet", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/322917
