Compare And Contrast Hamlet And The Handmaid's Tale

In today’s news we see many disruptions and inconsistencies in society, and, according to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, humankind might be headed in that direction. The deterioration of society is a concept often explored biologically in novels, but less common, is the effect on everyday social constructs such as the position of women as a item that can be distributed and traded-in for a ‘better’ product. The Handmaid’s Tale elaborates the concept that, as societal discrimination towards women intensifies, gender equality deteriorates and certain aspects of societal freedoms are lost. Offred’s experience with serving Gilead demonstrates a victim’s perspective and shows how the occurring changes develope the Republic.

One of the most obvious ways to interpret the scenes where Ophelia and Gertrude receive advice is to use Feminist criticism.  First, it is important to note that the playwright is male.  Clearly, the author's sex could influence the portrayal of women in the play.  Next, examining the role of women within the play, including any stereotypical representations, is key to a Feminist reading.  Finally, looking for feminine imagery will enhance the understanding gained from this approach to Hamlet.

Hamlet can be viewed through a feminist lens by focusing on Ophelia and Gertrude and how various other male characters treat them. Ophelia and Gertrude are dismissed as characters through the entire play because they are women. Hamlet refers to women as “frailty,” implying that they are weak and are dependent on men. Reason suggests that with out the males, Ophelia and Gertrude would simply have no story.

The Role of Women in Hamlet in William Shakespeare's Play Gertrude and Ophelia, the only two women in Hamlet, reflect the general status of women in Elizabethan Times. Women were suppressed by the males in their lives (brothers, fathers, and partners) and were always inferior. Ophelia and Gertrude have little or no power due to restricted legal, social and economic rights that were found in Elizabethan society. The male characters in Hamlet reflect this sexist view point, represented by Hamlet’s judgement that “frailty, thy name is woman”. This view was not uncommon in Shakespeare’s time and heavily influenced Shakespeare to present women the way he does in Hamlet.

The struggle between one’s passions and one’s reasoning for any situation has been well brought upon in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Handmaids Tale by Margret Atwood. The struggle confined by passion and reasoning develops the character in both of these stories by the end. Along with the development of the character, this conflict of self vs. self develops the major theme of the story too which supports the whole purpose and meaning of the text. The development of a characters intellect and personality is seen in both pieces of literature, in Hamlet, Hamlet the main character struggles to find a balance between his reasons and passion sculpting his thoughts and progressively forming his personality while in Handmaid’s Tale, Offred the main

The advancement of women in society is a remarkable achievement, and the first step to true equality in the world. Despite the tremendous progress, oppression faced in the past should not be forgotten, largely because it is present modern society as well. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, both female relationships and identities are explored to determine the purpose of women. Society's historic tendency to undervalue women is seen more in The Handmaid's Tale than in The Color Purple.

So far we have displayed open acts of feminism within the two stories; Hamlet who mistreats his mother Gertrude and his girlfriend Ophelia, and we have Leonce Pontellier who also mistreats his wife Edna Pontellier. The two men are quite similar because they both view their girlfriends as mere sexual objects and people to

The character of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Hamlet can be considered to be a misogynist. His actions toward women are quite often rude, and he speaks negatively of all women using blanket statements on multiple occasions. In Hamlet, Hamlet primarily interacts with only two female characters: Gertrude and Ophelia. Hamlet was quite fond of both these characters, and the conclusion can be drawn that Hamlet’s generally misogynistic disposition is a result of the fact that he was emotionally hurt after being betrayed by both of the female characters. By first showcasing Hamlet’s misogyny, as well as his affinity towards both Gertrude and Ophelia, and then by examining how he responds to each of their emotional betrayals, it becomes evident

Women, the ones who can easily be marginalized have always been the problem with one’s issues. In the play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the figure of women as an unacceptable foe. The women are seen as less than a person of living and more as of an object, one that can be sexually used. The continuous dominance over Ophelia and Gertrude has caused their judgment to cloud. Hamlet has easily labeled the women as weak, two-faced and a foe to men due to the unpredictable actions of women. While Ophelia continues to act as a puppet of her father and brother, Gertrude gets stuck in the same position through the use of Claudius. The cause of misogyny and harsh treatment from Hamlet reveals the sensitive and meticulous side of him, through the

Regardless of whether it is Gertrude or Ophelia, the women within William Shakespeare’s Hamlet are used to advance the interests of men within the play by being portrayed as mere tools as opposed to their own desires. Additionally, the playwright includes stereotypical traits that are believed to be inherently feminine as an explanation for the patriarchal events within the narrative. Despite the realization of these sexist portrayals, Hamlet illustrates the power hierarchy which continues to exist within present

In both texts, the innocent are tragically taken advantage of through the antagonists in the novel/play, hence, rattling the ethics of society. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the punishment of the women is the main reason why violence ensues. Moira, an innocent, courageous individual, who, due to her rebellious nature, tends to devise escape plans to liberate herself from the norms of The Republic of Gilead. When Moira deceives an aunt by faking an illness, hoping to escape, yet, is unsuccessful; she is penalized for her behavior. At the dinner hall where the handmaids are present, Offred sees, “two aunts [come] out of the building, hauling Moira out. Afterwards, she could not walk for a week, her feet would not fit in her shoes, they were too swollen”

‘Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ continues to engage audiences through its dramatic treatment of the role of women’ through Shakespeare’s characterisation of Gertrude and Ophelia. Within my studies, I had interpreted the tragedy of Hamlet as universal and a critical discussion of women within Elizabethan England, a misogynistic time where man were deemed strong and independent in comparison to women who were deemed to be weak and dependent.

In The Handmaids Tale citizens must abide by the new rules, therefore they are in constant fear of punishment which includes death. “Abortion, possibly the key issue of the Christian political movement, also had its federal funding eliminated, even though attempts to limit or outlaw abortion itself were fought successfully on Constitutional grounds.” (Napierkowoski) Many people like to argue that men are also mistreated in the novel. Men, such as the Commander, may desire to experience a true connection, this can be seen between the Commander and Offreds’ secret affair. The difference between the Commander and the Handmaids is that the Commander gets to raise a child unlike the Handmaids which are just seen as sex machines. “My red skirt is hitched up to my waist, though no higher. Below it the Commander is fucking. What he is fucking is the lower part of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he’s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate, because it would imply two people and only one is involved” (Attwood 94). Shows how they are only used as sex machines…. Gilead believes that women are valuable if they are fertile and can reproduce. It can be seen in history where it is seen as the women’s fault, with Henry the Eighth. He killed his wives because they were unable to give him a son, when in reality Henry the Eighths gene left him unable produce a

Shakespeare was possibly the first writer to portray women as strong, crafty, and intelligent. However, he has still received criticism from feminists about his representation of women. Some have even accused him of misogyny. There are only two female characters in the play Hamlet - Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and Ophelia, daughter of Polonius. Any debate based upon gender roles must therefore focus upon these two characters.

Women are a very important part of this world although they are sometimes not portrayed that way. One would think they would be seen as significant because of the fact that women make up almost half of the world’s population. Throughout all of history, females have been considered the weaker sex. In the play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, women are portrayed as weak minded and unfaithful. The inability to correctly make important life decisions, a weakened mental state, and complete obedience to men all contribute to this point.