Gertrude and Ophelia Essay

Shakespeargons char affecterization of Gertrude and Ophelia in settlement is paradoxical as it challenges as well as complements the contemporary neighborly customs obligations and norms. Gertrude is the best warning of this paradox that is manifested through her extraordinary supremacy over all the major characters of Hamlet, her di limit in the court matters and state purposes and her blind esteem to Claudius. Ophelia is in addition active in her domestic domain just her amour are restricted to amorous and matrimonial maters only if and they are march on enjoin by his stick Polonius and familiar Laertes.She is an epitome of traditional libber expressions of the age that require chastity, compliance and acceptance of male person dominancy from women. Gertrude influence is bulky ranging as it encompasses the domestic as well as the state affairs. concurrently she manifests the demeanor that is in consonance with the contemporary traditional view. She has the abil ity to captivate, reject off, or manipulate all important male characters for her own interests. make believe 2, scene 2, clearly manifests how Gertrude be hands authoritatively with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and with Polonius.This scene upgrade depicts her interaction with Claudius and influence she possesses over Claudius. But she advertize exhibit the behaviour hat is an bod of Elizabethan socio-cultural milieu and its values. She is subservient to Claudius when she agrees to Claudius plan to trap Hamlet, I shall copy you, (3. 1. 37). Again in the closet scene, she is in compliance to Hamlets orders What should I do? she asks (3. 4. 181). Furthermore, despite Gertrudes con mannikinist female biddable behaviour, her excessive sexuality and lust makes him a non-traditional woman.This portrayal of Gertrude clearly challenges the social and ethical norm of Elizabethan society. Her sexuality is intimidating for both Hamlets, father and son, who con rampr it brutal, extreme, and tainted Nay, but to live/ In the rank stew of an enseamed bed,/ Stewed in corruption, honeying and making erotic love/ Over the naeye infection sty (3. 4. 92-95) Again it is said So lust, though to a radient angel linked,/ impart sate itself in a celestial bed And prey on garbage. (1. 5. 55-57). These lines are not in conformity with the woman enter of contemporary society where womans chastity was the first crack for her social recognition.The relation of Hamlet and Gertrude is marked with oedipal connotations. Hamlet is placed in a situation his unconscious incestuous inclinations are juxtaposed with the seeming(a) incestuous relationship of Gertrude and Claudius who is a new father figure to him. This apposition and forepart of Oedipal flavours period of fiddles an important in changing Hamlets behaviour toward his mother. Ophelia is raised in a motherless environment so she was rule by the mannish thought and way from the earliest. Thus her character is organ ise to accept the demands and wishes external to her own self.Furthermore, Shakespeare characterization of Ophelia is influenced by the cultural tradition of the male-dominant Elizabethan society. Ophelia is a typical character that is a mirror simulacrum of contemporary society. She watchs passive in the domestic and emotional domain. Ophelia has no identity of her own and all her domestic and amorous matters are directed by her father. Polonius endeavours to fashion the life and attitude of Ophelia according to his own wishes. He considers his desires as her desires and tries to tailor her approach by various means.So adjust from the real start, Ophelia is under the sway of Laertes and Polonius. So her character is in hump conformity with the traditional values of that time. Polonius always responds from a position of authority over Ophelia, emphasizing his power as the decision-maker for her. both(prenominal) her father and brother have a self assigned task of directing Oph elia how to act properly in every domain of her life. Although Shakespeare has characterized Ophelia as inferior to male characters, but characterization of Gertrude has dual characteristic.Sometime it challenges the traditions of the conformist society and sometime(prenominal) it itself become conforms to the values of the society by acting passively. Although Gertrude and Ophelia are 2 dissimilar women but they are caught in the same dilemma and hatful in relation to Hamlet. Both love Hamlet and suffer cod to their relation with Hamlet. Although Gertrude follows the bidding of Claudius throughout the story, and stoolnot eventide exitually resist Polonius, she evinces a deep love for Hamlet. She almost lives by looking at Hamlet.The patronage and hatred of her beloved son cut her to the quick and drives her to the very verge of madness. It must be noted that when Hamlets upbraiding grows unacceptable for the queen, the tactual sensation of his father steps in to save Gert rude from a further expression of their sons bitter hatred. Shakespeare has characterized her as a rotary character that develops herself as the play moves toward its end. Although she acknowledges her blunders but is not fully aware(predicate) of its overall gravity and effect on Hamlet. She says to Hamlet O Hamlet, communicate no more/ Thou turnst mine eyes into my very soul,/ And at that place I see such black and grained spots/ As will not leave their tinct. (3. 4. 89-92) Same happens with Ophelia as Hamlet is abrasive to Ophelia. He charges her with un loyalty. Polonius and Laertes warn her of excessive indulgence in amorous affair with Hamlet. Although she is caring and loves her family i. e. Polonius and Laertes but her love for Hamlet was stronger than her discretion. So she sucked the honey of his harmony vows, (3. 1. 57) and that his loss to her madder her of ladies most deject and wretched. (3. 1.56) We know that her love for Hamlet was not so strong yet queen hope s in vain that her virtues Will bring him to his wonted way again. (3. 1. 41) Both Gertrude and Ophelia do not direct or affect the course of events directly but their role is of considerable importance for understanding the character of Hamlet. Hamlet at once intensely Gertrude and passionately hates her. Same is the case with Ophelia. Hamlet loves him fervidly and in an honourable way as Ophelia declares early in the play My lord, he hath importuned me with/ In honourable fashion. (1. 3. 100-111)Later in the play, Hamlet communicates his feeling toward her in this way on her grave I loved Ophelia xl thousand brothers/ Could not, with all their quantity of love,/ Make up my sum, (5. 1. 269-271) There are some visible differences between Gertrude and Ophelia as mentioned above but there subtle and implicit differences too. One of these differences is their attitude toward faithfulness. Gertrude seems unfaithful whereas Ophelia embodies the spirit of Elizabethan concept of fidelit y. Gertrude is an instrument of, and incentive towards, crime she is not criminally regard herself.The only exception to this the fact that by consenting to marry Claudius only such a short while after the death of her husband, she betrays any the greater infirmity of will, or an abnormally high degree of sexuality. The ghost makes it clear that Gertrude was neither an accessory to the murder nor even aware of it. We can call her a weak woman, not a wicked or depraved woman. The ghost styles her seeming virtuous. Hamlet forces her to search her midsection. consequently she is able to see how shameless and offensive to good sense and reserve her over-hasty marriage was.It is quite clear that Ophelia is constant in her faithfulness to Hamlet as well as to her family. This tussle between love and duty plays some part in her loss of sanity. She is devotedly fond even of his tyrannical father and listens meekly to her brothers precepts and promises I shall the effect of this good le sson keep/ As watchman to my heart. (1. 3. 45-46) As in all things she obeys him, no matter how much it costs her to disobey the promptings of her heart. She also becomes an instrument for spying on the prince.But on the other side her love and fidelity to Hamlet remains the strongest factor in her life. Although she never declares her love in so many words, yet we know that her heart was given entirely to him. This is a manifestation of divergent rather conflictive faithfulness that she to his lover and family. Despite this intricate environment, she never betrayed her family as well as Hamlet. Another important contrast is their strength of character in reacting to this entangled situation. Gertrude remains stable in this state of affairs due to her strong characterization but Ophelia turns mad and behaves like childlike.Thus she becomes the most scurvy of Shakespeare characters. Unlike Gertrude she possesses a childlike simplicity and maintains it throughout the play. So Shakes peare striking realism has produced a character full of pathos and miseries in the form of Ophelia and has used it effectively, like Gertrude, in the overall design of the play. As above-named claims supported by textual and extra-textual facts clearly reveal that both Gertrude and Ophelia have certain common characteristics but they were not certainly identical characters.Both are used as subsidiaries to the main characters. Shakespeare skilfully takes advantage of their presence in the play and uses them in the larger design of the play. He further shows different manifestation of human character through them. Although both remain a prey to same dilemma and to an almost same mountain in the play but as both have different dispositions and socio-cultural upbringing so they react differently to the situations and they have different roles to play in the play.Work CitedShakespeare, William. Hamlet. Washington Square Press New York, 1992.