Prompt: Discuss Hamlet's treatment of, and ideas about women. How might these help to clarify some of the interpretive issues of the play? You might want to consider carefully the way he talks about sexuality.
Throughout what we have read in the play, it can be inferred that Hamlet's character does not respect nor gratify women. The women that are most commonly talked about in the play are Ophelia and Queen Gertrude. From Hamlet's interactions with both of these women, we notice that they are definitely not treated with the most respect as he would treat another man in the play. However, it is obvious that Hamlet does care about both of these women. The relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is an odd one, as it is pretty evident that Hamlet loves her,or has some sort of driving emotion towards her, at least. An interpretive issue of the play that was brought up in a class discussion on whether or not Hamlet had a drive towards his own mother, and that was why he wanted to avenge his father and assassinate King Claudius might be clarified by Hamlet's treatment and ideas about women because it would reveal something that was otherwise not know. However, from what I have read and heard in discussions, it isn't clarified on whether or not this interpretation is accurate or not as we still assume that Hamlet has feelings/love for Ophelia.
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