Despite everyone being human, society has forced gender roles on individuals. Gender and power dynamics frequently arise in literature as a common topic. This makes it possible to shed light on sexism and how prevalent it is despite appearing in many different forms of context. Literature is commonly used by different writers to investigate gender and how it is influenced by different elements, eventually demonstrating the effects of gender on individuals and future generations, whether those effects are positive or negative. Both authors Shakespeare in Hamlet and Williams in A Streetcar Named Desire illustrate how society shapes women's roles and expectations, while also portraying women who defy traditional stereotypes. While both texts …show more content…
In Hamlet, Shakespeare relies on male figures like Laertes to emphasize how men often serve as means to control and direct women. This is evident when Laertes warns Ophelia by saying, “And keep you in the rear of your affection out of the shot and danger of desire.” (1.3.34-35) Women are expected to be obedient to men, and this expectation grants men an advantage in dictating how women should lead their lives. In the case of Ophelia, Laertes serves as a means to control and constrain her, ensuring she adheres to traditional gender norms of purity and virtue. In contrast, Williams challenges traditional gender roles as discussed before, through female figures like Blanche. This is portrayed when things between Mitch and Blanche come to an end and Mitch says, “Your not clean enough to bring home to my mother.” (Williams 121) This highlights the existence of a stigma that expects women to embody purity and cleanliness. Williams effectively employs Blanche as a character who defies this norm, as she consistently acts upon her desires—a trait uncommonly associated with women. Blanche adamantly rejects the traditional role of a submissive and dependent woman. She fearlessly articulates her demands and desires, displaying assertiveness and self-sufficiency. Blanche's boldness and refusal to conform to the stereotype of a meek woman can be interpreted as a direct challenge to gender norms. Gender norms maintain a continuous cycle, enforcing rigid notions of masculinity and femininity. Through a feminist lens, it becomes apparent that challenging these conventional stereotypes plays a crucial role in dismantling the notion of inequality. Shakespeare, for instance, employs the character of Ophelia to depict society's reaction to women conforming to
Throughout history, human beings have struggled with the idea of equality. Whether in times of peace or times of war, the genders have almost never been equal in terms of political, economic or social pressures and activities. These injustices can be found everywhere— in conversations, classes, media, films, literature, and so forth. One example of this “hidden sexism” in literature can be found in the novel Lost Names by Richard E. Kim. Kim’s book, when first glanced at, seems normal.
Ophelia, a beautiful, delicate, well-behaved young woman, who is in love with the prince of Denmark, must constantly obey men throughout the play. Ultimately, she must decide between Hamlet and her father because she has no power. In her line, "I shall obey my lord" (1-3-145), Shakespeare dramatizes that young women with no power,
Although being written centuries apart, the limited expectations of women presented in ‘Othello’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ differ little from each other. The female characters are confined by society’s expectations of male dominance, female purity and virginity, and the many passive roles of women. Despite the differing legalities surrounding the position of women between the centuries in which the plays were written, both plays explore the impact of how societal conventions confine women and the ways they must comply to be safe in a patriarchal society. The behaviours and treatments of Desdemona, Blanche and Stella illustrate the attitudes enforced on and the behaviours of women throughout both periods in time and it is these attitudes and behaviours that impact the plays to the greatest extent. When characters in either plays defy their norms, or demonstrate a lack of compliance they induce negative consequences, such as the murder of Desdemona and the institutionalisation of Blanche.
Stella's use of the adjective “pure” shows this idea of Blanche being promiscuous, it also could suggest Stella still sees Blanche as “pure” and innocent, no matter what Blanche does. Like a servant, she is obedient and subservient, and she does what her superior tells her to do. Although Blanche is “5 years older” than Stella, she sees her as the older sister, due to Stella’s protection over Blanche, even telling her husband that Blanche grew up “in different circumstances” from him. Blanche grew up in a world where everything was handed to her, and people bowed down to her as well, as Stella does now. She lives in a world with “magic,” where she can uphold her status as a woman, and she uses her femininity to control her situation and “circumstances”.
Throughout the play, these gender roles are played by three people: Blanche, Stella, Stanley. Each of these characters challenges what the “standard” gender roles are and how they interact with each other. Williams explores the association between gender roles and power dynamics by
Despite the Elizabethan era being a time of progress in comparison to previous decades, women were still thought to be less than men in almost every aspect of life. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there are two main women characters Gertrude and Ophelia. Both fall victim to the patriarchal society of the time. In “Discovering Feminism through Gertrude and Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet” the two women Gertrude and Ophelia were disrespected
In Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude are the only two female characters. This already shows the imbalance of power and influence the female characters start with. On top of being so limited in numbers, the female characters in Hamlet are very limited in obvious character development. Characters like Claudius, Hamlet, and Laertes are all given obvious goals and desires, whereas the female characters never have the opportunity to take affirmative actions for their needs. Despite not having much influence in the storyline, there are situations where the female characters are able to stand up for themselves.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, women are portrayed as weak, foolish, easily manipulated, and dependent on men through their behaviours and interactions with the male characters. Gertrude is dependent on Claudius as he is her new husband and king. Ophelia is manipulated by both her father and her brother, as well as Hamlet. Gertrude and Ophelia are two of the most misunderstood and oppressed characters. Hamlet himself castigates both of them, for very different reasons, in misogynistic rants which accuse women of being sly seductresses, deceivers and lustful schemers.
To Blanche, Stanley originally comes off as appealing however once he rapes her, he becomes monstrous in her eyes. On the contrary, Blanche is not exactly humane as well. Blanche is the extreme version of how a female was represented in the mid-1900s, but takes crazy too far. As opposed to helping Blanche deal with the world, her fantasizing is more destructive then helpful. Stanley’s violent rape of Blanche is a wake up call from her fantasy life, the final straw in her mental decline, leading to her
Laertes’s warning for Ophelia showcases the impact a women’s actions had on her image, which helps to elaborate on the misogyny during the Elizabethan era. Furthermore, the actions of the male characters toward Ophelia also go to show the mistreatment of women during the Elizabethan era. As the play continues, the characters start to notice a change in Hamlet’s behavior. His assumed melancholy and madness spark concern and debate within the castle.
For centuries, theatrical performances have presented mythical plays that have endured the test of time, exploring stories as ancient as Shakespeare himself and tackling central themes of power and dominance within a patriarchal society. Both William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” exemplify these timeless themes of literary critique as the main characters grapple for power within their distinct life contexts. Correlating to this, Hamlet explores the concept of power by seeking revenge and justice. In contrast, Stanley asserts his dominance over women to establish patriarchal power within his household. This stark contrast between the characters highlights varying degrees of masculinity and their pursuit
In this story, Tennessee Williams each main character such as, Stanley, Mitch, Blanche and Stella, embodies a specific behavior that does not always fit to the gender stereotypes that they belong to. Indeed, the author categorizes Mitch as the “good guy” who feels some emotions
He tells her that he has also shared the rumors with Mitch and this makes Stella throw a fit since he comes off as cruel. However, this fight is cut off short when she goes into labor and must be hospitalized. Blanche is home alone waiting when Mitch arrives. He confronts her about the information he was told, to which she first attempts to deny but eventually confesses and pleads for forgiveness. Mitch is angry and humiliated and refuses to take a chance to have an honorable relationship with her but instead tries to sexually assault her.
For numerous years in the past, women always play a smaller role in society politically, economically, and socially than men do. This was a norm for everyone living during that time period; everything that people do was reflect by it, including the literature written. In William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, the roles of women are just as society would have displayed them during that time. The leading women, Gertrude and Ophelia, are seen as less valuable than men and insignificant because of their dependence on male authorities, obedience, and are easily manipulated by others throughout the play.
He did not innately hate all women, but slowly as he reserved rejection after rejection he snapped. Hamlet’s relationships differed between Gertrude and Ophelia, but both had the same goal of Hamlet having someone to love and care about him. With the goal of compassion being accomplished, he spiralled in a growing hatred of the female population. Hamlet’s misogyny is not the result sexual repression , but rather his environment and the interactions with women. Ernest Jones argues that Hamlet’s misogyny stems from the sexual repression of Gertrude and Ophelia.