Sunday, November 7, 2004

TeH HaMLuT PaPaR oF AwHsOmENeSs

Act 3, scene 2 and act 1, scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet show how women have been universally mistreated throughout their coexistence with man.

Act 3, scene 2 consists of Hamlet, the King, the Queen, Ophelia, and Polonius and a few others sitting beside each other and watching the play Hamlet dubs “The Mousetrap.” The play reenacts Hamlet’s father’s murder, at Hamlet’s request, so he may find if the King is, in fact, responsible for the slaying of his father.

As Hamlet goes to sit down to watch the play, his mother asks him to sit by her. Hamlet responds by saying, “No, good mother. Here’s metal more attractive.” This “metal more attractive” is Ophelia.

Notice the use of the word “metal.” “Metal” is a word used to describe a machine. Therefore, Hamlet considers Ophelia just a “machine,” or “metal.” As an object that can satiate his inherent desires, his wants, needs.

Hamlet then continues using innuendos and equivocation until he asks Ophelia if she thinks he meant “country matters,” meaning sex.

She replies, “I think nothing, my lord.” And thinking nothing denotes ignorance, which women have long been coerced to have. Instead of being intelligent and thinking for herself, Ophelia doesn’t know what to think except what others tell her. Ophelia’s ignorance spans so far she doesn’t even have the integrity to tell Hamlet how insulting his comments toward her are. Instead, she remains unknowing and Hamlet remains in absolute control of her. She also calls Hamlet “my lord,” because he has more status than her. In Hamlet’s eyes and all other males’ eyes, she is inferior, they are stronger, better, more immaculate in every way.

Hamlet continues to demean Ophelia as the scene unfurls. He tells Ophelia how it’s a “fair thought” if he were able to “lie between a maids’ legs.” He tells her he could narrate a puppet show of Ophelia and her lover “if I could see the puppets dallying” – meaning, having sex.

Ophelia replies only, “You are keen, my lord, you are keen.” She continues to not stand up for herself.

Hamlet, indeed keen, tells her it would “cost her a groaning” to take off his “keen” edge.

In act 1, scene 3, Ophelia’s father and brother, Laertes, instruct her on how she should act toward Hamlet, Ophelia’s so-called “lover.”

“Perhaps he loves you now,” Laertes tells her, but the love he has won’t last forever. Because Hamlet’s will is “not his own” he’s “subject to his birth.” He has to marry for country, not love. Therefore, Hamlet, Leartes argues, may not marry her for who she is, since “on his choice depends the safety. . .of this whole state.”

Ophelia responds to this advice by saying she’ll keep it in mind.
But when her father, Polonius, comes he acts as if he’s superior to her. Although a father certainly has the right to lesson his daughter on matters, he does so harshly. Also, Ophelia may be older than eighteen – perhaps even in her twenties – and should be able to do whatever she pleases, despite what her father’s wishes may be.

Polonius tells Ophelia to think herself “a baby” as he begins. This is exactly how Ophelia is mentally. Physically, she has the womanly bounties of her growth – breasts, thighs, hips – but mentally, she “thinks” herself a baby because she’s told to. Her ignorance runs so deep she is a baby. And as a baby, she has to be told what to do by someone. Even if she is old enough to think and do as she pleases.

Ophelia entreats her father that Hamlet has “importuned” her with love in “honorable fashion –“ but Polonius is not fazed.
He goes to tell her he knows of “when the blood burns” and how this intense feeling – like that of her and Hamlet – “lends the tongue vows.” He says this love-feeling she has will burn out, and not to jump into it.

Polonius then uses images from finance and negotiations and the military to tell Ophelia to spend less time talking to Hamlet, because his vows are but mere “implorators” of “unholy suits” – meaning, Hamlet only wants Ophelia for her beauty – he wants her for her body, for sex.

He then tells her never to speak to Hamlet again. Ophelia’s answer? “I shall obey, my lord.” If truly she is eighteen or older, this shows an immense ignorance and indoctrination for her part. It would be enough for Ophelia to tell her father she would keep what he said in mind. Instead, she unquestionably does as her father asks, unlike with her brother Laertes.

Ophelia shows a good sketch of women throughout their lifespan with man. It is only in the more recent timespan that women have finally stopped unquestionably being housewives and childbearers and nurturers and have gone out in the world and done as they wish. Even so, women are still ailed in our society with the need to be beautiful. So much so that they will do anything to attain it. In this superficial society, they are still being told how to look and how to be. They are still looked upon as mere objects in many cases by men – objects whose purpose is to satiate their wants and needs, and bear forth children. Perhaps one day this inbred shallowness of our culture will dissipate. But as with all things in society, there will always be a considered norm that is the prototype of a woman. There will always be a stereotypical view of how they should look. A certain gender identity for them to fill and be assimilated into.
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