Hamlet Blogging

Sex and Violence Prompt

When Hamlet Senior is killed Gertrude is forced into an uncomfortable and painful situation. I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose a husband or anyone close to you. Claudius came to her rescue and supported her through her loss, but maybe he wasn't after her love, he was after her power. Either way, i think Gertrude's love for him was there, yet it was fake. It's almost disgusting how quickly she moved on to a second marriage. Regardless, I think that they both just used eachother. Gertrude used Claudius for stability and her used her for authority and power. He wanted the crown. I believe in a way Gertrude knew that about Claudius, but it didn't bother her because she just wanted to keep the power under her control. It was her duty to keep up authority and traditions. Ophelia on the other hand was treated so much like a child. Her father rarely allowed her to make any decisions. Her family is always monitoring her and watching over her to make sure that nothing is going on with Hamlet. Although she is monitered and discriminated by most men, i don't think thats the reason she went mad. I believe that she went mad because her life just started falling apart. Her father was killed by her own lover, if anything that's enough to make you go insane. I think she just lost it. Lastly, i do believe Hamlet was a misogynist. How could he not be? His mother betrayed him and his father. He wanted the crown and she gave it to his uncle, who she was so quick to marry after Hamlet;s fathers death. That had to be damaging. I think Hamlet realized that these women could be damaging and that was a threat to him. He disrespects them in order to protect himself.